Recipe For Monkey Bread

As tradition would have it families across the country usher in Christmas morning with the delectable smell of monkey bread. This time-honored tradition involves recipes that have been passed down for generations. Although there are many different ways to prepare monkey bread, the following recipe is foolproof and delicious:

First, you must preheat your oven to 350° F. You should use cooking spray to grease the sides and bottom of your bundt cake pan.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

Dough

• 1 cup of warm milk
• ⅓ Cup of warm water
• 2 tablespoons of butter melted
• 1 Packet or 2 ¼ teaspoons of Rapid Rise Yeast
• 3 ¼ cups of All Purpose Flour
• 2 teaspoons of salt

Brown Sugar Mix

• ½ cup of butter melted
• 1 cup of packed light brown sugar
• Cinnamon to taste

Dough Preparation

Place the wet ingredients including the milk, butter, water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl and mix together. Then take a separate bowl and mix together the dry ingredients including the flour and salt. Make a well or hole in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. This should be stirred by hand until it can no longer be stirred. Turn the dough ball onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for about 10 minutes and shape it into a ball. If you prefer to use an electric mixer instead of mixing the dough by hand, use a dough hook on the lowest setting and gradually increase the speed. Allow the dough to form a slightly sticky ball before turning it out and kneading it briefly into a ball. Once the ball is formed, place it into a well-oiled bowl and allow it to rise for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size. Remove the dough from the bowl and roll it into an 8 by 8-inch square. Cut the square into 64 pieces.

Preparing and baking and Monkey Bread

In a bowl, mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Melt the butter in a separate bowl. Take each dough square and form it into a ball. Dip it in the melted butter, dip it in the brown sugar mix, and then place it in the bundt pan. When placing the balls into the pan, use a brick stacking method so that the balls are not directly on top of one another. You can place nuts or dried fruit in between each layer if you want. Let the dough rise for a second time for about 40 minutes. After the dough has risen to the top of the pan, place the bundt pan into a preheated oven for about 25 minutes. Once done and slightly cooled, turn the pan over onto a plate and let your guests grab the bread with their hands.

This is a fun and delicious tradition that your family and friends will remember for years to come. If you need a bundt pan, electric mixer or any other kitchen supplies you can visit the Kitchen Collection store at The Shops @Rockville in Lancaster Pennsylvania.