Strawberry Cheesecake Babka

With Shavuot right around the corner, I wanted to make a dairy dessert that was cheesecake inspired! This strawberry cheesecake babka is perfect for Shavuot!

What you will need:

Babka dough {recipe here}

Vanilla Powder Filling

2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 box vanilla pudding mix

Cheese Filling

8 oz of whipped cream cheese

½ cup granulated sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

1 egg yolk

Add ins

Freeze dried strawberries

Graham cracker pieces

Crumb Topping

1 cup flour

1 cup powdered sugar

6 tbsp canola oil 

Directions

Prepare babka dough according to instructions here, recipe makes 3 babkas.

Prepare the babka crumbs: Mix crumb ingredients together until crumbs form. The consistency should be similar to wet sand. Add in some of the graham cracker pieces and crushed up freeze dried strawberries. 

Prepare the cheese filling: whip all ingredients together in a bowl of a stand mixer and chill until ready to use. 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 3 (2 lb) loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line each with parchment paper. 

Divide dough into 3 portions. Roll 1 portion into a 13x10x¼” rectangle. Spread on a layer of the cheese filling, the dust an even layer of the vanilla powder filling and top with graham cracker pieces and pulverized freeze dried strawberries. 

Roll dough over filling to form a log. Twist log; fold in half. Place into prepared pan. Cut a shallow slit across the length of the log. Repeat with remaining portions. Top loaves with babka crumbs and toppings.  

Place loaf pans onto a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes; rotate pans. Bake additional 15 minutes; babka crumb topping should be golden brown.

Cool on cooling racks. Do not cut into babka until it has cooled, as dough continues to bake even after being removed from oven.

Look at all of those cheesecakey layers!

Enjoy!