Honey Babka with Cream Cheese Frosting: A Soft, Swirled Bakery-Style Treat

If you love soft, enriched breads with beautiful swirls and just the right amount of sweetness, Honey Babka with Cream Cheese Frosting is a dessert you’ll want to bake again and again. This loaf is tender, lightly sweetened with honey, and filled with delicate ribbons of honey-butter filling that melt into the dough as it bakes. Finished with a tangy cream cheese frosting, it strikes a perfect balance between rich, comforting, and indulgent.

Babka is traditionally known for chocolate or cinnamon fillings, but honey brings a softer, floral sweetness that feels timeless and elegant. This version is perfect for brunch tables, holiday spreads, afternoon coffee breaks, or whenever you want something that feels bakery-worthy but homemade.

Despite its impressive appearance, honey babka is approachable. The dough is forgiving, the filling is simple, and the frosting adds a finishing touch that makes every slice feel special.

What Makes Babka So Special

Babka is a sweet yeast bread enriched with eggs, butter, and milk, giving it a soft, brioche-like texture. What sets it apart is the filling, which is rolled into the dough, twisted, and baked to create dramatic swirls throughout the loaf.

This technique not only looks beautiful but also ensures flavor in every bite. In honey babka, the filling caramelizes gently as it bakes, infusing the bread with warmth and moisture.

The cream cheese frosting adds contrast, cutting through the sweetness with a subtle tang and turning this bread into a true dessert rather than just a sweet loaf.

Ingredients

Babka Dough

• 3¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• ¼ cup warm milk
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ teaspoon salt

Honey Filling

• ⅓ cup honey
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1–2 tablespoons milk or cream

Instructions

Make the Dough

1. In a small bowl, combine warm milk and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
3. Add eggs and yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
4. Add softened butter and knead until dough is smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky, about 8–10 minutes.
5. Shape dough into a ball, place in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1½–2 hours until doubled in size.

Honey Babka with Cream Cheese Frosting

Soft, swirled honey babka topped with a smooth and tangy cream cheese frosting.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Servings: 10 slices

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Eastern European

Calories: 340

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 3.25 cups all-purpose flour
• 2.25 tsp active dry yeast
• 0.33 cup honey
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
• 2 eggs large

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Loaf pan
• Hand mixer

Method

 

1. Prepare yeast dough and let rise until doubled.
2. Roll dough, spread honey filling, and twist into loaf.
3. Bake until golden and fully cooked.
4. Frost with cream cheese frosting once cooled.

Notes

Cool completely before frosting for best results.

Prepare the Filling and Shape the Babka

6. In a small bowl, mix honey, softened butter, and cinnamon until smooth.
7. Punch down dough and roll it into a rectangle about 10×14 inches.
8. Spread honey filling evenly over the dough, leaving a small border.
9. Roll dough tightly from the long edge into a log.
10. Slice the log lengthwise down the center to expose the layers.
11. Twist the two halves together, cut sides facing up.
12. Transfer twisted dough into a greased loaf pan.
13. Cover and let rise for 30–45 minutes until puffy.

Bake

14. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
15. Bake babka for 40–45 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
16. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove and cool completely before frosting.

Make the Frosting

17. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
18. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until creamy.
19. Add milk as needed to reach a spreadable consistency.
20. Spread frosting generously over cooled babka.

Tips for Perfect Honey Babka

• Use room-temperature ingredients for best dough texture
• Don’t rush the rise; flavor develops with time
• Cool completely before frosting to prevent melting
• Use a sharp knife when slicing the dough for clean layers

Flavor Variations

• Add chopped nuts to the filling for crunch
• Stir orange zest into the honey filling
• Swap cinnamon for cardamom for a floral note
• Drizzle extra honey over the frosting for shine

Serving Suggestions

Honey Babka with Cream Cheese Frosting is wonderful served:

• With coffee or tea
• As a brunch centerpiece
• On holiday dessert tables
• As a sweet afternoon snack

Slice thick for dessert or thin for sharing.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Store babka tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving. Unfrosted babka can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe balances richness and sweetness beautifully. Honey adds moisture and flavor without overpowering the bread, while the cream cheese frosting adds just enough tang to keep each bite from feeling heavy. The dough bakes up soft and tender, and the swirled filling ensures consistent flavor throughout.

If you’re looking for a dessert that feels elegant, comforting, and homemade all at once, Honey Babka with Cream Cheese Frosting is a stunning choice.