fbpx

Recipe by Brynie Greisman

Irresistible Cheese Babka

add or remove this to/from your favorites
Dairy Dairy
Medium Medium
40 Servings
Allergens
3 Hours, 40 Minutes
Diets

I first tested this recipe while we were in the midst of cleaning the dining room chairs for Pesach (yes, I scrubbed my hands before!). You can imagine what that aroma wafting through the room did to all of us. It sure was an incentive to finish quickly! Cheesecake is a serious weakness for me and my family, so we were all thrilled to have this heavenly treat. Freezing the cheese filling prevents it from oozing out, and nobody wants the piece without it! Thanks, Avigail G.  

Ingredients

Dough

  • 4 cups flour

  • 1 tablespoon Gefen Dry Yeast

  • 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon oil

  • 1 cup warm water

  • 3/4 cup sugar

  • pinch salt

  • 1 egg

  • 1 package (1 tablespoon) vanilla sugar

Filling

  • 1 and 1/2 pounds (650 grams) 5% quark cheese

  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) butter, melted

  • 1 and 1/2 cups sugar

  • 4–6 tablespoon instant vanilla pudding or flour (you can use half of each)

  • 1 egg

  • 3 packages (3 tablespoons) vanilla sugar

Glaze

  • 1 egg, beaten

Crunch

  • 1 package (1 tablespoon) vanilla sugar

  • 3/4 cup flour

  • 3/4 cup sugar

  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) butter, melted

Directions

Prepare the Dough

1.

Mix together all ingredients until a soft dough forms. Alternately, place all dry ingredients in the mixing bowl. Dissolve yeast in warm water and let bubble a little. Add it to the rest of the ingredients in the bowl. Mix as above. If dough appears dry, add a bit more oil. Place in a greased bowl and let rise for one hour.  

Prepare the Filling

1.

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Divide evenly among four long, narrow loaf pans and freeze. This can be done the day before.

Shape and Bake

1.

After the dough has risen, divide in four. Roll each quarter into a large rectangle.

2.

Pop out the frozen cheese filling onto the center of the dough, and fold over the sides.

3.

Carefully turn over and place seam-side down in a long, narrow loaf pan, easing the dough into shape.

4.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).

5.

Brush each loaf with glaze.

6.

Mix crunch ingredients together in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over babkas.

7.

Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Shape and Bake

Yields 4 babkas.

Credits

Photography: Hudi Greenberger Styling: Janine Kalesis

Irresistible Cheese Babka

Please log in to rate

Reviews

Subscribe
Notify of
10 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Sharon Rosen
Sharon Rosen
1 month ago

We absolutely LOVE this cheese babka recipe; it totally checks off all the boxes! Easy, no margarine, and absolutely DELICIOUS!!!

R S
R S
10 months ago

I used the loaf tins which are called English loaf and it was just the right size. It was absolutely delicious!

nechama
nechama
11 months ago

I have the same issue – not enough filling in the standard size loaf pan. Any advice?

Question
Mark your comment as a question
faigy
faigy
11 months ago

do these freeze well?

Question
Mark your comment as a question
Goldy Admin
Admin
Reply to  faigy
11 months ago

They should! Wrap well.

Malky Herzog
Malky Herzog
4 years ago

Quark cheese Is there any cheese that can be substituted for the quark cheese?

Question
Mark your comment as a question
Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  Malky Herzog
4 years ago

According to Google, you should be able to use plain greek yogurt.

sarah
sarah
1 year ago

The filling is not enough for 4 long loaf pans, it it meant to go into the short narrow pans?

Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  sarah
1 year ago

I would use standard size loaf pans.

nechama
nechama
Reply to  sarah
11 months ago

I have the same issue – not enough filling in the standard size loaf pan. Any advice?