Polish diminutive of baba old woman. Grandmothers traditionally baked Babkas for Easter Sunday, but nowadays, every holiday is a good reason for baking. Babka is made of rich yeast dough enhanced with raisins, and flavored with a variety of cheese and fruit fillings. Still today, original Babka recipes are kept secret within families and passed on from one generation to the next. Given its origin in many generations past, it should not be surprising that there are many different types and flavors of Babka Coffee Cakes available today.
Some recipes call for punching down the dough and letting it rise for a second time before baking.
Other recipes only require a single rising before the baking starts. After baking, it is removed from the pan and allowed to cool down completely before it is packaged and shipped. It is decided that a Babka is the best gift. Unfortunately, by the time they reach the counter, all Chocolate Babkas are sold and they end up buying a Cinnamon Raisin Babka. Of course they end up meeting the couple that managed to buy the last Chocolate Babka later at the same dinner party.