Babka
Chocolate babka | |
| Alternative names | Ugat Shmarim |
|---|---|
| Type | Bread |
| Place of origin | Jewish communities of Poland and western Ukraine |
| Region or state | Israel, Jewish Diaspora |
| Variations | Chocolate babka, cinnamon babka, apple babka, sweet cheese babka, cinnamon raisin babka |
A babka, or an Ugat Shmarim (Hebrew: עוגת שמרים) is a sweet braided bread that originated in the Jewish communities of Poland and Ukraine. It is popular in Israel where it is known as a yeast cake. It is also popular in the Jewish diaspora. It is prepared with a yeast-leavened dough that is rolled out and spread with a filling such as chocolate, cinnamon, fruit, or cheese, then rolled up and braided before baking.