A freshly baked golden brown loaf of poppy seed sourdough babka.

Poppy Seed Sourdough Babka

This sourdough babka has a soft and tender crumb with beautiful swirls of sweet poppy seed filling. It’s made with an enriched brioche-like dough, which contributes to a delicate texture and a rich taste, making it a delicious sweet treat for any time of the day. 

Homemade poppy seed sourdough babka on a wooden board.

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

  • Sourdough starter this sourdough babka is naturally leavened with a sweet, stiff leaven and doesn’t contain commercial yeast. To make the leaven, you need an active sourdough starter and refresh it with water, sugar, and flour. A sweet leaven has a very mild aroma and prevents the dough from becoming too tangy or acidic. 
  • Milk – to hydrate and tenderize the dough. Milk softens the gluten structure and contributes to a soft and delicate texture. 
  • Egg – to provide structure and achieve a moist and tender texture. 
  • Sugar – regular granulated sugar adds a pleasant sweetness to the dough and is also used for the filling.
  • Flour – bread flour with a protein content of at least 12%. 
  • Butter – adds richness and is essential for a soft and tender texture.
  • Salt – strengthens the gluten structure and is necessary for the overall flavor. 
  • Sweet poppy seed filling – the filling is made of ground poppy seeds, milk, sugar, cinnamon, rum, and honey.
  • Stand mixer with paddle attachment and dough hook –  the dough is enriched with butter and egg and requires thorough mixing and kneading to develop enough strength and structure. Using a stand mixer gets the job done more efficiently than mixing by hand. 
  • Loaf pan – I use a standard 9 × 5 inch loaf pan (23 × 13 cm). 
  • Parchment paper – to line the loaf pan.
  • Pastry brush – to brush the dough with egg wash before baking. 
A freshly baked golden brown loaf of poppy seed sourdough babka.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Sourdough Babka

Step 1 | Make the sweet leaven:

In a mason jar, combine the sourdough starter, lukewarm water, and sugar. Stir until the starter is fully dissolved. Add the flour and mix well to incorporate. The leaven will have a stiff, dough-like consistency. To make sure that the ingredients are well combined, you can briefly knead the leaven on the counter until it feels smooth and elastic. Then, place it back into the jar and loosely cover it with a lid. Let it rise in a warm spot (27 °C–30 °C) for about four hours, or until it has at least doubled in size and looks airy. It should have a pleasant dairy-like smell and a slightly sweet aroma. 

Step 2 | Make the main dough:

Add the active leaven, sugar, egg, and milk to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until the ingredients are well combined and the leaven is fully dissolved. Then, switch to the dough hook and add the flour to the bowl. Mix on low speed for a couple of minutes until the flour is fully incorporated. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. This allows the flour to fully absorb the liquids, which makes the dough more cohesive. While the dough is resting, cut the butter into small cubes and let it soften. 

Crumb shot of a sourdough babka with swirls of sweet poppy seed filling.
Step 3 | Develop Dough STrength:

Add the salt to the dough and knead for a couple of minutes. Then, while the mixer is running on low speed, add the softened butter cubes, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Once all the ingredients are well combined, increase the speed to medium and knead the dough for about 15 minutes to build sufficient dough strength. The dough is fully developed when it releases from the sides of the mixing bowl and clings to the dough hook. After kneading, it will have a shiny surface and should feel soft and smooth. 

Step 4 | First Rise:

Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rest in a warm spot (26 °C–28 °C) for the first rise. This will take about 4 hours. By the end of the first rise, you should see lots of small air bubbles throughout the dough, but it doesn’t have to double in size during this time. Then, place it in the fridge for a cold overnight rise. 

Step 5 | Make the Poppy Seed Filling:

The next morning, take the dough out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Meanwhile, prepare the poppy seed filling: Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat. Add the milk, sugar, honey, rum, and cinnamon and bring it to a boil. Stir in the poppy seeds and take the pot off the heat. Cover it with a lid, and let the mixture soak for about 15 minutes. Then, transfer it to a small bowl and let it cool to room temperature.

Crumb shot of a sourdough babka with swirls of poppy seed filling.
Step 6 | ROll the dough OUt:

Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and roll it out into a rectangle (about 30 × 50 cm). Evenly spread the poppy seed filling over the dough, leaving a bit of space around the edges. Then, starting from one short side, roll the dough up into a tight log with the seam side facing down. Using a very sharp knife, cut the log in half lengthwise.

Step 7 | Shape the babka:

Line a loaf tin with parchment paper and set it aside. Twist the two strands together to shape a babka: Starting in the middle, cross the left strand over the right. Then, twist the upper half and cross the right side under the left. Then again, left over right, and so on. Continue until the top part is fully twisted, and repeat the process on the lower half. Gently lift it up and place it into the prepared loaf tin.

Step 8 | Second Rise:

Cover the tin loosely with plastic wrap and let it proof in a warm spot (30 °C) for the second rise. This will take about 4 hours. Keep in mind that it may take longer in a cooler proofing environment. The babka is fully proofed and ready to bake when it has significantly increased in size and has risen slightly above the rim of the loaf pan. 

Shaped and fully proofed sourdough babka rising slightly above the rim of the loaf pan.
Step 9 | Bake the babka:

Pre-heat the oven to 180 °C. Brush the top of the dough with egg wash and bake the babka for about 40–50 minutes. It is done when the surface is golden brown and the internal temperature has reached at least 83 °C. Take it out of the oven and let it rest in the loaf tin for about 10 minutes. Then lift it out and allow it to cool to room temperature before cutting into it. 

Sample Baking Schedule

Day 1
  • 8 AM: Make the leaven and let it rise in a warm spot until active and doubled in size.
  • 12 PM: Make the main dough and let it rise in a warm spot.
  • 5 PM: Place the dough in the fridge for a cold overnight rise.
Day 2
  • 9:00 AM: Make the filling and let the dough come to room temperature.
  • 10 AM: Add the filling and shape the babka. Let it proof in a warm spot until it looks airy and has significantly increased in size.
  • 2 PM: Bake the babka.

More Sourdough Recipes You May Like:

Crumb shot of a sourdough babka with swirls of poppy seed filling.

Poppy Seed Sourdough Babka

published by: Julia
This sourdough babka has a soft and tender crumb with beautiful swirls of sweet poppy seed filling. It’s made with an enriched brioche-like dough, which contributes to a delicate texture and a rich taste, making it a delicious sweet treat for any time of the day. 
Prep 1 hour
Cook 45 minutes
Rest Time 20 hours
Total 21 hours 45 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine Eastern European
Servings 1 Loaf
Calories 4760 kcal

Equipment

  • Stand mixer with paddle attachment and dough hook
  • Loaf pan – (23 x 13 cm | 9 x 5 inch)
  • Parchment paper
  • Pastry brush

Ingredients
  

For the stiff, sweet leaven:
  • 40 g sourdough starter
  • 40 g water – lukewarm
  • 15 g sugar
  • 80 g bread flour
For the main dough:
  • All of the active leaven
  • 160 ml milk
  • 1 egg
  • 85 g sugar
  • 320 g bread flour
  • 8 g salt
  • 100 g butter – cut into small cubes and softened
For the poppy seed filling:
  • 40 g butter
  • 150 ml milk
  • 100 g sugar
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp rum
  • 200 g ground poppy seeds
For the egg wash:
  • 1 egg – beaten

Instructions
 

  • MAKE THE SWEET LEAVEN:
    In a mason jar, combine the sourdough starter, lukewarm water, and sugar. Stir until the starter is fully dissolved. Add the flour and mix well to incorporate. The leaven will have a stiff, dough-like consistency. To make sure that the ingredients are well combined, you can briefly knead the leaven on the counter until it feels smooth and elastic. Then, place it back into the jar and loosely cover it with a lid. Let it rise in a warm spot (27 °C–30 °C) for about four hours, or until it has at least doubled in size and looks airy. It should have a pleasant dairy-like smell and a slightly sweet aroma.
  • MAKE THE MAIN DOUGH:
    Add the active leaven, sugar, egg, and milk to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until the ingredients are well combined and the leaven is fully dissolved. Then, switch to the dough hook and add the flour to the bowl. Mix on low speed for a couple of minutes until the flour is fully incorporated. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. This allows the flour to fully absorb the liquids, which makes the dough more cohesive. While the dough is resting, cut the butter into small cubes and let it soften.
  • DEVELOP DOUGH STRENGTH:
    Add the salt to the dough and knead for a couple of minutes. Then, while the mixer is running on low speed, add the softened butter cubes, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Once all the ingredients are well combined, increase the speed to medium and knead the dough for about 15 minutes to build sufficient dough strength. The dough is fully developed when it releases from the sides of the mixing bowl and clings to the dough hook. After kneading, it will have a shiny surface and should feel soft and smooth.
  • FIRST RISE:
    Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rest in a warm spot (26 °C–28 °C) for the first rise. This will take about 4 hours. By the end of the first rise, you should see lots of small air bubbles throughout the dough, but it doesn’t have to double in size during this time. Then, place it in the fridge for a cold overnight rise.
  • MAKE THE POPPY SEED FILLING:
    The next morning, take the dough out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Meanwhile, prepare the poppy seed filling: Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat. Add the milk, sugar, honey, rum, and cinnamon and bring it to a boil. Stir in the poppy seeds and take the pot off the heat. Cover it with a lid, and let the mixture soak for about 15 minutes. Then, transfer it to a small bowl and let it cool to room temperature.
  • ROLL THE DOUGH OUT:
    Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and roll it out into a rectangle (about 30 × 50 cm). Evenly spread the poppy seed filling over the dough, leaving a bit of space around the edges. Then, starting from one short side, roll the dough up into a tight log with the seam side facing down. Using a very sharp knife, cut the log in half lengthwise.
  • SHAPE THE BABKA:
    Line a loaf tin with parchment paper and set it aside. Twist the two strands together to shape a babka: Starting in the middle, cross the left strand over the right. Then, twist the upper half and cross the right side under the left. Then again, left over right, and so on. Continue until the top part is fully twisted, and repeat the process on the lower half. Gently lift it up and place it into the prepared loaf tin.
  • SECOND RISE:
    Cover the tin loosely with plastic wrap and let it proof in a warm spot (30 °C) for the second rise. This will take about 4 hours. Keep in mind that it may take longer in a cooler proofing environment. The babka is fully proofed and ready to bake when it has significantly increased in size and has risen slightly above the rim of the loaf pan.
  • BAKE THE BABKA:
    Pre-heat the oven to 180 °C. Brush the top of the dough with egg wash and bake the babka for about 40–50 minutes. It is done when the surface is golden brown and the internal temperature has reached at least 83 °C. Take it out of the oven and let it rest in the loaf tin for about 10 minutes. Then lift it out and allow it to cool to room temperature before cutting into it.

Nutrition

Calories: 4760kcalCarbohydrates: 588gProtein: 108gFat: 223gSaturated Fat: 91gPolyunsaturated Fat: 66gMonounsaturated Fat: 47gTrans Fat: 5gCholesterol: 667mgSodium: 4313mgPotassium: 2497mgFiber: 50gSugar: 240gVitamin A: 4506IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 3439mgIron: 25mg
Keywords Babka Recipe, Enriched Sourdough, Poppy Seed Sourdough Babka, Soft and sweet sourdough bread, soft sourdough recipe, Sourdough Babka

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *