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Babka, Cinnamon Bun (D/P, TNT)
Source: Tyler Florence of Food 911 on Food Network
Serves: 8

Dough:
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup margarine or butter, melted, cooled, plus more for brushing
2 large eggs
1 tsp. salt
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tbsp. vegetable oil

Filling:
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 tbsp. cinnamon, ground
1 tbsp. orange zest, grated
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted, cooled

Glaze:
1/4 cup water
2 cups confectioner sugar, sifted
1 orange, zest finely grated
1 large egg white

Make Dough:
In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup of the warm water. Sprinkle in 1/4 tsp. of the sugar and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.

Turn the mixer on low speed and add the remaining water, sugar, melted margarine, eggs, and salt. Add 2 cups of the flour and turn the speed up to medium; continue to mix until incorporated. Gradually add the remaining flour, and continue to mix until the dough holds together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl; the dough will be very soft.

Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface, until smooth and elastic.

Rub the inside of a mixing bowl with the oil and put the dough in it, turning to coat. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for approximately 1-1/2 hours, until doubled in size.

Make Filling:
Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Add the orange zest, raisins, walnuts, and melted margarine. Fold the ingredients together to combine.

Assemble "Bun":
Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and brush with melted margarine.

Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle, approximately 10" by 18". Brush the surface of the dough with melted margarine and spread the filling evenly across. Roll the dough up, jellyroll-style, into a long cylinder, and twist it a few times like your wringing out a towel. Put the dough on the sheet pan and coil it around like a pinwheel, tuck the loose end of the dough under so it doesn't unravel. Brush the top of the dough with more melted margarine. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until your kitchen smells like cinnamon, and the babka is golden brown. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack.

Make Glaze and Assembly:
Mix the all the ingredients together in a bowl, until the sugar dissolves. Whisk the glaze to smooth out any lumps; drizzle it over the top of the babka while it is still warm.

Posted by Aliza Fischman

Nutritional Info Per Serving: N/A