Babci's Babka

Total Time: 3 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (1/4 ounce) envelope dry yeast
• 1/2 cup light cream or 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1/3 cup light golden raisin
• 8 ounces cream cheese (blend cream cheese sugar, and add egg yolks, continue to blend well with mixer until smooth)
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar

Recipe

• 1 dissolve yeast in warm cream.
• 2 combine with half the sugar and half the flour and let double in size.
• 3 add all remaining ingrdients except the raisins and knead until smooth.
• 4 it will be sticky. add more flour as necessary to keep it from sticking to the counter. (i usually use at least 1 1/2 cups extra.)
• 5 add the raisins while continuing to knead.
• 6 grease a tube or bundt pan and dust with flour.
• 7 place dough in pan, cover with plastic wrap and a clean cloth and leave in a very warm draft-free place until double once again.
• 8 spread the top with cheese topping. bake at 350 for about 40 minutes or until golden brown.
• 9 note: i use a heating pad to keep the bowl warm and keep the dough rising.