POLISH CHEESE BABKA BREAD

Polish Cheese Babka Bread image

This is an Old recipe from Aunt Louise. I have ordered cheese Babka from Polish Bake shops. They are only available during Christmas and Easter. They are also expensive. You will love this one. Imagine Christmas morning, or any morning with this baking in the oven. Wonderful cheese filled deliciousness.

Provided by Nor Mac

Time 1h25m

Number Of Ingredients 18

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Ingredients

2 pkg active dry yeast or (4 1/2 tsp dry yeast)
1/2 c warm water, not to hot
1 c melted butter
5 c sifted flour
3/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt
6 egg yolks
1 c sour cream
CHEESE FILLING
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
ICING
1 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp butter
add milk as you need it to make icing. add 1 tablespoon at a time

Steps:

1. Dissolve the 2 yeast packets in the luke warm water. Do not use water over 100 degree's. Add a teaspoon of sugar to it. This helps the yeast to bind to something. It can activate in 10 minutes,or 30 minutes. Cover the bowl of yeast water with a towel. If it develops a foamy top. You know the yeast is good. If it doesn't. Discard and try again with 2 more packets.
2. Sift the 5 cups of flour in to a large bowl. Add the 3/4 cup of sugar,and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Mix the ingredients together. In another bowl. Beat the egg yolks until light. Add sour cream, butter and yeast mixture. Combine well.
3. Add mixture to the flour mixture. Knead with hands for 10 minutes until you get a smooth dough. Put in a greased covered bowl in a warm place. Let it rise until doubled in size. Be patient! It could take a couple of hours.
4. Note: Shorten rising time by heating oven to 170. Shut oven off. Place covered bowl of dough in warm oven. Keep door shut.
5. Flour surface. Make sure to roll dough out 18- 20 inches around, or larger. More than double the width of the pan you are using . You must make sure you rolled it out enough to to fit in pan. With at least 5 inches of dough hanging over outside of pan all the way around.
6. make the cheese filling. Beat cream cheese. Add sugar, eggs and lemon zest. Beat until smooth.
7. pour the cheese filling on to the dough in pan. Lop the dough over the cheese. Bring all of the excess dough to the top. Pinch dough together over the cheese where it is exposed Do the the best you can. If Some of the cheese is not covered. No need to worry. It doesn't matter what it really looks like. Cover with towel. Let It rise again until doubled in size.
8. Bake for 50-60 minutes at 350 degree's . Make a tent of foil over top. This will cut down on over browning. Test with pick. cheese will be a little moist. That is fine.
9. Cool for 15 minutes in pan. Turn on to plate, or remove spring form. Make the icing and drizzle over the cheese ring. Add Pecans,walnuts etc. for garnishing. It is also good plain with out icing.