1. Warm 1 cup of milk (about 104 F (40 C)). Mix yeast, warm milk, 1/2 cup of sugar. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and let it sit for 10–15 minutes until foamy. 2. In a large bowl, mix yeast mixture, 2 egg yolks and 1 spoon of vanilla extract. Sift half of flour and mix. Add the remaining flour and salt. Knead the dough by hand or with a mixer fitted with a dough hook (about 5 minutes). Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Add pieces of softened butter. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes). 3. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour. 4. Drain any excess water from the ricotta cheese, if there is any. Mix ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/4 cup of sugar, and raisins (if using) until smooth. 5. Grease the baking pan with butter (I use round baking pan.). 6. Lightly flour the surface for rolling out the dough. Divide the dough into 2 parts. Form balls. Roll each ball into a circle about 0.5 inches (about 1.5 cm) thick – slightly larger in diameter than your baking pan. Place the filling on one circle, distributing it evenly over the entire surface of the circle, leaving an edge of about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) without filling. Cover with the second circle. Pinch the edges together very well and carefully place the dough into the baking pan. 7. This step can be skipped, but it will make the pastry look more beautiful. Place a glass in the center of the dough and press it down slightly. This will be the center of the flower. Mentally divide the dough around the center into 8 petals. Using scissors, cut one petal from both sides, without cutting all the way to the glass, and twist it twice. Repeat this with all the petals. 8. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour. Let the dough rise to double its size in a warm place (about 40 minutes). 9. Mix 1/2 cup of flour, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of butter until crumbly. 10. Mix 1 egg and 2 tablespoons of milk or water. 11. Preheat oven to 375°F (175°C). 12. Brush the top of babka with the egg mixture. Brush the top of the cake with the egg mixture. Sprinkle with crumbs and nuts (if using). 13. Bake for 35–40 minutes until golden brown. 14. Let cool before slicing. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with glaze if desired.

   1. Wash the raisins and currants in hot water and put them on paper towels to drain. Set 2 tablespoons of the flour on side. Sift the remaining flour into a bowl and make a deep well in the center. Crumble the yeast in the well, then add the sugar and milk. Stirring in the well, carefully incorporate a bit of flour into the liquid. cover the bowl and leave it in the warm place for 20 minutes until the yeast bubbles up.

2. Set aside 1 tablespoon of the butter. Melt the rest of butter in a pot. Using the dough attachment of an electric mixer, mix the melted butter, vanilla extract, eggs, salt and lemon zest into the dough until it shows bubbles.

3. Toss the raisins and currants in the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour and gently fold them in to the dough.

4. Grease a 9 1/2 in (24 cm) gugelhupf mold (or fluted tube pan), place the dough in it, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 40 minutes.

5. Preheat the oven to 356F (180C). Place the gugelhupf on the middle rack of the oven and bake it about 50-60 minutes. test the cake to see if it is done. (To taste if a cake is done, insert a wooden toothpick or skewers into the center of the cake. If the toothpick or skewer come out clean, the cake is done.)

6. Remove the gugelhupf fro the oven and cool for about 20 minutes. Turn the cake out on a cake rack. Melt the reserved 1 tablespoon of butter and brush it over the cake. Sprinkle the cake with the confectioner's sugar.