Food

Yes, You Can Buy Independence Day-Themed Babka

Freedom babka from the Babka Lady Image by Courtesy of Frimet Goldberger

By Michelle Honig June 28, 2017

With July 4th approaching, we’ve been pondering the question of how exactly to put a tasty Jewish touch on our Independence Day celebrations. What could we serve that would marry the symbols of America’s freedom with Jewish culinary tradition? The answer came in the form of an iconic Jewish dessert that’s been given a decidedly 4th-of-July spin.

Lo’ and behold, we found a babka — that sweet, soft, chewy loaf swirled with moist swathes of flavor — colored red, white and blue in honor of our American flag.

Using streusel topping (which is already white), The Babka Lady — the New York City-based homemade babka business of Frimet Goldberger — adds red and blue food coloring for an Old Glory appeal.

Little “babkalach” available at The Babka Lady Image by Courtesy of Frimet Goldberger

Her “Freedom Babka” is available in four flavors: chocolate, chocolate-cheese, cinnamon-chocolate and halva. If you don’t need a whole babka, the Babka Lady also offers “babkalach,” mini babkas that are also “freedom” colored. The babkalach come in two flavors: chocolate and cinnamon. If you live in the Tri-state area, order by Thursday morning to have your red-white-and-blue babka delivered to your door in time for your July 4th shindig (or to have one put aside for pickup).

Michelle Honig is the food intern of the Forward. Find her on Instagram and Twitter.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO