Description
A delightful pastry combining rich cream cheese and sweet blueberries, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups blueberries
- 3/4 cup sugar (for preserves)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar (for filling)
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar + 1 teaspoon sugar (divided)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pkg active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 tsp)
- 1 cup milk, warmed to about 100–110°F
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft and cubed
- 1/3 cup sugar (for syrup)
- 1/3 cup water
Instructions
- Make the Blueberry Preserves: Combine blueberries, 3/4 cup sugar, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 15 minutes. Refrigerate the preserves.
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling: Beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar until well combined. Set aside.
- Make the Babka Dough: Whisk together flour, 1/3 cup sugar, and kosher salt. Warm milk until 100-110°F and add to a stand mixer. Sprinkle yeast over milk and let sit for 5 minutes. Add eggs, vanilla, and flour mixture. Mix on low, then medium-low until smooth. Gradually add soft butter and mix until sticky. Cover and let rise for 1-1.5 hours or refrigerate overnight.
- Shape the Babka: Punch down the dough and divide in half. Roll each half into a 12×16-inch rectangle. Spread cream cheese mixture and blueberry preserves, leaving a border. Roll from the long side without the border, trim ends, slice lengthwise, twist together, and seal ends.
- Bake the Babka: Place in parchment-lined loaf pans, cover, and let rise for an hour. Preheat oven to 350°F and bake for about 40 minutes until golden brown.
- Make the Sugar Syrup: Cook 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water in a saucepan until sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool.
- Finish the Babka: Brush warm babka with half of the syrup after baking. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
For best results, ensure your cream cheese is softened. You can substitute other fruits or use ricotta for a different flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Baked Goods
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: babka, blueberry, cream cheese, dessert, bread