Pumpkin Babka with Cinnamon Pecan Swirl

This pumpkin babka is soft and tender with a delicious cinnamon-pecan swirl. There is a little orange zest in the filling too, because thats such a good combination with pumpkin!

pumpkin babka.

Babka is a sweet bread that originated from Eastern European Jewish tradition. It uses an enriched dough, similar to a brioche dough but slightly less enriched to make it easier to shape. It can be filled with chocolate too, but I think a cinnamon-babka is always the way to go.

The dough is easiest to make in a stand mixer with a dough hook because it’s pretty sticky thanks to all the butter and eggs. It needs a long kneading time to properly develop the gluten. If you are going to be kneading by hand, I recommend using the slap and fold method. If you’re not familiar, I explain that a bit further down this post.

ripped piece of babka.

Here’s what you need:

  • All-purpose flour – All-purpose flour is used for this recipe, one with a protein level of around 11-12%.
  • Yeast – The yeast used in this recipe can be instant yeast or active dry yeast.
  • Milk. This can be whole milk or skim. 
  • Large eggs.
  • Soft brown sugar and salt. Not too much since there is also a sweet filling.
  • Ground cinnamon, orange zest and pecans – The fillings, and there’s a little cinnamon in the dough.
  • Butter – Lots of butter to make an extra enriched dough.

Equipment

A stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment- A stand mixer makes this brioche recipe nice and easy. It is possible to knead by hand, but with such a large amount of butter and eggs in the dough, it takes a lot of arm muscle.
Two 9×5 inch loaf pans

Slap and fold kneading method

The slap and fold method is is really good for developing gluten by hand in a sticky dough.

Lightly flour your work surface and place the dough on it. Pick up the dough with both hands, lift it, and slap it down onto the surface. After slapping, fold the dough over itself by bringing the bottom edge up over the top of the dough.

Rotate the dough slightly and repeat this motion continuously for about 8-10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

Method

  1. Start by measuring all your ingredients out so they are ready to go. I always use grams to measure both dry and liquid ingredients but I have added US cup conversions in the recipe card too. The results may vary though as cups can be filled differently.
    Then, in the bowl of a stand mixer, add all the ingredients except for the butter and mix for around 5 to begin developing the gluten. Fat slows down gluten development so I wait to add the butter til after it’s been mixing a while.
Pumpkin cinnamon babka dough.
Mix the dough until it’s strong and glossy and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  1. Once it’s mixed enough it should be strong and glossy and start pulling away from the sides of the bowl. Be patient, it takes a while. To see if it has been worked enough, let the dough rest for 5 minutes and then take a small piece of dough and stretch it between your fingers. If it stretches without breaking and you can see light through it, the dough is ready.
  2. Then transfer it to a large bowl, cover it so it doesn’t dry out and let it rise until doubled in size. How long this takes will depend on your room temperature. You can also let the dough rise slowly in the fridge overnight. If you want to do it this way, let it rise for about 20 minutes at room temperature first, then cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
  1. Mix together the filling ingredients and set them aside until you need them. Pull the risen dough from the bowl and shape into ball. If it comes from the fridge, let it sit and come to room temperature for about 20 minutes first. Weigh it, and cut it into two equal pieces. Roll each into a rectangle and spread with the filling and chopped pecans. Roll them up into a log and chill to stiffen up the butter in the filling. It will make things much easier to shape.
cinnamon filling and pecans.
The addition of orange zest in the filling is so good! And pecans add texture.
  1. Once chilled, slice a log in half lengthwise with a sharp knife to expose the filling. Place the two halves side by side, with the cut sides facing up. Gently cross one piece over the other to start forming a twist. Continue overlapping the two strips, keeping the cut sides facing up to showcase the filling.
  2. Place the braid into a prepared loaf pan, you might need to gently squash it in a bit, and let it rise until doubled in size.
  3. Then bake until deep golden brown and brush with sugar syrup. Let the loaves cool a bit before slicing.
plaited pumpkin babka.
Chill the dough before braiding to make it easier to shape, and ensure you let the shaped Babka rise sufficiently.
sugar syrup being brushed on pumpkin babka.
Brush the baked babka with plenty of sugar syrup, it soaks it all up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yup, you can prepare the dough a day ahead and let it rest in the refrigerator overnight. It’ll be cold and stiff when it comes from the fridge, so let it sit and come to room temperature before pulling from the bowl and shaping.

What if I don’t have a stand mixer?

The dough can be kneaded by hand, but it will take about 10-15 minutes of slap and folding until it becomes glossy and strong. It’s sticky though, so if you’re not used to working with a sticky dough, I would recommend borrowing a stand mixer.

How do I know when the babka is fully baked?

You can use a thermometer to ensure the center has reached around 190°F (88°C).

What do I do if my babka doesn’t rise properly?

Check that your yeast is active and hasn’t expired. Also, make sure the dough is placed in a warm, draft-free spot to rise. It should be doubled in size before baking, but not more than that or it might collapse.

Storing

This pumpkin babka can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Alternatively, it can be frozen in a freezer bag for future use. Leftover babka reheats well in the microwave for 5-10 seconds until warm.  It makes delicious French toast too!

slice of babka bread.

Related recipes

pumpkin babka.

Pumpkin Babka

Elien Lewis
This pumpkin babka is soft and tender with a delicious cinnamon-pecan swirl. There is a little orange zest in the filling too, because thats such a good combination with pumpkin! Makes two loaves.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
4 hours
Total Time 5 hours 5 minutes
Course Dessert, Sweet Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 381 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 60 g whole milk lukewarm
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast or active dried yeast
  • 600 g all-purpose flour with a protein level of 11-12%
  • 170 g pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 100 g soft brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 170 g unsalted butter at room temperature, cubed

Filling

  • 113 g unsalted butter softened
  • 150 g soft brown sugar
  • 1/2 Tbsp orange zest finely grated
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 65 g pecans chopped

Syrup

  • 50 g sugar
  • 60 g water

Instructions
 

  • Add the warm milk and stir in the yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.If using active dry yeast, let this mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy. To this yeast mixture, add the flour, eggs, sugar, pumpkin puree, cinnamon and salt.
  • Turn the mixer on medium-low speed and combine it until a thick dough forms. Mix for around 5 minutes to begin developing the gluten.
  • Add in the cubed butter a bit at a time. Turn the mixer on medium speed and keep it mixing until the sticky dough strengthens, comes together, and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl. This will take around 15 minutes of mixing.
  • Proper gluten development will allow you to stretch the dough so thin you can almost see through it. This is called the windowpane test. To test this, let the dough rest for 5 minutes, then grab a piece and stretch it.
  • Pull the dough from the bowl onto a bench and form it into a smooth ball. Place the dough ball into a large bowl, cover it with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for around 1.5- 2 hours until the dough doubles.

Filling and Shaping

  • Mix softened butter, brown sugar, orange zest and cinnamon in a medium bowl with an electric mixer into a creamy paste.
  • Grease and line two 9×5 inch loaf pans with parchment paper.
  • Deflate the dough and pull it from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Weigh the dough on kitchen scales and cut it into two equal pieces.
  • Take one piece and use a rolling pin to roll it into a rectangle measuring around 11×14 inches (27×35 cm rectangle).
  • Dollop half the butter mixture over the rectangle in little pieces. Use an offset spatula to spread it out, leaving a ½ inch (1cm) border around all the sides. Sprinkle over chopped pecans.
  • Roll it up, from the long edge of the dough into a log, jelly roll style. Place it in the fridge for 20 minutes to chill. Repeat with the other dough piece and the remaining filling.
  • Once chilled, slice a log in half lengthwise with a sharp knife to expose the filling. Take the top two ends and fold them over. Lift the left half over the right half in the middle of the dough, and repeat down and up, to make a braid. When you reach the ends, tuck the dough underneath to compact the loaf.
  • Place the braid into a prepared loaf pan. Repeat the process with the second half of the dough.
  • Loosely cover and let the babkas undergo a second rise until they nearly double in size, around 1-2 hours. The rising time depends on room temperature.

Baking

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C and place a rack in the middle. Bake the risen babka for approximately 40 minutes until deep golden brown. If they are browning too much, loosely cover the tops with foil.
  • While baking the babkas, prepare the sugar syrup to glaze them. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring it to a simmer until the sugar dissolves, then remove it from the heat.
  • Once the babkas are removed from the oven, brush the top of the babka liberally with the syrup.
  • Let them cool in their pans for 20 minutes, then remove them and let them cool further on a wire rack.

Notes

Measurements – Both grams and US cup sizes are provided. Use the toggle on the recipe card to switch between the two.
Flour. This recipe works best with flour with around 11% protein. All-purpose flour protein levels can vary between brands, and the name of the flour itself can vary between countries. It’s best to check protein levels rather than just the name of the flour
Kneading by hand. This dough can be kneaded by hand, although it may take longer and require more effort. If kneading by hand I recommend using a slap and fold method. There is info in the above post on how to do this.
Fridge rise. You can also let the dough rise slowly in the fridge overnight. If you want to do it this way, let it rise for about 20 minutes at room temperature first, then cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 381kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 7gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 263mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 2gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 2173IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Babka, Pumpkin
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