BABKA MAKOWIEC POLISH POPPY SEED ROLL
INGREDIENTS for the dough:
1 cup (250 ml)
milk 4 teaspoons (15 g)
sugar 2 packets (14 g)
yeast 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup (50 g) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla for the filling: 10 ounces (300 g) poppy seeds
1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
2 teaspoons butter
2 egg whites
3 tablespoons honey
1 cup raisins
1 egg
1 tablespoon oil for glaze (optional);
2 cups powdered sugar 1/4 cup milk
INSTRUCTIONS
- COVER THE POPPY SEEDS IN BOILING WATER AND LET SIT FOR A FEW HOURS OR OVERNIGHT
- HEAT THE MILK TO 110 F (43 C), POUR INTO A LARGE BOWL
- STIR IN THE SUGAR AND THE YEAST, LET SIT FOR 5 MINUTES
- STIR IN THE FLOUR, SALT, EGG YOLK, BUTTER, AND VANILLA, KNEADING MY HAND TO WORK IN ALL OF THE FLOUR
- COVER THE BOWL WITH A DISH TOWEL AND LET RISE UNTIL DOUBLED IN SIZE ABOUT 90 MINUTES
- WHILE THE DOUGH RISES, STRAIN THE WATER FROM THE POPPY SEEDS USING A PAPER TOWEL LINED COLANDER
- GRIND THE POPPY SEEDS IN A SPICE (CLEAN ELECTRIC COFFEE GRINDER) OR A FOOD PROCESSOR, YOU’LL GET THE BEST RESULTS WITH A SPICE GRINDER, BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO PROCESS IN BATCHES
- MIX SUGAR, BUTTER, EGG WHITES, HONEY, GROUND RAISINS (PROCESS IN YOUR SPICE GRINDER OR JUST ADD TO THE FOOD PROCESSOR AND MIX) AND ALMOND EXTRACT
- PUNCH DOWN THE DOUGH, AND DIVIDE IN TWO
- ROLL EACH PIECE INTO A 14 INCH X 10 INCH RECTANGLE
- SPREAD HALF OF THE POPPY SEED FILLING IN EACH RECTANGLE, AVOIDING THE EDGES
- ROLL UP (ON THE LONG SIDE), PINCHING TO SEAL THE DOUGH, TUCKING THE END UNDERNEATH AND PINCHING TO KEEP THE FILLING FROM LEAKING OUT
- PLACE THE ROLLS ON A PARCHMENT LINED BAKING SHEET, SEAM SIDE DOWN
- COVER WITH DISH TOWEL AND LET RISE 35-40 MINUTES
- PREHEAT OVER TO 350 F (175 C)
- BRUSH WITH EGG BEATEN WITH OIL, BAKE FOR 35 MINUTES
- COOL
- (OPTIONAL) STIR MILK INTO POWDERED SUGAR AND POUR/DRIZZLE OVER THE ROLLS
- CUT INTO 1/2 INCH SLICES