Babka is a traditional Polish Easter bread. One of the common ways it is baked is to resemble the pleats of a skirt similar to what a grandmother would wear. A Bundt pan helps create the pleats. Babka means grandmother in Polish. This cake is also popular in many other Eastern European countries, such as Romania, Ukraine, and Hungary. Babka is also known as a yeast cake and many variations include a rum glaze. It is very similar to the Jewish Babka that is popular for Passover. The Babka can be flavored with cinnamon, chocolate, fruit, or raisins.

Chocolate Polish Babka Recipe

Ingredients:

1 packet of yeast
1/4 cup warm water (to dissolve the yeast)
3/4 cup butter (1.5 sticks of butter), softened
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
4 1/2 cups flour
1 cup hot milk
1 tbsp. vanilla

Chocolate filling:

1/2 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tbsps. sugar

Glaze:

1 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
3 tbsps. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.
2. Set aside, and let it stand for 10 minutes.
3. Cream the butter and the sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time beating after each egg.
5. Add the vanilla and mix in.
6. Add the yeast mixture, beating until combined.
7. Alternate the flour and the milk, adding a little at a time.
8. After the dough is fully mixed you will not have to knead.
9. Let the dough rise for 2-3 hours in a dark cool place, covering with a cloth.
10. After the dough has risen, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
11. Grease a Bundt pan.
12. Spread half of the dough in the Bundt pan.
13. In a small bowl combine the chocolate chips, cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla.
14. Spread the chocolate filling over the dough.
15. Cover with the remaining dough.
16. Bake for about 45 minutes.
17. Prepare glaze. Add vanilla to sugar and 1 tbsp. of milk at a time. You may need to add more milk to get the desired consistency.
18. Pour over cake.

Enjoy and sweeten the soul with chocolate!