Apple Cinnamon Babka is a swirled bread filled with apples and cinnamon! This impressive looking bread looks impossible to make, but is simply a rolled and filled dough that's formed into a figure eight and then placed in a loaf pan.
Apple filled babka
Babka is a sweet, brioche style bread that is filled with a sweet filling. The dough is rolled, filled and then shaped into a loaf and baked. Babkas vary in filling and in how they are shaped. This babka is filled with fresh apples, and cinnamon, and sugar.
It's shaped into a figure 8 which creates the swirls. This bread is perfect eaten plain, with a bit of butter or used in French toast!
I've experimented with different shapes for this bread and the figure 8 is the easiest and also produces a beautiful loaf. This loaf is filled with grated apples which is perfect for the filling.
Ingredients for cinnamon babka with apples
- Flour - Use regular all-purpose flour.
- Yeast - This recipe uses active dry yeast.
- Milk - I use whole milk in this bread but 2% also works well.
- Egg - An egg gives this bread a rich taste and a fluffy texture.
- Butter - Salted butter, melted and cooled.
- Sugar - Granulated sugar is used in the dough and in the filling.
- Apples - You'll need about 2 medium-sized apples. Use a crisp apple that works well for baking. I use granny smith, galas, or Fugi apples.
Making an apple babka
- Place milk, yeast and sugar in a bowl of a stand mixer. Stir and let stand for 5 minutes until mixture is bubbly.
- Add egg, butter, salt, and one cup of flour. Mix together. Gradually add remaining flour until dough forms a ball. You might not need the full 2 cups of flour.
- Knead dough in mixer for 5 minutes with the dough hook.
- Remove dough and form into a ball. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let sit until doubled in size, approximately one hour.
- When doubled, remove dough and place on a lightly floured surface. Pat dough down and form into a rectangle. Roll dough out into a large rectangle approximately 12 x 18 inches.
- Grate apples and place on a clean cloth and squeeze all the juice from the apples.
- Sprinkle sugar, cinnamon and grated apples over the surface of the dough.
- Roll dough together forming a long log. Gently pinch seam together.
- Form dough into a figure 8 and place in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- Cover and let rise for approximately 45 minutes.
- Combine egg white and water. Brush on the surface of the loaf.
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 40-45 minutes. Check at 30 minutes and if the loaf is getting too dark, tent lightly with a piece of foil.
- Remove from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes and then remove bread from pan. Continue cooling on a baking rack.
Tips for making an apple cinnamon babka
- Roll out dough as thin as possible. You may need to stretch it a bit by hand too. You will want your dough to be about 12x18 inches.
- If you get a tear in your dough, just pinch it back together.
- Grate apple using a cheese grater. Place grated apple on a clean towel and then squeeze grated apple together to remove all excess liquid.
- Spread filling as evenly as possible.
- Roll up, cinnamon roll style and pinch seam together.
- After baking remove from pan and place on a baking rack to cool.
- Allow bread to fully cool before slicing.
Apple Babka FAQs
The key to using fresh apples is grating the apples and then squeezing out as much liquid as possible. Apples have a high content of water and if you don't remove most of it, your bread will turn out soggy in the middle.
Yes, this loaf can be frozen. All the loaf to fully cool, then place in a freezer-safe bag. The loaf is best used within 1-2 months.
More recipes with apples and cinnamon
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my bread recipes!
Apple Cinnamon Babka
Equipment
Ingredients
Dough
- ½ cup milk (warmed)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter (melted)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ - 2 cups flour
Filling
- 1 ½ cups grated apple, squeezed dry (about 2 medium-sized apples)
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Egg Wash
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
Dough
- Place milk, yeast and sugar in a bowl of a stand mixer. Stir and let stand for 5 minutes until mixture is bubbly.½ cup milk, 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast, 2 Tablespoons sugar
- Add egg, butter, salt, and one cup of flour. Mix together. Gradually add remaining flour until dough forms a ball.1 egg, 3 Tablespoons salted butter, 1 ¾ - 2 cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Knead dough in mixer for 5 minutes.
- Remove dough and form into a ball. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let sit until doubled in size, approximately one hour.
- When doubled, remove dough and place on a lightly floured surface. Pat dough down and form into a rectangle. Roll dough out into a large rectangle approximately 12 x 18 inches.
- Grate apples and place on a clean cloth and squeeze all the juice from the apples.1 ½ cups grated apple, squeezed dry
- Sprinkle sugar, cinnamon and grated apples over the surface of the dough.¼ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Roll dough together forming a long log. Gently pinch seam together.
- Form dough into a figure 8 and place in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- Cover and let rise for approximately 45 minutes.
- Combine egg white and water. Brush on the surface of the loaf.1 egg white, 1 tablespoon water
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 40-45 minutes. Check at 30 minutes and if the loaf is getting too dark, tent lightly with a piece of foil.
- Remove from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes and then remove bread from pan. Continue cooling on a baking rack.
- Once bread is fully cooled, slice and enjoy!
Notes
-
- Roll out dough as thin as possible. You may need to stretch it a bit by hand too. You will want your dough to be about 12x18 inches.
-
- If you get a tear in your dough, just pinch it back together.
-
- Grate apples using the large holes on a cheese grater. Then place grated apples on a clean towel and then squeeze together to remove all excess liquid.
-
- Spread filling as evenly as possible.
-
- Roll up, cinnamon roll style and pinch seam together.
-
- After baking remove from pan and place on a baking rack to cool.
-
- Allow bread to fully cool before slicing.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
Susan Gosby-Worley says
Photographs of how you twisted the dough would be very helpful. It looks beautiful, though.
Kathy says
Hi Susan,
I agree! I've been wanting to remake this and capture photos of the whole process. Thanks for the suggestion and hopefully I will have this post updated soon! 🙂
Fred G says
An interesting combination for a bread.
annie@ciaochowbambina says
...And I can imagine its aroma as it bakes! My family would flip if I made this!! I need to try it! Thank you for sharing!
Judy says
I have made cinnamon babkas before, and I prefer them to chocolate ones (which I've never made, only purchased). I want to make an almond one with a sweet almond paste. Thanks for this tempting recipe, Kathy!
Kathy says
I love the idea of an almond filled one! So many possibilities! 🙂
A_Boleyn says
Beautiful loaf.
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
ahh those swirls! i've only had chocolate babka before, but i'm sure i'd love this version too (: i'm betting you don't have any leftovers, but making french toast out of babka is awesome!
Kathy says
I need to give chocolate babka a try next!
cakespy says
Wow, what a beauty! I'm making the heart-eyed emoji face at this beautiful fall-flavored babka!
Kathy says
Thanks! The hear-eyed emoji makes me happy! 🙂
Amy (Savory Moments) says
Wow! This bread looks so stunning and truly perfect for autumn. Pinning!
Ashley@CookNourishBliss says
Ahhhh this apple cinnamon babka is calling my name!!!! It looks SO GOOD!!
Kathy says
It's true...it is calling your name! I heard it! 🙂
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
EEEEE! I LOVE babka! Like, I can't be trusted around a loaf of it or I will eat the entire thing in .34 seconds! Needless to say, this babka is screaming my name! This is just perfect for fall! Cheers, Kathy!
Kathy says
I'd trust you around a loaf any day of the week! 🙂
Stacey @ The Sugar Coated Cottage says
Impressive is right! This is one beautiful and deliciously flavored Babka! Perfect for the season. Take care.
Kathy says
Thanks, Stacey! It was so fun to make and so delicious to eat!
Christina says
True confession time, I didn't know what babka was before reading your post. It looks and sounds absolutely delicious! My husband and I are getting cable for the first time in over 20 years. Sounds like I have some cooking shows to catch up on! Awesome job 🙂
Kathy says
We are both babka newbies! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
I've never made babka before, but now I know I need to ! This looks fabulous and bet tastes even better ! Love that Great British Baking show! So many talented people, isn't there?
Kathy says
I know! Now I want to bake all different kinds of babkas! So much to learn...
David @ Spiced says
I didn't know anything about babka until we moved up here to New York. Now the stores are filled with babkas around Easter. I happen to love cinnamon bread, so the ideas of an apple cinnamon bread in babka form sounds amazing to me right now! Also, if you're a Seinfeld fan, then you might remember the famous babka episode? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i78azsi7M94 🙂
Kathy says
I love Seinfeld and didn't even realize that bread was a babka! Too funny!
Kathy says
WOW! That is just gorgeous, Kathy! The Great British Baking Show is one of my favorite shows on TV. I've been inspired to try some of the things they make, but haven't yet. I'm super impressed that you tackled this challenge, and it turned out so beautifully!! Kudos to you, and THANKS for the great recipe and instructions!
Kathy says
I love watching that show! There are so many great treats they bake!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
You always make the prettiest breads Kathy! This one is perfect for fall with a hot cup of tea! Bet your kitchen smelled heavenly while it was baking!
Kathy says
There's nothing better than the smell of bread baking!
Fran @ G'day Souffle' says
Kathy, I've made a babka before, but braided it into a twist. Your method of the 'double-back loop' sounds easier to manage- will have to keep this in mind next time. By the way, next month, I'm going to NYC to visit Uri Scheft's 'Breads Bakery in Union Square'. Uri is a Babka Master- he won the prize for the best Babka in New York a few years ago!
Kathy says
I will need to give a braided babka a try! I can't wait to hear about your trip to the bakery. I had no idea there was a Babka contest...maybe I'll need to up my game a bit! 🙂