Date Caramel Babka
A buttery, enriched babka swirled with a sweet date caramel may sound like an ambitious baking project, but this one is extremely doable. Dates, soaked in hot water until tender, get blended with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar until a spreadable paste forms. The mixture resembles a nutty caramel that turns irresistibly gooey once baked. The babka dough comes together without the need for a stand mixer — just a bit of elbow grease. For a tender texture and sweet sheen, the date-swirled loaf is drizzled with sugar syrup right after baking. Pair with a cup of hot coffee or cold milk for the perfect morning treat. (Watch Carolina Gelen make this recipe in this video.)
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