Start with mixing half of the sugar with lukewarm milk then sprinkle yeast on top. Make sure kitchen is nice and warm, and in 10 minute yeast should foam
Place the yeast mixture into your stand mixer with the kneading hook on, then mix it together with the egg and egg yolk
Mix in dry ingredients; bread flour, rest of the sugar, salt and start kneading until dough comes together
Slowly start to add in room temp (soft) butter chunks by piece. Knead the dough for another 10 minutes on medium high speed until dough becomes elastic and shiny and not sticky any longer
Move the dough into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let it rest and rise in the fridge overnight for 12 hours
Second day
Make the Apple Cinnamon filling
Peel and cut apples into small identical pieces then with the rest of the ingredients cook it for about 10 minutes until apple slighly soften and mixture thickens
Let filling completely cool before using
Second proofing
After the dough risen overnight, with the help of a rolling pin roll it into a rectangle of 42x30 cm / 16x12 inches (on a Silicone baking mat)
Pop the Babka in and out of the freezer for a few minutes to chill between steps, make sure the dough is always cold enough to work with
Spread Apple cinnamon filling on top with the help of an Offset spatula. Roll Babka dough up evenly and tightly from the longer end then press to seal the end onto the roll
Grease your Loaf pan with butter or use parchment paper inside
Cut the Babka into half lengthwise, then place the logs over each other with filling facing up and twist the logs with your hands on both sides. Gently squeeze together the ends and carefully lift Babka into a prepared Loaf pan. Make sure the dough is nice and chilled during the process, pop it back to the freezer for a few minutes if necessary between steps
Proof Babka the second time now on room temp. Proofing might take 1-2h, wait until Babka doubled in size
Pre-heat your oven to 190C / 374F then once Babka dough nicely risen place it into the oven, lower the temp to 180C / 356F and bake for about 40 minutes. Bake until skewer inserted comes out clean
During the end of the baking time make the syrup: boil water, sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice together until mixture reaches a syrup consistency. Pour hot syrup over baked Babka immediately
Let the syrup sink in and the Babka slightly cool before removing it from the tin to a cooling rack
Store in air-tight container in room temperature
Notes
INGREDIENT NOTES
Use always unsalted butter in baking, in this Babka recipe butter needs to be on room temperature so soft enough to be able to knead into the dough
Fresh or Dried yeast can be both used. My instant dried yeast pack says that 25g fresh yeast equal to 7 g dried. I use 12,5 g fresh yeast to make this recipe that is equal to 3,5 g dried yeast (approx. 1 teaspoon). Please check your local brand and calculate your yeast need accordingly
Use milk and egg on room temperature in order for the ingredients to properly emulsify
Since Babka is effectively a sweet bread use high protein content bread flour
TECHNIQUE NOTES
For activating the yeast (whether it is dried or fresh), make sure that the milk is lukewarm and your kitchen is also nice and warm
You will knead the dough for about 10 minutes in a stand mixer. The dough is ready when it is shiny, elastic and does not stick to your fingers any longer. Do not add more flour to the dough. If it sticks too much, continue kneading
Overnight proofing is recommended for the best results. It is much easier to handle (roll, shape) a dough that is risen in chilled environment
While cooking the filling pay attention not to overcook the apple. Also, make sure the mixture is thick enough to be able to fill it into your babka dough
Filling must be chilled before using. Warm filling will would melt the dough immediately
During the rolling, filling, shaping process try to work with chilled dough
Second proofing is necessary for the perfect rise = fluffy texture
Do not skip the syrup at the end. It will make your babka super shiny and moist