Babka (polish)

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.04

Title: BABKA (POLISH)
Categories: Cakes
Yield: 10 servings

3 pk (1/4 oz) active dry yeast (3
-Tbsp)
3/4 c Warm water (110F)
1 tb Plus 1 cup sugar
About 7 3/4 cups all-purpose
-flour
1 1/2 c Milk
1 1/4 c Unsalted butter or margarine
6 Eggs
2 Egg yolks
1 1/2 ts Salt
2 Egg whites
Topping:
1/4 c Sugar
1/2 c All-purpose flour
1 ts Ground cinnamon
1/4 c Unsalted butter or
-margarine, chilled

This desert, a cross between cake and sweet bread, is
often baked for Easter.
Grease side and bottom of 2 (10 inch) tube pans.
Prepare Topping;set aside. In a shallow, medium bowl,
dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/2
cup flour; stir to combine. Cover; let stand in a
warm place 5 to 10 minutes until foamy. Heat milk and
butter or margarine in a small saucepan until melted.
Let stand until mixture cools to warm. In a large
bowl, beat eggs, egg yolks and remaining 1 cup sugar
until pale and frothy. Add cooled milk mixture, salt
and yeast mixture. Beat unil smooth. Gradually beat in
4 1/2 cups flour. Stir in enough remaining flour to
make a soft dough. Turn out dough on a lightly
floured surface. Knead dough into a soft, smooth
dough. Divied dough in 1/2. Arrange 1 part dough in
each greased pan. Cover with a damp cloth; let rise
in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in
bulk, about 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly
beat 2 egg whites in a small bosl until foamy. Brush
beaten egg whites on top of dough. Evenly sprinkle
Topping over dough. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until a
wooden pick inserte in centre comes out clean. Cool
cakes in pans 3 to 4 minutes on racks. Turn out of
pans; cool completely on racks. Frost with Powdered
Sugar Icing if desired. Makes two (10 inch) cakes.
Topping: In a small bowl, combine sugar, flour, and
cinnamon. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in
butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse
crumbs. Powdered Sugar Icing: 2 egg whites 1 1/2 cups
sifted powdered sugar 1/2 tsp lemon juice
In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until frothy.
Gradually add powdered sugar, beating constantly. Beat
10 minutes or until glossy. Add lemon juice; beat 2
minutes or until icing stands up in soft peaks. Makes
abou 1 1/4 cup icing.

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