Pistachio Cream Mini Egg Babka

This Pistachio Cream and Mini Egg Babka is made with swirled layers of rich dough and nutty pistachio cream. Baked to perfection with hidden Mini Eggs throughout, this Babka makes an impressive addition to your Easter Brunch.

Pistachio Cream Mini Egg Babka

Imagine the reaction you’ll get when you set this impressive Babka in front of your Easter brunch guests. They’ll love the soft layers of buttery dough generously layered with super velvety pistachio cream. This bread also has sliced fresh pistachios which add the perfect crunch texture and don’t forget the mini eggs! The Easter hunt continues with the ultimate Pistachio Cream and Mini Egg Babka. 

Need more brunch ideas? Here are 30 More Special Occasion Brunch Ideas to get your Easter morning started. Don’t forget to end on a sweet note with this Lemon Curd Mascarpone and Earl Grey Amaretto Tiramisu Trifle.

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What is Babka?

A Babka is a Polish grandmother. Not what you were expecting? Okay let’s try this again. A Babka is a sweet, rich yeast bread with swirls of filling running throughout. This sweet loaf (also called Krantz Cake) was invented in Poland and is associated with Central and Eastern European Jewish baking traditions.

The most traditional varieties of this pull apart loaf are Chocolate Babka or Cinnamon Babka with either struesel or poppy seed toppings. However, if you talk to Jerry Seinfeld, he’ll tell you that Cinnamon Babka is the ‘lesser babka’.

Creative Ways to Babka

During the last decade, this braided brioche loaf has increased in popularity largely due to popular bakeries in New York and San Francisco. Many interesting flavour varieties have surfaced, including savoury varieties with za’atar and goat cheese, cheese, buffalo chicken, and Everything Bagel. Speaking of Everything Bagel seasoning, Trader Joe’s has it’s own very popular chocolate filling version.

My Twist on Babka

Chocolate or cinnamon varieties are the most traditional of Babka’s, but in the last few years there’s been a bit of an explosion in flavour experimentation. I fell in love with Pistachio Cream around Christmas time when I used it to fill chocolate chip thumbprint cookies.

It is very rich and sweet, just like Nutella but it’s in pistachio form instead of hazelnut. Since it was near Easter and there were still mini eggs left (shocking), I added them as well. You are welcome to omit them from this recipe, if you like. 

Or, if you love mini eggs as much as I do and need a festive Easter dessert, you can give this no bake Mini Egg Cheesecake a try.

How to Make an Impressive Babka

If you can make cinnamon buns, you can make babka. It’s a bit time consuming, but the final product is so very worth it. Firstly, mix up the rich dough in a mixer. Then, once the dough has been proved, gently roll the dough out into a large rectangle and spread the pistachio cream. Tightly roll it up as you would for cinnamon buns and pinch those ends so that they seal together. 

Now, this is where making babka differs from the cinnamon bun process. Slice the rolled dough lengthwise so that there are two mirroring halves of layered dough. Next, carefully twist the two halves together (I did 3 twists) and condense them together so that they fit into the lined 9 x 5 loaf pan.

Low Down on the Dough

This dough is super sticky and buttery. The best way to mix it was by using a stand mixer for the first half of kneading and leaving out the last half cup of flour. Turn the dough out to knead it by hand, and sprinkle it every so often with a bit of flour so that it doesn’t get sticky/greasy during kneading.

Prove the dough in a warm oven, taking care not to have it too warm because the butter will melt easily, making the dough too greasy. Just leaving the oven light on or placing in a draft free space is enough for the proofing stages.

How to Store Your Delicious Babka

Your creation will be fine in an airtight container on the counter for a few days. If you double the recipe or need to freeze the loaf, wrap it in plastic, then freeze it for 2-3 months.

How to Re-warm Babka

The day after baking, re-warm your babka by slicing then toasting it. To re-heat a frozen loaf, thaw it (while still wrapped up) at room temperature for a few hours. Loosely tent it with foil and warm it in a 325 F oven for around 20 minutes or until it’s warm all the way through. 

How to Serve Leftover Babka

Babka is best when it’s still slightly warm from the oven. However, if you have leftovers, here are some fun ways to use it up:

• Slice it up and make Babka French Toast.
• Tear it up and use it to make Babka Bread Pudding and serve it with Chocolate Sauce or Custard.
• Deep fry it and serve with Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce. 

Beautiful Babka

I never grew up with Babka, but I do know that I fell in love with it the minute I saw one for the first time. With all those contrasting layers of chocolate (or cinnamon) a Babka is always an impressive sight to behold. I hope you enjoy making and eating my version of babka as much as I did. 

Pin this Pistachio Cream and Mini Egg Babka for Later

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Yield: 6 servings

Pistachio Cream Mini Egg Babka

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This Pistachio Cream and Mini Egg Babka is made with swirled layers of rich dough and nutty pistachio cream. Baked to perfection with hidden Mini Eggs throughout, this Babka makes an impressive addition to your Easter Brunch.

Prep Time 3 hours

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients

• ½ cup milk, warmed to 100° F
• 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 7 tbsp room temperature unsalted butter; cut into little cubes
• 1 200 g jar Pistachio Cream (Pisti)
• 1/2 cup chopped non-salted pistachios
• mini eggs (optional)

Instructions

FOR THE DOUGH

1. Place warm milk in the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle yeast grains over top and let sit for 10 minutes to activate.
2. In a large mixing cup mix eggs, salt, and sugar. Add to the milk.
3. Slowly add flour, reserving the last 1/2 cup. Mix the dough with a wooden spoon.
4. Gradually add the butter, several cubes at a time, waiting for them to become incorporated in the dough.
5. Mix the dough on low (using the dough hook) until it clings together but don’t worry it will still be quite dry.
6. Turn dough out onto a surface and knead by hand. Add the last half cup of flour as the dough becomes sticky/greasy. Keep on kneading and adding until all the flour has been incorporated.
7. Place dough back in stand mixer and knead for another 10 minutes using the dough hook. Your final dough should be smooth and come away from the sides of the mixer easily.
8. Place dough in a draft free spot and let rise until doubled. This took about an hour in my oven with the light on for a bit of warmth.
9. Remove the dough from the oven, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 16×10 inch rectangle and orient so long side is facing you.

TO ASSEMBLE & BAKE

1. Spread the Pistachio Cream evenly over the rectangle, leaving an inch bare on all sides.
2. Evenly scatter the chopped pistachios over the dough.
3. Roll the dough up and away from you. You may have to stretch some of the dough to make an even roll. Pinch edges together and make sure seam stays shut.
4. With seam side up, cut the roll (with a serrated knife) into two halves lengthwise along the seam.
5. Carefully twist the two halves together in as many twists as you wish. I did three twists.
6. Cut an 18 inch strip of parchment paper. Lay it along the base of a 9 inch bread pan and make sure there’s extra over the edges. Lightly coat pan with spray.
7. Carefully condense the loaf halves together and lift into the prepared pan. Cover loosely with plastic wrap.
8. Place loaf in a draft free spot and let rise until doubled. This took about an hour in my oven with the light on for a bit of warmth.
9. Place mini eggs in the cracks, if using.
10. Bake in a 350° F pre-heated oven for 35 minutes. Let cool in pan for 15 minutes then lift out and continue to cool on a rack.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 644Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 419mgCarbohydrates: 59gFiber: 7gSugar: 9gProtein: 18g

Nutritional calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. For special diets or medical issues please use your preferred calculator.

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