Babka

Babka is a sweet, rich bread that is traditionally served on Easter Sunday in Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries. The cake usually contains raisins and rum for flavoring, and it is glazed with a fruit-based icing. The name of the cake comes from the Polish word for grandmother, referring to the method of baking the dish in a Bundt mold, so when it is served, it is reminiscent of a grandmother's wide, fluted skirt. Some believe that babka's round shape is a symbol of fertility, and while most people believe it originated in Slavic regions around Easter, some food historians claim that it came from Italy to Poland, where it was developed into a version of the classic Italian panettone. Today, babka can be made in a variety of different flavors such as vanilla, lemon, or chocolate. It is traditionally served as an afternoon snack or a dessert, and it is recommended to pair it with a cup of hot coffee. There is also a Jewish version of the dessert in which cinnamon and chocolate are used instead of the fruit filling, and it is especially popular in North America.