January 2, 2010

Monkey Bread

Happy 2010, my friends!

Though this cake was made a while ago, I do think this is one interesting bread to start your morning on this new year holiday. Get up a couple hours early if you want to have it fresh.

By the way, if you have any idea why it's called monkey bread, please let me know. Cause besides that it reminds me of monkey's brain, I can't think of other explanations.

(makes 10" cake)
Ingredients:
Dough
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 cup milk, lukewarm
1/3 cup water, lukewarm
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
2 tsp salt

Brown Sugar Coating
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 stick unsalted butter, melted

Directions:
Grease tube pan or bundt pan with 2 tbsp softened butter. Set aside.

In a large measuring cup, mix together milk, water, melted butter, sugar, and yeast. Mix flour and salt in standing mixer fitted with dough hook. Turn machine to low and slowly add milk mixture. After dough comes together, increase speed to medium and mix until dough is shiny and smooth, 6 to 7 mins. Turn dough onto lightly floured counter and knead briefly to form smooth, round ball. Place dough in a bowl greased with oil and coat surface of dough with oil. Cover bowl with a damp kitchen towel and place in a warm area until dough doubles in size, 50 to 60 mins.

While dough is rising, prepare brown sugar coating. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in bowl. Place melted butter in second bowl. Set aside.

Gently remove dough from bowl, and pat into rough 8" square. Using a knife, cute dough into 50-60 pieces.

Roll each dough piece into ball. Working one at a time, dip balls in melted butter, then roll in brown sugar mixture. Layer balls in tube pan, staggering seams where dough balls meet as you build layers.

Cover pan tightly with a damp kitchen towel and place in a warm area until dough balls are puffy and have risen 1 to 2 inches from top of pan , 50 to 70 mins.

Heat oven to 350F. Uncover pan and bake until top is deep brown and caramel begins to bubble around edges, 30 to 35 mins. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then turn out on platter and allow to cool slightly, about 10 mins. Serve warm. (Do not let the bread cool in the pan for more than 5 mins or it will stick to the pan and come out in pieces)

32 comments:

KennyT said...

Happy 2010, wish you another fab new year!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year!

ann low said...

Never tried this monkey bread before. Looks beautiful :)

Angie's Recipes said...

Monkey Bread....How interesting!
Happy New Year!

MaryMoh said...

Very interesting name...monkey bread! I wonder why too. Hope someone can explain the origin of it. Happy New Year!

JodieMo said...

I LOVE Monkey Bread! This looks a lot like the recipe my mom used to make on Christmas morning. Great Job!

Nicole said...

Happy New Year to you and your family. This bread looks so moist and chewy and yummy.I found this link to see why it's called monkey bread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/360680

TasteHongKong said...

Happy 2010 to you & family too.
Right, it is good to start with something sweet.

Drick said...

would love to wake up to this ... have a great weekend...

Claudia said...

Loving this. This is the best way to wake up in the morning. Sweet mornings are the best!

Kristen said...

I imagine your house smelled heavenly while this was baking. I usually cheat and use Pillsbury biscuits to make monkey bread. I will have to try this "from scratch" version. Happy New Year!

Fresh Local and Best said...

You're killing me! We're all on a collective diet here. Monkey bread looks so good!

Unknown said...

i wasnt craving this until i saw it here. now i have to make..... buy it!

Anna said...

I never tried monkey bread, it looks soooo good.

pigpigscorner said...

Happy 2010! I've only read about this bread on other blogs and can't wait to try it out! Looks so good with all those glaze.

tinyskillet said...

I love monkey bread! My mom used to make it when we were kids. I still make it often, but I have no idea why it's called monkey bread. I'll have to look that up:)

Buckeroomama said...

My mouth was watering as I was going through your recipe!! Seriously.

I'll probably attempt this next weekend. Thanks for sharing. :)

My Little Space said...

Happy New Year! What a great bread to start with... Looks like my kind of food alright!
Best wishes, Kristy

French Cooking for Dummies said...

I had never heard of monkey bread... I thought it was a tatin tart by the picture! Happy 2010 to you too :-D

Mother Rimmy said...

My supervisor makes this for us at the holidays. Fun and soooo gooood!

penny aka jeroxie said...

happy happy new year!

Anonymous said...

interesting-looking with an interesting name. ;-)

happy new year!

paz

Belinda @zomppa said...

This Monkey See Monkey Do! Happy new year!!

chow and chatter said...

looks awesome I was wondering what this was looks yummy

happy new year to you and your adorable lil family

Rebecca

Jophine said...

Happy 2010!! Wish you, Matthew and little Ethan a new year filled with joy and happiness!! :D
Your blog has been bringing me so much visual enjoyment and lovely stories last year. Hope you'll continue having fun with Cooking and Parenting in 2010!

Josephine, Raymond, Louis and Kristen

Unknown said...

Wow, this looks sooooooooo good! I have got to make this one of these days, but I know I'll eat the whole thing.
Happy 2010!
*kisses* HH

CheapAppetite said...

I've never tried Monkey Bread before. But judging from the ingredients, it's gotta be yummy. I always love to look at your food photos. They make me drool. lol. Happy new year, lululu.

Donna-FFW said...

May I have some with my coffee right now, it looks fabulous!!

Joy said...

Ethan is soooo cute lulu, he is such a bundle of Joy!! Happy 2010 and this Monkey bread looks so gooey and moist -- it'd be perfect with my cup of coffee, do you have a good throwing arm? Perhaps you could chunk a piece towards Texas? :)

Patty said...

Happy New year! Your monkey bread looks so sweet, chewy and yummy! I'll definitely try this at the house - i think my children will have a blast eating it!

My Man's Belly said...

I've never had monkey bread but it looks really delicious.

Natasha said...

I could start any morning with this bread; looks so yummy!