Sweet Raisin Bread aka Polish Babka

Watching this week's edition of the Great British baking show was inspiring to me. The show featured a bread baking competition that exposed me to new and unique types of bread, I have aspired to baking a new kind of bread to me called babka, I found this easy recipe at King Arthur Flour, I love the recipe because they looks very simple and delish, I jumped right on it. I am very pleased with the result of my bread :), Supposedly this bread is traditionally an Easter bread, But hey, I am sure it is fine as well to serve this bread anytime, don't you think ;) ....update! and oh, it is a thumb's up from those that tried them and ate more than one slice this morning!

It's a little misleading to show breads all dressed up like a cake, But you know me,  just love to add a little sweet twist to my fun creations.

         naked Bread

           

Ingredients:
Bread:
1/2 cup lukewarm milk (heat milk in a cup in microwave for 25 sec)
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup granulated sugar
5 Tbs margarine (or butter)
2 cup All-Purpose Flour
2 tsp yeasts

Rose Water:
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanila

1. Heat milk in a glass cup in microwave for 25 sec.
2. Add yeasts to milk and let yeasts proof while you mix the below.
3. In a mixer, mix margarine and sugar until well blended.
4. Add to mixer eggs and mix well.
5. Pour in flour and milke with proofed yeast.
6. Mix at low speed and gradually to medium speed for 1 min
7. Mix in raisins and continue mixing medium speed for another min.
8. Using a spatula, scrape side of bowl and fold the dough together.
9. Cover with towel and let dough proof in warm dry place for 30 (if warm place) -60 mins (if making this during the winter)
10. Greased bundt pan, transfer dough to pan, let dough proof again for 30 mins.
11. Preheat oven at 350 degree, bake for 28-30 mins until bread looks golden.
12. Prepare sugar/rose water by heating up 1/4 cup water in microwave for 40 secs.
13. Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tsp vanila (or rum, I use vanila since I don't rum) to hot water and stir until dissolve.
14. Poke holes all over the bread with long kebab wooden sticks.
15. Pour sugar water over warm bread and let syrup soaks to bread about 20-30 mins.
16, Slightly use a spatula to loose side of bread, turn bread over onto a rack and transfer to cake plate.
17. Cut, serve and enjoy! Optional glaze or icing can be added.