Step 1

In a small bowl, mix the warmed milk and yeast. Set this mixture aside for 5-10 minutes, until the yeast begins to foam.

Step 2

While the yeast is starting, cream the butter and sugar together with an electric hand mixer in a medium bowl. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating between each addition. Add the vanilla and the whole eggs, one at a time, beating between each addition. Set this mixture aside.

Step 3

Give the yeast mixture a stir, then add it to the bowl of your bread machine (fitted with the dough paddles). Pour the egg and butter mixture over the milk.

Step 4

Add 3 cups of flour and the salt.

Step 5

Start your bread machine on its Dough Cycle. Watch your dough as it begins to knead. Once it looks like the ingredients are completely mixed, add more flour, a ¼ cup (or less) at a time, letting the machine knead between each addition, until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Step 6

Once the dough is pulling away from the sides of the bowl, close your bread machine and let the machine run through its Dough Cycle. When the cycle is done, you are looking for the bread to be about double its bulk.

Step 7

In a small bowl, mix the warmed milk and yeast. Set this mixture aside for 5-10 minutes, until the yeast begins to foam.

Step 8

While the yeast is starting, cream the butter and sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, on medium high speed. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating between each addition. Add the vanilla and whole eggs, one at a time, beating between each addition.

Step 9

Give the yeast mixture a stir, then add it to the bowl with your butter and egg mixture. Mix to combine.

Step 10

Add 3 cups of flour and the salt. Mix with the paddle attachment, just until the ingredients are combined, then switch to your dough hook.

Step 11

Knead the dough on medium high speed with the dough hook. Add flour, a ¼ cup (or less) at a time, until the dough comes together and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Continue to knead for 5-8 minutes, until the dough is very smooth.

Step 12

Transfer the dough to a clean, greased bowl and cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap. Set the dough in a warm, draft free place to rise until doubled, 1 - 2 hours.

Step 13

While the dough is rising, make the filling by whisking all of the filling ingredients together in a medium bowl, until smooth. Set aside.

Step 14

Grease a 9x5 loaf pan and line it with greased parchment paper.

Step 15

Tip the dough out of its rising bowl onto a well-floured surface.

Step 16

Punch the dough down and roll it out into a roughly 18x15 inch rectangle.

Step 17

Spread filling evenly over dough, leaving a 1 inch border on the long sides.

Step 18

Roll the dough, starting from one of the long sides.

Step 19

Cut the roll in half, lengthwise, turning it into two strands.

Step 20

Twist the two strands together, trying to keep the cut (exposed filling) side on top, as much as possible.

Step 21

Finally, shape your twisted dough into a figure 8, again keeping the cut sides up as much as possible. Place this twisted figure 8 into the greased and lined loaf pan.

Step 22

Cover the dough in the pan loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes.

Step 23

After 30 minutes, preheat your oven to 350F.

Step 24

When the dough has risen slightly and looks puffy, remove the plastic wrap and brush the top of the dough with the beaten egg white egg wash.

Step 25

Bake the bread at 350F for 45-55 minutes, until the top crust is deeply golden and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. (The internal temperature of the loaf should read around 180F when the bread is done). (It may be helpful to place a piece of aluminum foil or an aluminum foil lined baking sheet on the rack under the bread to catch any filling that my bubble out of the loaf.)

Step 26

Once the loaf is done, cool the bread in the pan for 10 minutes, before gently removing the bread from the pan to continue to cool for 10-20 minutes before slicing.

Step 27

The babka will stay fresh stored in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, then move the bread to the refrigerator.