Cinnamon Babka Cake with Bread Machine Dough

Swirls of sugar, spice, and buttery layers make this cinnamon babka cake an irresistible treat for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. If you’ve been searching for a cinnamon babka recipe easy enough for home bakers but still bakery-worthy, this cinnamon babka recipe delivers soft, fluffy, sweet dough wrapped around a rich, gooey cinnamon swirl. Inspired by classic babka recipes, this babka recipe (cinnamon version) doubles as a stunning breakfast dessert loaf or a comforting cinnamon babka bread cake you’ll want to bake on repeat. Whether you’re exploring new babka flavors, looking for fun babka filling ideas, or mastering a go-to babka bread recipe, this homemade cinnamon babka recipe is pure creative baking joy in every slice. Best of all, just like my recipes for chocolate babka bread and babka knots, the dough for cinnamon babka cake is made in the bread machine! Read on for the easy recipe.

What is Babka Bread?

Babka bread is a braided yeast bread that was first made in Eastern European Jewish communities. Most of the time it is made as a sweet bread, but there are some savory variations. Its cake-like texture makes it a special treat for holidays. I was introduced to babka bread by my dad. Now I’m addicted, and I love to make variations as well.
My first babka bread experiment was made with a recipe from Modern Jewish Baker by Shannon Sarna. It turned out well, but took me all day. To save time, I adapted the basic sweet babka bread recipe for my bread machine, and have been pleased with the results. I love to use my bread machine for making dough for dinner rolls and pizza crust. This cinnamon babka cake might look complicated, but it’s secretly easy. I even have a video to show you how to weave the dough. Read on for the recipe!

Equipment for a Cinnamon Babka Cake

To make this bread machine cinnamon babka cake, you will need a bread machine.

You will also need:
1 9-inch cake pan

1 bread pan (The recipe makes enough dough for 3 loaves, but you will use two of the three dough sections for the babka cake.)
1 rolling pin

1 breadboard, pastry mat, or other surface for rolling out the dough
1 dough cutter or large, sharp knife for cutting the dough
1 pastry blender (optional) for making the cinnamon filling and streusel topping

1 medium microwaveable mixing bowl for making the cinnamon filling
1 small microwavable bowl for making the cinnamon streusel topping
1 spatula for spreading the filling

1 small saucepan for making the glazing syrup
Measuring cups and spoons

Cinnamon Babka Cake Ingredients

The ingredients for cinnamon babka cake are simple, basic pantry ingredients. Make sure your yeast is fresh and not expired. Here are the ingredients for the babka bread dough in the bread machine. It’s important that you add the ingredients in the order listed.
1/2 cup warm milk (whole milk is best)
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cups butter, chopped (unsalted is best)
4 and 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 and 1/2 teaspoons yeast
This will make enough dough for one babka cake and one loaf of babka bread.
For the simple sugar syrup you will need:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
This will make enough glaze for the babka cake and one babka loaf.

For the cinnamon filling you will need:
10 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
For the streusel topping (also used in my blueberry rhubarb coffee cake) you will need:
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter

Cinnamon Babka Cake Instructions

Warm 1/2 cup of milk in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add it to the bread machine.
Add all of the other babka bread dough ingredients to the bread machine in the order listed.
Run the bread machine on the dough cycle. My machine takes 90 minutes to complete a dough cycle.
While the bread machine is making the dough, make the simple sugar syrup. Mix the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a low boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Set aside to cool.
Make the cinnamon filling by combining all ingredients listed. Mix the ingredients together in a medium bowl until you have a smooth spread that’s about the consistency of peanut butter. If your butter has not softened enough, you can put the mixture in the microwave for a very brief time, 5-10 seconds.
In a small mixing bowl, make the streusel topping by mixing all streusel ingredients together using a pastry blender or fork.
Prepare the cake pan and bread pan by greasing or lining the pans with foil.

When the dough cycle has completed, remove the dough from the bread machine pan and divide it into three equal pieces. You will use two of the sections to make the cinnamon babka cake, and the other section to make a babka loaf (you can follow these instructions for that and use an easy filling like Nutella).
Roll out each of the two sections of dough into a rectangle, approximately 18 inches by 12 inches. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over each rectangle. Starting at the top, roll the dough down to encase the filling inside. Trim 1/2 inch off of each end so that the ends are even. (I like to place the rolled up scraps into a muffin tin and bake separately for about 15 minutes to have as a little snack.) Set aside while you roll out and fill the other dough section.
When both rolls are complete and trimmed, slice each roll in half lengthwise. Lay each half so that the filled layers are facing up making a number (#) sign. Use the basket weaving technique to weave the filled roll halves together. If you haven’t watched the video yet, now would be a good time. The video shows the technique, and you can pause it as often as you need.
Gently gather the woven dough and place it in the bread pan. If you are making a separate loaf with the other section of dough, place it in the bread pan. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
While the loaves are rising, turn the oven on to 350 degrees. Bake the cinnamon babka cake and the loaf for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and brush the cake and loaf with two coats of simple syrup. Sprinkle the streusel topping on top of the cinamon babka cake and return the loaf and cake to the oven.

Bake for another 15 minutes. When the cake and loaf are removed from the oven, brush the loaf immediately with another 3 light layers of syrup, but leave the cinnamon babka cake alone so as not to disturb the lovely streusel topping. Allow the cake and loaf to cool for 5 minutes, then gently go around the edge of each pan with a spatula or butter knife. Gently remove the cake and loaf from the pan and set on a wire rack to cool further.
To serve the babka cake, place it on a pretty plate, slice it, and serve. We like to warm each slice slightly and top it with a generous dollop of butter.

Babka Cake Variations

There are many variations of babka bread fillings. Here are a couple I have tried, with good results, and these make excellent fillings for babka cake as well.

Nutella Chocolate Hazelnut Babka Cake

It will take about 1 1/2 cups of Nutella to fill two sections of babka bread machine dough for a babka cake. It’s definitely a great shortcut if you don’t have time to make chocolate ganache filling from scratch.

Raspberry Babka Cake

I had some homemade seedless raspberry jam that had turned out to be very thick. It was an excellent filling for one of the bread machine babka loaves I made and would also work well as a babka cake filling. Jam of regular consistency would be very messy to work with, but if you have a thick berry spread of any flavor, that would be a delicious option.

Bread Machine Questions

Does dough rise in a bread machine?

Yes, the bread machines are designed to take the dough through the mixing and rising processes. You can even bake the bread in the machine if you like. I prefer to use the bread machine for dough and do my baking in regular pans in the oven.

Can you knead dough in a bread maker? 

Just as the bread machine is designed to take the dough through the mixing and rising processes, the machine will also do the kneading. That’s one reason why bread machines are so convenient. They do it all, and I especially like the way bread machine rolls dough turns out.

How long does a bread machine knead the dough? 

I haven’t ever timed the actual kneading process. The entire dough-making process, from mixing, kneading and rising, takes my bread machine an hour and a half. 

What order do you add ingredients to a bread machine? 

In bread machine recipes, the ingredients are usually listed in the order in which you need to add them. The general idea is to keep most of the liquid ingredients separate from the yeast until the mixing takes place in the machine. That way, the yeast will be activated at the right time.

Is it cheaper to make your own bread with a bread maker? 

If you do a Google search and ask that question, nearly all of the web results will answer “Yes”, with a few qualifiers. It depends upon the type of bread you are trying to make and the cost of the ingredients. Also, if you place a value on your time, that affects the true cost of the bread. Generally, when comparing a store-bought bread to a similar homemade bread, it’s cheaper to make your own. With a bread machine, the time factor is nearly nonexistent if you are baking the bread in the machine.

What to Serve with Cinnamon Babka Cake

Babka cake pairs beautifully with both simple and elegant accompaniments, making it perfect for a birthday brunch, breakfast, or afternoon tea. Serve thick, warm slices topped with melted butter alongside fresh fruit, berries, or citrus segments to balance the rich cinnamon swirls. Soft scrambled eggs, a vegetable frittata, or a lightly salted omelet add a savory contrast for brunch. For tea, offer babka cake with clotted cream, whipped butter, or lightly sweetened mascarpone, plus a pot of black tea or coffee.

Cinnamon Babka Cake Made Easy with Bread Machine Dough

Cinnamon babka cake made easy with bread machine dough. Try this homemade cinnamon babka recipe for a soft, swirled, bakery-style treat.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3 hours hrs

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 3 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Teatime

Cuisine Eastern European

Servings 12

Calories 260 kcal

Equipment

• 1 Bread machine
• 1 9-inch cake pan
• 1 Bread pan For the third section of babka bread dough not used in the babka cake
• 1 Rolling Pin
• 1 Breadboard, pastry mat, or other surface For rolling out the dough
• 1 Dough cutter or large, sharp knife
• 1 Pastry blender optional, for mixing the filling and streusel topping
• 1 Medium microwaveable mixing bowl For the cinnamon filling
• 1 small mixing bowl For the streusel topping
• 1 Spatula For spreading the filling
• 1 small saucepan For the sugar syrup glaze
• Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients

  

• ½ cup warm milk whole milk is best
• ½ cup lukewarm water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• ¾ cup butter unsalted is best
• 4½ cups flour
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 2½ teaspoons yeast

Simple Syrup Glaze

• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Cinnamon Filling

• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
• ¾ cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Streusel Topping

• 4 tablesooons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

 

• Warm 1/2 cup of milk in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add it to the bread machine.
• Add all of the other babka bread dough ingredients to the bread machine in the order listed.
• Run the bread machine on the dough cycle. My machine takes 90 minutes to complete a dough cycle.
• While the bread machine is making the dough, make the simple sugar syrup. Mix the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a low boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Set aside to cool.
• Make the cinnamon filling by combining all ingredients listed. Mix the ingredients in a medium bowl until you have a smooth spread that's about the consistency of peanut butter. If your butter has not softened enough, you can put the mixture in the microwave for a very brief time, 5-10 seconds.
• In a small mixing bowl, make the streusel topping by mixing all streusel ingredients together using a pastry blender or fork.
• Prepare the cake pan and bread pan by greasing or lining the pans with foil.
• When the dough cycle has completed, remove the dough from the bread machine pan and divide it into three equal pieces. You will use two of the sections to make the cinnamon babka cake, and the other section to make a babka loaf.
• Roll out each of the two sections of dough into a rectangle, approximately 18 inches by 12 inches. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over each rectangle. Starting at the top, roll the dough down to encase the filling inside. Trim 1/2 inch off of each end so that the ends are even. (I like to place the rolled up scraps into a muffin tin and bake separately for about 15 minutes to have as a little snack.) Set aside while you roll out and fill the other dough section.
• When both rolls are complete and trimmed, slice each roll in half lengthwise. Lay each half so that the filled layers are facing up to make a number (#) sign. Use the basket-weaving technique to weave the filled roll halves together. If you haven’t watched the video yet, now would be a good time. The video shows the technique, and you can pause it as often as you need.
• Gently gather the woven dough and place it in the bread pan. If you are making a separate loaf with the other section of dough, place it in the bread pan. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
• While the loaves are rising, turn the oven on to 350 degrees. Bake the cinnamon babka cake and the loaf for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and brush the cake and loaf with two coats of simple syrup. Sprinkle the streusel topping on top of the cinamon babka cake and return the loaf and cake to the oven.
• Bake for another 15 minutes. When the cake and loaf are removed from the oven, brush the loaf immediately with another 3 light layers of syrup, but leave the cinnamon babka cake alone so as not to disturb the lovely streusel topping. Allow the cake and loaf to cool for 5 minutes, then gently go around the edge of each pan with a spatula or butter knife. Gently remove the cake and loaf from the pan and set on a wire rack to cool further.

Video

Keyword bread, breakfast, brunch, cake, cinnamon, desserts, teatime

More Easy Baking Recipes

I love the way these old fashioned gingersnaps fill the kitchen with their delightful fragrance when they are baking. Easy oatmeal apple crisp and blueberry rhubarb crisp are great ways to use fresh or frozen fruit in baked desserts. If you are hosting a tea party, easy white chocolate raspberry scones are a nice treat. Whatever the occasion, freshly baked goods make it even more special. Now that you know how to make babka cake using bread machine dough, I hope you get inspired to give this bread machine babka cake recipe a try.

More Meal Inspiration

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Lisa Mitchell is a wife, mom, and school librarian who likes to create and share recipes, often using fresh ingredients from her family’s small Pacific Northwest farm. For more delicious, easy recipes, click on over to the Food page.
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