Description
A delightful, sweet bread featuring a rich cream cheese filling and fresh blueberries.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups All-Purpose Flour
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 packet Active Dry Yeast (or 2¼ teaspoons)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 large Eggs
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter, melted
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 cup Blueberries, fresh or frozen
- Zest from 1 Lemon
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Make a well in the center and add the eggs, melted butter, and warm milk. Mix until a rough dough forms.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface. Knead it for about 8-10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
- Place the kneaded dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1-1.5 hours).
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with sugar, lemon zest, and a dash of salt until fluffy. Gently fold in the blueberries.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Roll it into a rectangle (about 16×20 inches) on a floured surface.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle any remaining blueberries on top.
- Roll the dough tightly from the long side into a log. Pinch the seams to seal and slice the log lengthwise to expose the filling.
- Twist the two halves together to form a braid, then tuck the ends underneath. Place it into a greased loaf pan.
- Let the shaped babka rise again for about 30 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the babka for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Enjoy warm or at room temperature!
Notes
For a lighter option, consider using Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese. Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for the best texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: babka, blueberry, dessert, sweet bread, cream cheese
