About the Recipe
Starting the week on a cozy note with a nod to my Swiss roots – presenting my Apple Marzipan Babka. Babka seems to be all the rage on social media. Not surprising, it looks so beautiful with it's braided exterior and the fact that it can easily be filled with any flavor combination one would want, makes having a good babka dough recipe a must for any passionate baker.
This particular flavor combination was inspired by my swiss heritage. The Swiss have a knack for combining simple, quality ingredients to produce mouthwatering delights, and this babka is no exception.
Picture this: the juiciness of ripe apples meets the rich, almond embrace of marzipan, creating a flavorful and well balanced flavor alliance.
So let's get baking. Below you'll find step-by-step instructions on getting your perfectly sweet babka baked and ready to share.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
1 cup warm milk
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
For the Filling:
2-3 medium-sized apples, peeled, cored, and diced (I used cortland apples)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup marzipan, grated
For the Syrup:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Preparation
Creating an Apple and Marzipan Babka involves a few steps, including making the dough, preparing the filling, and assembling the babka. I have broken this recipe up into easy to follow steps to make it less intimidating.
1. Prepare the Dough:
In a bowl, combine warm milk and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture, sugar, 3 1/2 cups of flour, salt, butter, and eggs. Mix until it forms a dough.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes, adding more flour as needed, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours or until it doubles in size.
2. Prepare the Filling:
In a bowl, mix the diced apples, sugar, and cinnamon. Set aside.
Grate the marzipan and set it aside.
3. Assemble the Babka:
Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a large rectangle.
Spread the grated marzipan evenly over the dough, leaving a border around the edges.
Evenly distribute the apple mixture over the marzipan.
Roll the dough tightly from one of the longer edges, creating a log.
Using a sharp knife, cut the log in half lengthwise, exposing the layers.
Twist the two halves together, creating a braided effect.
Place the twisted dough into a greased loaf pan.
4. Bake:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Bake the babka for 40-50 minutes or until it's golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
While the babka is baking, prepare the syrup. In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves.
When the babka is done baking, brush the syrup over the top while it's still warm.
5. Cool and Serve:
Allow the babka to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy your delicious Apple and Marzipan Babka!
*tip, try it with vanilla icecream when still slightly warm, it'll make you reconsider apple pie.