Apple Cinnamon Babka Bread Recipe
A soft, rich braided bread swirled with spiced apples and sweet cinnamon filling, then baked to golden perfection. This Apple Cinnamon Babka is a stunning, flavorful treat perfect for holidays, brunch, or anytime you’re craving a comforting homemade bread.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup warm milk
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
For the Filling
- 2 medium apples peeled and diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
For the Syrup
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
Optional substitutions
- Use dairy free milk and margarine for a non dairy version.
- Replace brown sugar with coconut sugar for a deeper flavor.
Instructions
- Make the Dough
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
- Add warm milk, eggs, and butter. Mix until a dough forms.
- Knead by hand or with a mixer for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1–1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the Filling
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add diced apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cook for 5–7 minutes until apples soften and sugar melts into a syrup. Cool completely before using.
- Assemble the Babka
- Roll the dough into a rectangle about 10×14 inches.
- Spread the apple cinnamon filling evenly over the surface.
- Roll the dough tightly into a log, then slice it lengthwise into two long strips.
- Twist the strips together, keeping the cut sides facing up.
- Place in a greased loaf pan and let rise for 30–40 minutes.
- Bake and Glaze
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, covering loosely with foil halfway if it browns too quickly.
- While it bakes, make the syrup by heating sugar and water until dissolved.
- Brush the hot loaf with syrup as soon as it comes out of the oven.
Video
Notes
- Let the filling cool before spreading it on the dough so it doesn’t make the dough soggy.
- Don’t overfill, or the filling may spill out during baking.
- The sugar syrup keeps the bread soft for days and adds a nice shine.