Ukrainian Filled Babka - Recipe #17580

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. active dry yeast
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 3/4 cup warm milk
• 3 eggs
• 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, for brushing dough
• 3 tbsp. vanilla powdered sugar or
• powdered icing sugar
• 1-1/2 cup dry cottage cheese
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 tbsp. sour cream
• 1-1/2 tbsp. flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp. currants soaked for 1/2 hour in Cognac
• 2 tbsp. Cognac or
• Brandy