Cheese-Filled Easter Polish Bread (Babka)

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup white sugar, divided
• tablespoon swarm water (110 degrees F (43 degrees C))
• 1/3 teaspoon sactive dry yeast
• 2/3 cup milk
• tablespoon sbutter, softened
• egg yolks, beaten
• 2/3 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup sall-purpose flour
• (8 ounce) packagescream cheese, softened
• cup white sugar
• egg yolks
• tablespoon orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier®)
• 1/2 orange, zested
• teaspoon vanilla extra ct
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• tablespoon sall-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cold butter, cubed
• 1/2 cup thinly slice d almonds
• egg white, beaten

Instructions

1. Mix 1 teaspoon sugar, water, and yeast together in a small bowl. Let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
2. Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to bubble. Pour into a large bowl. Stir in 6 tablespoons butter until melted. Let mixture cool to 110 degrees F (43 degrees C), about 5 minutes.
3. Mix remaining sugar, yeast mixture, 2 egg yolks, and salt into the milk mixture. Add 3 1/3 cups flour; knead dough until shiny and elastic.
4. Place dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat both sides. Cover with greased plastic wrap; let rise until doubled, 1 to 2 hours.
5. Combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 2 egg yolks, orange liqueur, orange zest, and 1 vanilla extract in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
6. Mix 1/2 cup sugar and 6 tablespoons flour together in a bowl. Cut in 1/4 cup cold butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives. Stir in almonds.
7. Grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans and line the bottom with parchment paper.
8. Punch down dough and divide in half. Roll 1 half into a rectangle 1/8 inch thick; keep the other half covered. Spread 1/2 of the cream cheese mixture over the dough. Fold in the short ends of the dough and roll up tightly like a jelly roll. Transfer to a prepared loaf pan. Repeat with remaining dough and cream cheese mixture.
9. Brush beaten egg white over the loaves; sprinkle almond topping evenly on top. Cover loaves with greased plastic wrap and let rise until dough reaches above the rim of the pans, about 1 hour.
10. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).