Cheese Babka

Introduction

Cheese Babka is an irresistible braided bread filled with a luscious, creamy cheese filling. Its pillowy dough and swirls of sweet, tangy cheese create a delightful treat that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. With its eye-catching appearance and melt-in-your-mouth flavor, Cheese Babka is sure to impress at your next family gathering or holiday table.

Why Make Cheese Babka?

The beauty of Cheese Babka lies in its tender crumb and rich filling—each slice delivers a perfect balance of buttery bread and creamy, just-sweet-enough cheese. Its intricate braids look elaborate, yet the process is surprisingly approachable for home bakers. Whether you enjoy it fresh from the oven or toasted the next day, this babka stays deliciously moist for days.

Secrets to a Luscious Cheese Filling

The hallmark of a great Cheese Babka is a silky, tangy filling. Use full-fat cream cheese and fresh ricotta for a classic richness. Enhancing the filling with a hint of lemon zest or vanilla extract elevates its flavors.

Precision in measuring ingredients is essential for the right texture: use the Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale with LCD Display, Black and Stainless Steel to ensure accuracy. This avoids runny filling or dry crumbs, delivering that perfect, creamy swirl in every bite.

Baking the Perfect Babka Loaf

Proper shaping and even baking are key to an impressive babka. When rolling and braiding the dough, lightly flour your work surface using a flexible Bamboo Cutting Board to prevent sticking and keep cleanup easy.

For a beautiful, no-mess release, line your pan with a sheet of Reynolds Kitchens Brown Parchment Paper Roll. It guarantees the babka comes out intact with crisp, golden edges. Use a sturdy stand mixer or the dough hook attachment on your mixer to knead until perfectly smooth for that classic soft, stretchy texture.

Serving and Preservation

Cheese Babka is delicious warm or at room temperature. For picture-perfect slices, a sharp, non-serrated knife works best, and you can store leftovers for several days in Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers to maintain its freshness and texture. Babka also freezes beautifully; simply slice and wrap tightly for a delightful treat anytime.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

Each Cheese Babka loaf yields about 10 thick slices. Each slice contains approximately 230–270 calories, depending on your filling and additional toppings. This comforting treat is satisfying enough to please a crowd without being too decadent as a breakfast indulgence or dessert.

Cheese Babka (Recap)

Cheese Babka brings together pillowy, rich brioche-style dough and sweetened cream cheese in stunning braided form. The sumptuous flavors, crowd-pleasing appearance, and lasting freshness make it a wonderful addition to any celebration or special breakfast.

Ingredients

Dough:
• 3 cups (380g) all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
• 2¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup (120ml) whole milk, lukewarm
• 2 large eggs, room temp
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 6 tbsp (85g) unsalted butter, softened

Filling:
• 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, room temp
• ¾ cup (170g) ricotta cheese
• ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Zest of 1 lemon (optional)

Egg wash:
• 1 egg, beaten with 1 tbsp milk

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, combine lukewarm milk with yeast and a pinch of sugar. Let sit 5–7 minutes until foamy.
2. Add remaining sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Gradually mix in flour, then knead until a soft dough forms. Incorporate softened butter a tablespoon at a time, kneading until smooth (8–10 min). If you have an electric mixer with dough hooks, this step is a breeze.
3. Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
4. Meanwhile, make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and ricotta with sugar, egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon zest until smooth and creamy. A handheld mixer or the Ninja BL610 Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender also works for an extra-smooth texture.
5. Punch down dough and roll into an 18×12-inch rectangle on a floured Bamboo Cutting Board. Spread cheese filling over dough, leaving a ½-inch border.
6. Roll up the dough tightly from a long side into a log. Slice log lengthwise with a sharp knife, exposing the swirls. Twist halves together, cut-sides up, to form a braided loaf.
7. Line a loaf pan with Reynolds Kitchens Brown Parchment Paper Roll and gently transfer babka into pan. Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes, until puffy.
8. Brush top with egg wash and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35–40 minutes, until golden and a toothpick in the center comes out clean. (Tent with foil if browning too quickly.)
9. Cool in pan 10 mins, then lift out and cool completely on a rack. Store in Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 for optimal texture and freshness.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 40 minutes (plus rising time)
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Enjoy every comforting, tangy-sweet slice of this beautiful Cheese Babka!