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This White Chocolate Cranberry Babka is a delicious holiday treat filled with white chocolate and dried cranberries.

White Chocolate Cranberry Babka
Each day I watch my dog’s face turn a little bit whiter with age.

It’s been a hard health year for her and I and I can’t help but wonder if this is our last Christmas together as Crazy Cocker Spaniel turns 15 this coming year.

I joke with the stepkids and my husband to make sure and pet the dog real well as that’s their Christmas gift this year.

Since all the holiday money went to the vet :D).

And while it’s a joke, kind of, I’m doing my best to really soak in this time with her.

I should have been making treats for the hockey team today but instead my old pup was lying on the couch with her head in my lap.

And I wasn’t going to give that up for cookies (besides there is leftover candy cane fudge).

CCSatdoor
Not to say that Crazy Cocker Spaniel is on her last leg, but her constant skin infections are not good.

She’s a giant walking scab (yes, gross to mention on a blog that has recipes :P).

The groomer won’t even groom her because she’s afraid of hitting something.

And while we got her inflammation down finally I feel bad that she is constantly itching and only family wants to pet her now as her once silky hair is gone in patches.

And she makes Christmas (aka dandruff) everywhere she goes.

But her heart is the same and what a good heart it is.

That’s what I still see in her.

Even if she loses all her hair and no one else wants to love her, I will, because all I see are her soulful eyes and her ever loyal heart.

vetcccard

(When you spend as much as we do at the Vet the whole office signs the Christmas card 🙂 )

It’s been tough to have talks with my husband about end of life for the dog.

Like I said she is pretty good right now but having been involved with senior dog organizations I know that can change rather quickly and we want to be prepared.

A few years ago I made my ex-husband promise to be the one to be with the dog to go down.

Now I know I need to be the one to step up and be there as she has been there for me for a better part of my “adult” life.

Sometimes when I get overwhelmed with the idea that this may be our last Christmas with her I like to bake bread.

White Chocolate Cranberry Babka 3

Making bread is so very calming to me.

Something about the smell of yeast and dough rising.

Even better when you get to knead the bread but this recipes doesn’t call for much kneading so I just used the mixer.  

This time of year is pretty much the only time I make Babka though I don’t really know why because it’s always soooo good.

Babka is a sweet yeast dough (technically cake) and people tend to make a chocolate Babka but I went with white chocolate and cranberry with a hint of orange.

Love it.

And what’s really nice about this recipe is that it makes three loaves, which make for lovely gifts.

White Chocolate Cranberry Babka 2

Want More Cranberry Recipes?

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Orange Cranberry White Chocolate Walnut Muffins

Cranberry Lemon Poppyseed Loaf

White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake

Cranberry Orange Spice Bundt Cake

White Chocolate Cranberry Babka

White Chocolate Cranberry Babka

Ingredients

  • For the dough:
  • 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cups whole milk, lukewarm
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 TBSP dry active yeast (I used Red Star Yeast)
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 3 eggs, divided
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 8 TBSP (1 stick) unsalted butter (I used Plugra), at room temperature
  • 1 TBSP water
  • For the filling:
  • 1 TBSP minced orange zest
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ cups white chocolate chips
  • 1 ½ cups sweetened dried cranberries
  • 12 TBSP unsalted butter, at room temperature

Instructions

  1. For the dough:
  2. Using the bowl of a stand mixer add the milk, yeast, 1 TBSP sugar, and ½ cup a flour to the bowl and whisk together.
  3. Let sit for 30 minutes. It should be bubbly after 30.
  4. Whisk together the sour cream, 2 whole eggs, 2 egg yolks, and salt. Then add to yeast mixture.
  5. Add the remaining 4 cups of flour and remaining sugar.
  6. Using the dough hook on medium speed let dough come together for about 3 minutes.
  7. With mixer running add the butter, 1 TBSP at a time. Making sure it’s fully incorporated before going to the next TBSP of butter.
  8. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (good and tight) and let it rise until it’s doubled in volume, about 1 ½ hours. If you kitchen is cold it will take longer. If you are doing laundry that day, it’s good to put it in the laundry room as it tends to be warmer when the dryer is running.
  9. Punch down to release the air and divide the dough into three equal parts. If you have a scale that works best.
  10. Shape into balls and put each ball into its own resalable plastic bag (I spray a little baking spray in them to prevent sticking).
  11. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.
  12.  For the filling:
  13. With your hands rub the orange zest into the half cup of granulated sugar to make an orange sugar.
  14. Put the orange sugar, white chocolate chips,  and dried cranberries in a medium bowl and mix evenly. Set aside.
  15. To make the bread:
  16. Spray the inside of three 8 ½ -x-4 ½-inch loaf pans with baking spray.
  17. Line each pan with parchment paper so that it hangs over the edges to create handles; coat parchment with baking spray.
  18. One a lightly floured surface, roll one portion of the chilled dough into a 12×20 inch rectangle.
  19. Spread the 4 TBSP of butter evenly over the dough.
  20. Sprinkle 1/3 of the orange sugar/chocolate/cranberry mixture over the butter.
  21. Starting at one long end, tightly roll dough into a rope (like you are making cinnamon rolls), sealing the edge when finished and gently stretching rope to 24 inches long.
  22. Seal ends of rope together. If too much flour you need to use a little water to get them to stick.
  23. Twist dough rope to form a figure eight.
  24. Repeat rolling and twisting with remaining dough’s.
  25. Cover the loaves; let rise until nearly doubled about 1 ½ hours.
  26. Preheat oven to 350F.
  27. Whisk the remaining egg and water together and lightly brush the loaves.
  28. Place all three pans on a baking sheet and place into oven together.
  29. Bake until they reach an internal temperature of 200F (use a thermometer), 35-45 minutes depending. Mine took 45 minutes.
  30. If they start to get too brown use a piece of foil to prevent from getting too brown (I had to do this).
  31. Remove from oven. Let cool in pans.
  32. Dust with powdered sugar before serving if desired. I recommend.
  33. *The dough can be frozen for up to a month so you don’t have to make all three loaves at once if you don’t want to.
© Peabody

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Comments

  1. This bread just made the christmas cooking and baking list this year. Looks like a great and special treat. As for CCS, I TOTALLY understand as we put down out 12 year old golden two weeks ago and it was one of the hardest conversations the hubs and I have ever had. Positive vibes, good mojo and all of that to you and yours!

    Reply

  2. This is a beautiful bread – I’ve never tried babka because the idea of chocolate and cinnamon together isn’t my thing, but this flavor combination looks incredible – but I have to say that the sentiment of this post is even more beautiful. I’ll bet nobody would have made CCS’s life so far as good as it has been with you. You love her so much and it shows. Hugs and good health to you both!

    Reply

  4. Sorry that CCS is still not doing well. I have a soft spot for cockers as my family has had three. They give a lot of love 🙂

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  5. That looks delicious! It would make a very thoughtful gift – I love giving family and friends homemade gifts. I have tried chocolate babka, but this combination looks great. My thoughts are with you and CCS. Merry Christmas!

    Reply

  8. I am reading this with my nine year old dog curled up next to me. I hope that you get a lot more time with CCS and that the end is peaceful when it comes.

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  9. Peabody, I am so sorry to hear of your sweet darling’s health issues. I know that baking is very helpful for me in tough times. I think of Porkchop being sick and it just makes my heart feel all squeezed and hurt-y.

    As for the bread, I need to carb-o-load for a race I’ll never run…this will do. 🙂

    Reply

  11. I know what you mean. I have a Siamese cat I got as a kitten when I turned 21. He is now 16 years old. My 3 year old loves him as much as I do. I got tears reading your post because I don’t know how much more time we’ll have with him either. We almost lost him last year and needed to start giving him special renal diet food from the vet. It’s expensive but it’s kept him going another year with us!! He’s been losing hair (and even in Texas in the winter as an inside cat), he normally puts on a thicker coat, but not this year. =( He got me through the last part of college and living in Dallas by myself. He’s been through 6 moves and a storm that tore our apartments up in Austin. He even attacked a maintenance man in one apartment we lived in because he is very protective. ; ) Even with my severe allergies, I let him lay beside me every night in bed resting on my arm. Now my baby girl is attached to him and loves him to death. She’ll squeeze on him and lay on him and he just looks at her like “OK, that’s enough please!” =) It will definitely be a sad day in our lives. Enjoy every moment!! You’re in my prayers!!

    Reply

    • @Wendy- I’m so glad that you got another year with your cat (and hopefully more). I hear ya on the diet. CCS has special limited ingredient food that cost and arm and a leg and I am fortunate that my ex-husband helps with that. It’s amazing to think how many things my dog has been apart of and it will be so odd when she is no longer here.

      Reply

  12. So sorry that CCS is still struggling. We had to put down our dear English Bulldog the day before my birthday last year and she had similar skin issues with flaking and scabbing and losing hair. It is just heartbreaking to deal with our sweet babies in pain. Glad you get good cuddles still and hoping she improves! Thanks for still sharing such yummy treats with us in the midst of all the craziness.

    Reply

  14. And there come the tears. Sending you and CCS love and warmth.

    I’m assuming if I wanted to do milk or dark chocolate I’d be able to do an even exchange?

    Reply

  15. My heart breaks for you, even if things are going well right now. My cat Murray was 13 when a tumor started growing in his jaw. It was only 5 months until we had to put him down as the tumor took over his face. It all happened so quickly. And I lived 3 hours away at the time from my parents, so I didn’t spend as much time with him as I wanted. Anyway, I want to end this comment on a happier note, so I also love making fresh bread when I just want to slow down and not worry about what’s on my mind. Never attempted babka before, so I’ll need to add this to my ever-growing list.

    Reply

  16. I remember mentioning this before, and I don’t know if it published or if you replied because I forgot in which post I commented, but I thought I would mention it again. You should try Birm for your dog, I know it sounds crazy to get something from another country but it works wonders for older dogs. Mine are 13 and 14 years old and it has worked especially well for Vivi who has had skin issues since she was 1 year old. It is natural so it won’t interfere with her regular medication. Happy holidays!

    Reply

    • @Anadi- I did reply and asked the amount. We did order it but unfortunately our dog had a large reaction each time given it which sucked because it was crazy expensive and they wouldn’t let us return it.

      Reply

  17. Beautiful Babka and a beautiful CCS. My sister had a comfort retriever – part spaniel, part retriever. When I moved to this area with them, she was my constant companion. I never knew a more loving or expressive animal. She was hysterically funny and had a great run of 17 years. It tore me apart because I was in New Orleans that Christmas visiting family when she got really bad. I wanted to come home, but my sister said no. Thankfully, she held out for my return, and I had a half hour with her before making that journey to the vet. I was so thankful to have that time with her and to be there with her in the end, even though it broke my heart. She was so loved, even the groomer broke down when she heard the news, and all the kids at the Dunkin Donuts drive thru were asking about her for months. 🙁 I felt especially bad for my youngest nephew since she came into their lives when he was just a little squirt, so it was like losing his kid sister. My heart goes out to you. You should think about planning a day when you can do all of her “favorites” with her while she still can. Had I known how bad Tyler was when I left that year, I would definitely have done that for her.

    Reply

    • @Chris- yes we are definitely doing a favorites day for her! My mom already made CCS her own 16 pound turkey for Christmas (we froze a bunch of it) so that she can enjoy that for awhile.
      Sounds like your pup had a good run though, 17 years for a dog is a long time.

      Reply

  18. A 16 pound turkey?!?! LOL That’s quite some treat! 🙂 Sending positive energy your way. I know how difficult it is because you want to keep her around for as long as you can but don’t want her to be suffering. It’s been a few years now, and I STILL have Tyler as the wallpaper photo on my computer. Miss my baby girl. 🙁

    Reply

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