Pairing classic pizza toppings with a buttery, brioche-like dough, this savory take on a traditional babka will become one of your new favorite treats.

Pizza Babka Recipe: How to Make Pizza Babka at Home

Pizza babka is a savory, Italian-inspired take on babka, a classic Jewish yeasted bread made by encasing a variety of flavorful fillings inside braided strips of buttery, enriched dough. Traditionally, pastry chefs made babka with sweet ingredients such as chocolate, [hazelnut spread](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chocolate-hazelnut-butter), cinnamon sugar, and [fruit jam](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-the-best-homemade-jam-in-4-steps-easy-berry-jam-recipe). Pizza babka, a dinner-friendly spin on the classic braided bread, features mozzarella cheese, robust tomato sauce, and spicy salami. Serve pizza babka as an appetizer, main course, or side dish.
Follow these tips to craft the best pizza babka possible: 

1. __Knead the dough thoroughly__. To achieve the desired light and airy crumb of a classic babka bread, knead the dough thoroughly using your hands or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. To check if the dough is ready for <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/baking-101-what-is-proofing-learn-how-to-proof-breads-and-other-baked-goods' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/baking-101-what-is-proofing-learn-how-to-proof-breads-and-other-baked-goods","linkCopy":"proofing","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>proofing</a>, press your finger into the center of the dough. If it slowly springs back to shape, it’s ready to proof. 
2. __Keep the temperature in mind__. The amount of time required to proof babka dough will vary depending on your home’s temperature and humidity level. For a faster rise, place the dough in a warm spot. The dough will rise more quickly on warm, humid days, but the proofing time will be longer on cold, dry days. 
3. __Experiment with fillings__. Customize any loaf of pizza babka with your favorite traditional pizza toppings, from various meats (like sausage, [prosciutto](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/whats-the-difference-between-pancetta-bacon-and-prosciutto), and bacon) to veggies (like mushrooms, peppers, olives, artichokes, onions, and arugula). Swap out the standard red sauce for a creamy [alfredo sauce](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-alfredo-sauce) or [basil pesto](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-basil-pesto-easy-recipe-and-tips-for-making-perfect-pesto). Make a white pizza babka with ricotta, mozzarella, garlic, and spinach. 
4. __Store in an airtight container__. Leftover pizza babka will keep well in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 days, or the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For long-term storage, wrap the babka tightly in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil, and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. 
Pairing classic pizza toppings with a buttery, brioche-like dough, this savory take on a traditional babka will become one of your new favorite treats.

Pizza babka is a savory, Italian-inspired take on babka, a classic Jewish yeasted bread made by encasing a variety of flavorful fillings inside braided strips of buttery, enriched dough. Traditionally, pastry chefs made babka with sweet ingredients such as chocolate, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chocolate-hazelnut-butter' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chocolate-hazelnut-butter","linkCopy":"hazelnut spread","category":null}'>hazelnut spread</a>, cinnamon sugar, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-the-best-homemade-jam-in-4-steps-easy-berry-jam-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-the-best-homemade-jam-in-4-steps-easy-berry-jam-recipe","linkCopy":"fruit jam","category":null}'>fruit jam</a>. Pizza babka, a dinner-friendly spin on the classic braided bread, features mozzarella cheese, robust tomato sauce, and spicy salami. Serve pizza babka as an appetizer, main course, or side dish.

What Is Pizza Babka?

Follow these tips to craft the best pizza babka possible: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Knead the dough thoroughly. To achieve the desired light and airy crumb of a classic babka bread, knead the dough thoroughly using your hands or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. To check if the dough is ready for <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/baking-101-what-is-proofing-learn-how-to-proof-breads-and-other-baked-goods' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/baking-101-what-is-proofing-learn-how-to-proof-breads-and-other-baked-goods","linkCopy":"proofing","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>proofing</a>, press your finger into the center of the dough. If it slowly springs back to shape, it’s ready to proof. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Keep the temperature in mind. The amount of time required to proof babka dough will vary depending on your home’s temperature and humidity level. For a faster rise, place the dough in a warm spot. The dough will rise more quickly on warm, humid days, but the proofing time will be longer on cold, dry days. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Experiment with fillings. Customize any loaf of pizza babka with your favorite traditional pizza toppings, from various meats (like sausage, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/whats-the-difference-between-pancetta-bacon-and-prosciutto' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/whats-the-difference-between-pancetta-bacon-and-prosciutto","linkCopy":"prosciutto","category":null}'>prosciutto</a>, and bacon) to veggies (like mushrooms, peppers, olives, artichokes, onions, and arugula). Swap out the standard red sauce for a creamy <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-alfredo-sauce' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-alfredo-sauce","linkCopy":"alfredo sauce","category":null}'>alfredo sauce</a> or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-basil-pesto-easy-recipe-and-tips-for-making-perfect-pesto' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-basil-pesto-easy-recipe-and-tips-for-making-perfect-pesto","linkCopy":"basil pesto","category":null}'>basil pesto</a>. Make a white pizza babka with ricotta, mozzarella, garlic, and spinach. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Store in an airtight container. Leftover pizza babka will keep well in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 days, or the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For long-term storage, wrap the babka tightly in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil, and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. </li></ol>

4 Tips for Making Pizza Babka

Cheesy Pizza Babka Recipe

Pairing classic pizza toppings with a buttery, brioche-like dough, this savory take on a traditional babka will become one of your new favorite treats.

Pairing classic pizza toppings with a buttery, brioche-like dough, this savory take on a traditional babka will become one of your new favorite treats.
