Pumpkin Sourdough Babka Recipe

This Pumpkin Sourdough Babka Recipe is a fun twist on the traditional chocolate filled babka. The sourdough babka is light and fluffy, with a delicious swirl of sweet pumpkin filling. This recipe will break the process down into easy steps, and the result will be an impressively beautiful dessert bread!

What is Babka?

Babka is a type of bread that has been around for centuries and is original to the Jewish community. However, the babka that is mostly seen today in bakeries or in recipes online has changed significantly. It was originally made to be kosher and excluded the creamy buttery filling that is enjoyed in many recipes today. Most babka recipes found today have diverted from their traditional roots. Babka today is closest to a brioche dough with milk, butter, eggs and honey and includes a buttery chocolate filling swirled into the dough. To form the loaves, the dough is divided in half and twisted around itself to make a beautiful and unique loaf.

What is in Pumpkin Sourdough Babka Recipe?

This pumpkin sourdough babka recipe is similar to the chocolate babka that is most popular, however there are several variations that make this more seasonal to fall and winter. The dough contains sourdough starter, milk, pumpkin puree, honey, eggs, flour, salt and butter. Lots of butter! This makes for a delicious, moist and light dough.

The filling is made with butter, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice. Immediately when it is removed from the oven, the top is brushed with a melted sugar-water glaze. All of this balances well and is enjoyed on its own, no need for butter or anything extra!

WHERE TO BUY ORGANIC FOODS IN BULK AT A GREAT PRICE:

I have been using Azure Standard for several years now to purchase organic produce, non-perishables and other kitchen staples in bulk. It is an excellent way to get quality organic products at a much more affordable price than you can find in the grocery stores. Azure Standard delivers their groceries once a month in a unique way, click on their location finder to see if there is a drop location near you. You would be surprised, there are drop locations all over the country. Once you select your drop location and place your order, you can edit it until the cutoff date/time. You pick up the order at the determined time and location when the truck delivers the pallet of goods. Another benefit is that you earn money that can be used for future purchases on each order. This is a great way to meet other like-minded people in your community!

Tools you may need:

• Stand Mixer or Dough Whisk/Mixing Bowl
• Kitchen Scale
• Parchment Paper
• Bench Scraper and Sharp Knife
• 2 Bread Loaf Pans
• Pastry Brush

Pumpkin Sourdough Babka Recipe

Mix the Dough

Start by feeding your sourdough starter 6-8 hours before you are wanting to mix up the dough. Mix together the active sourdough starter, milk, pumpkin puree, honey, eggs, and egg yolks.

Add the flour and salt and mix together either with your dough whisk or the stand mixer using the dough hook attachment. Add chopped up room temperature butter and continue to mix till combined with dough hook.

Continue to mix on medium-low speed until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl (around 10-15 minutes).

If mixing by hand, you will need to work the butter into the dough with your hands and then perform 4 series of stretch and folds every 15 minutes till the dough is smooth.

This is a sticky dough, so the mixing allows the gluten to develop and by the end of mixing or stretch and folds it should start to hold its shape a bit more.

Bulk Rise

Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap and let the dough bulk rise at room temperature for 10-14 hours until the dough has doubled in size. This will vary depending on the temperature in your home, you can place it in a slightly warmer area of your home to encourage it to rise quicker, just keep an eye on it so that it does not overproof.

If you are not ready to assemble the babka once it has doubled, you can refrigerate the dough at this point. Make sure the dough covered with plastic wrap or is in an airtight container and you can refrigerate the dough for 24-48 hours.

Make Pumpkin Filling and Shape Pumpkin Sourdough Babka

Once it has doubled, mix up the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, softened butter and pumpkin spice in a small bowl. If you are out of pumpkin spice, you can get my favorite recipe for homemade pumpkin spice blend here!

Weigh the dough and divide it into two pieces. Roll one of the doughs out onto a floured surface into a 12″ x 16″ rectangle.

Spread half of the the pumpkin filling onto the dough, leaving one inch border on one of the 12″ sides.

Starting at the opposite 12″ side, roll the dough into a log, ending at the side you left the border (much like you would roll dough for cinnamon rolls).

Slice the log into half lengthwise with a sharp knife to expose the beautiful pumpkin layers between the dough. Place the two pieces of dough sliced side up on a piece of parchment paper. Criss cross the two halves so they are twisting around each other.

Pick up the sides of the parchment paper and place the pumpkin sourdough babka dough into a loaf pan.

Repeat for the second piece of dough.

Cover with damp tea towel and let rise for 2-4 hours till puffy and risen.

Bake and Make Glaze

Bake in 350℉ oven for 45 minutes until it is cooked through.

While babka is baking, mix together the water-brown sugar glaze in a small saucepan on the stove.

As soon as the babka comes out of the oven, use a pastry brush to cover the top of the pumpkin sourdough babka. This will keep the dough from drying out and gives it a slightly crispy top once it cools and hardens. Trust me, you do not want to skip over this step! (remember, this is a treat!)

Allow the pumpkin sourdough babka to cool for 30 minutes before serving.

This can be enjoyed once it has cooled or can be made ahead. If making ahead, allow to completely cool then store in an airtight container or plastic wrap up to 3 days.

Pin it for Later!

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love to know! Come back and leave a review! Tag me on Instagram @oursimplegraces

OTHER GREAT RECIPES TO TRY:

• Sourdough Apple Coffee Cake
• Sourdough Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
• Pumpkin Sourdough Bagels with pumpkin cream cheese
• Easy Berry Crisp
• Sourdough Cinnamon Swirl Bread
• Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
• Cinnamon Crunch Sourdough Bagels
• Sourdough Orange Cinnamon Rolls

The post Pumpkin Sourdough Babka Recipe appeared first on Our Simple Graces.