1 oz fresh
yeast or 2 (1/4 oz/7 g) packages active dry yeast
4 tbsp warm
water
5 eggs
3 tbsp
sugar
1/2 cup/125
ml
extra-virgin
olive oil
2 tbsp
butter, melted
and cooled,
3 cups/450
g all purpose/plain flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups/240 g granulated sugar
2 cups/500
ml
water
1
lemon, sliced
1/2 cup/125 ml rum
Method:
Put the yeast in
a small bowl with 1/2 cup (125 ml) warm water. Stir
until dissolved then set aside for 10 minutes.
Beat the eggs and 3 tablespoons of sugar until pale
and creamy. Gradually beat in the oil, butter, and
yeast mixture. Lastly, add the sifted flour and
salt.
Knead the dough thoroughly by hand until it
is soft and elastic.
Fill the baba molds just
under half full, cover, and leave in a warm place to
rise.
When the dough has risen to just below the
rim of each mold, bake in a preheated oven at
350°F/180°C/gas 4 for about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile,
boil the 1 1/3 cups (330
ml) sugar
and water for 10 minutes, or until the mixture
becomes syrupy. Add the lemon slices and the rum
and leave to cool.
When the babas are cooked, set
aside to cool before soaking them in the rum syrup.
Leave on a wire rack to drain, then serve.