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Blueberry Babka with Cream Cheese

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This Blueberry Babka with Cream Cheese is a luscious, soft sweet bread swirled with tangy cream cheese and bursting with fresh blueberries perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup whole milk, warmed
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 egg (for egg wash)
  • 1 tbsp water (for egg wash)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and 1 tsp sugar. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  2. Add flour, remaining sugar, salt, and eggs to the yeast mixture. Mix until a rough dough forms.
  3. Knead in softened butter until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes in a mixer.
  4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
  5. Prepare the cream cheese filling by beating cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  6. In a small saucepan, combine blueberries, lemon zest, and cornstarch. Cook over medium heat until thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Let cool.
  7. Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a 12×16 inch rectangle.
  8. Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the dough, then spread the blueberry mixture on top.
  9. Roll the dough tightly lengthwise into a log. Cut the log in half lengthwise to expose the filling layers.
  10. Twist the two strands together, keeping the cut sides facing up. Pinch the ends to seal.
  11. Place the twisted dough into a greased loaf pan. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes.
  12. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Mix egg and water to make an egg wash. Brush over the loaf.
  13. Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

For extra shine, brush the loaf with a simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water heated until dissolved) right after baking.

Find it online: https://grilldrip.com/blueberry-babka-with-cream-cheese-delight/