Every couple weeks or so, we send out a little roundup of new recipes, techniques, and tutorials that we’ve recently posted on the site. Occasionally we announce exclusive giveaways to newsletter subscribers as well. We won’t spam you with ads or share or sell your email address. Every email we send has a 1-click unsubscribe link if you decide it’s not for you.
Apple Almond Raisin Sourdough Babka
This recipe is a babka-fication of our Sourdough Apple Almond Raisin Bread from many autumns ago. And that bread was actually a breadi-fication of a Moroccan baked apple dessert! There are so many delicious ways to enjoy the abundance of apples in the fall.
Babka is a swirly layered bread that is usually quite sweet. It’s filled with cinnamon or chocolate and often covered in streusel and soaked in a sugar syrup. While it’s not a savory babka, this fruity and nutty babka actually isn’t very sweet either. I simply separated out the pureed apple, almonds, raisins etc. that would’ve been folded into the bread dough early on, and I made a paste to spread on the dough after the bulk fermentation along with one thinly sliced apple.
I added a rum simple syrup to the loaf after enjoying a few almost-savory slices of this babka. Rum and apple seemed like a delicious flavor pairing and I wanted the babka to be a little sweeter. Of course, you can skip the rum in the simple syrup, or skip using any syrup altogether if you want minimal sweetness.
The original bread with the additions blended into the dough
Babka version with the additions swirled in layers
I used whole grain durum wheat flour at 30% of the total flour in this bread because I wanted durum’s nutty flavor, golden color, and the extra fiber and nutrients from whole grain flour. Different wheat varieties and also different dried fruits or nuts would work nicely too, and adding spices such as cinnamon or cardamom. In fact, next time I make this I plan to use a darker dried fruit, rather than golden raisins, to be able to see more of the beautiful swirls in the babka crumb.
Golden raisins, apples, and almonds blending with the golden durum crumb
Apple Almond Raisin Sourdough Babka
With this delicious babka, you'll leave the well trodden path of chocolate and cinnamon, and enter into the aromatic world of apples, almonds, raisins, orange zest, orange blossom water and rum. Give it a try as is, or substitute in dates or walnuts. You can even double the rum simple syrup and make it an almost-pudding to serve warm.
Ingredients
Dough
Filling
Syrup Drizzle
Instructions
Dough Mixing & Bulk Fermentation
Filling Prep
Babka Shaping (see the Photo Gallery below)
Final Proof & Baking
Syrup Drizzle
Storage
Shopping List
High Protein Bread Flour
Durum Berries
Durum Whole Grain Flour
$8.30 – $68.65Sourdough Starter (Dry)
Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls — Set of 3
$39.99Bowl Covers (5 pcs)
JK Adams French Rolling Pin
$15.00Breadtopia’s Choice — Offset Bread Knife
American Made Bread Loaf Pan from USA Pan
Apple Almond Raisin Sourdough Babka