Cheese Babka Made Easy in the Bread Machine

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm
• 1/2 teaspoon saffron (optional)
• 10 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 4 egg yolks, room temperature
• 5 cups flour, sifted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Additions to be added at beep of cycle

• 1 lemon, zest of
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 cup white raisins or dried cherries or dried cranberries (soaked in hot apple juice, rum or vodka for 15 minutes and drained)

Coating

• 1/3 cup almond cookie, crushed into fine crumbs

Topping

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds

Cheese Filling

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 lemon zest
• 1 pinch saffron (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Dough:.

2. 2

   Add all wet ingredients to bread machine.

3. 3

   Top with flour and place yeast, sugar and salt in separate corners.

4. 4

   Or add the ingredients according to your bread machine.

5. 5

   Set machine to large loaf, dough cycle and press start.

6. 6

   At the beep add the zest, cinnamon, cardamom, raisins, and cranberries.

7. 7

   Cheese filling:.

8. 8

   Mix cheese filling ingredients together.

9. 9

   Prepare pan:

10. 10

    Generously butter a fluted tube pan. Sprinkle with fine bread crumbs and fill with dough.

11. 11

    When cycle has finished remove dough to a floured surface.

12. 12

    Punch down dough and shape and roll out into a log about 20x 10. Then place cheese filling in the center down the long side of the roll, bringing the sides over to encase the filling. Then place into prepared pan covering with plastic wrap and let rise 60 minutes or till risen to top of pan.

13. 13

    Brush with eggwash and sprinkle with almonds.

14. 14

    Bake 350 for 45-60 minutes.