A documentary film about the rise of a sweet bread
From Jewish homes in Eastern Europe to the artisanal bakery in your neighborhood, cakes made from scraps of leftover challah dough — or so legend has it — have become a global obsession... The cameras have begun to roll! Here's what we're chasing and how you can be involved.
Stories about and from the people who have baked, sold, written about, and loved BABKA.
A Slice of History
From late 19th century: Eastern European Roots
In homes across Poland, Ukraine, and Central Eastern Europe, Jewish families enjoy iconic yeast cakes such as krantz, kokosh, kulich… and a babka that little resembles the sweet bread we call by that name today.
1920-1950: Neighborhood Bakeries
Like other immigrant groups, Jewish immigrants bring their recipes to the U.S., and establish -- particularly in New York City -- small family bakeries that quickly gain in popularity, offering a taste of home.
1950s onward: Expansion and Commoditization
A twisted, layered chocolate or cinnamon yeast pastry becomes a recognizable Jewish bakery item in American cities.
2000 - present: Going Mainstream
Babka appears on shelves of major supermarkets and shopping outlets, and is enjoyed in non-Jewish homes and restaurants as well.
2010s - present: Going Viral
Star pastry chefs reinvent babka, and social media influencers are busy! Babka is a huge, trendy crowd-pleaser.