babka

noun

bab·​ka ˈbäb-kə 

ˈbab-

plural babkas

: a sweet bread made with yeast and butter:

a

: a sweet bread that contains various fillings (as of chocolate, cinnamon, or poppy seeds), is typically rolled and twisted before baking in a loaf pan, and is often topped with streusel

Tender yeast bread that begs to be pulled apart and ribbons of chunky bittersweet chocolate make this charming babka a coffee date to remember.

—Ian Knauer et al.

b

: a sweet bread that contains dried fruit (such as raisins), is baked in a round cake pan with scalloped sides, and is often topped with syrup, icing, or confectioners' sugar

Invert the babkas onto racks, let them cool, and sprinkle them with the confectioners' sugar …

—John G. Zawadzinski

Examples of babka in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both men are themselves Israeli, and Breads’ menu features items from across the Jewish diaspora that are popular in Israel, such as rugelach, challah, bourekas and its award-winning babka. —Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026

Our choice today is chocolate babka. —Ed Silverman, STAT, 7 Jan. 2026

Known for its delicious bagels and chocolate babkas, Avner’s was a popular meeting place where customers would pull up a stool and chat on the sidewalk. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025

Breakfast and coffee is at Loquat, a modern Jewish bakery turning out dreamy salted chocolate babka. —Erin Feher, AFAR Media, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Yiddish & Polish; Yiddish babke (in sense a), borrowed from Polish babka (in sense b), literally, "old woman, grandmother," diminutive of baba "grandmother, midwife, old woman"

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above