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Monday, August 8, 2011

Sugar and Spice Monkey Bread

Sweet Thang told me that he doesn't like this bread.  He loves it! Ha ha ha...from the mouths of babes.  I mean, you expect that sometimes when it's coming from an adult, but he was so serious.  It shocked me that he didn't "like" it since he asks me weekly to bake a loaf of the cinnamon-sugar pull-apart ricotta bread that he craves.  And yes, this is along the same lines. He totally gets his sense of humor from me. {wink, wink}  In all seriousness, though...the actual taste, texture, and consistency of the actual bread hiding inside that glimmering layer of cinnamon-sugar goodness is to die for.  It's substantial, yet soft...enriched with eggs and butter...and would make a great base for many sweet breads.  Do I need to tell you that this was gone in much less time that it took to make it?  I thought not.
Sugar and Spice Monkey Bread
adapted from The Artisan Bread Machine
yield: 1 loaf

dough:
½ c. sugar
¾ tsp. fine sea salt
2 large eggs, beaten
⅔ c. lukewarm buttermilk
⅓ c. unsalted butter, softened
3½ c. bread flour
1½ tsp. instant yeast

topping:
scant ¾ c. granulated sugar
1 heaping Tbs. ground cinnamon

½ c. unsalted butter, melted
Add the dough ingredients, in order listed, to pan of bread machine (ending with yeast).  Select the dough cycle and press start.  When the cycle is finished, turn dough out onto work surface and punch down gently.  Divide dough into 20 equal pieces.  Form each piece into a ball between your palms.
Combine the sugar and cinnamon for the topping in a small, wide dish/bowl.  Dip each of the dough balls into the melted butter, then roll each in the cinnamon-sugar.  Arrange them in a silicone (or well-greased) bundt pan in even layers.  Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let rise for ~30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350° F during last 15 minutes of rise time.  Slide remove plastic, slide into oven and bake until lightly browned on top and 190° F in center, ~35-40 minutes.  Let cool on a wire rack for ~15 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.  Serve warm or at room temperature.
There are many theories as to why monkey bread is called monkey bread.  Once you've made it, all suspicions will be confirmed.  The scent of the loaf baking will start to drive the little monkeys mad.  They will all be eagerly awaiting the moment it can be turned out onto a serving plate.  And it will be totally irresistible sitting there beckoning from its perch.  Hands will reach out and in the seconds that follow,  you will hear "ooooh...ooooh...aaaah" as those tender fingers try gingerly (yet madly) to pull steaming bits of sticky bread from the loaf sitting in front of them.

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  1. This always means Christmas morning in my family - even now as I sit on the verge of turning 29 (gaap)! Mom always makes monkey bread for Christmas and we all love it dearly, so I totally get not liking it :)

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  2. My girls love this bread. I usually make it for holiday mornings as a special treat. The pictures make me wnat to lick the screen.

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  3. That would be so welcome with my coffee this morning. Looks delicious!

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  4. Ha ha...my daughter says that all the time, I don't like it I love it. Too funny.

    This would get inhaled at my house!

    P.S. Love that tablecloth and the teenager's sandwich from yesterday. That was a cute post!

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  5. Love it looks delicious ! Lovely pics of your child.

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  6. YUM NUM NUM! That wouldn't last 5 minutes in my house...not to mention if the rest of the family was here... ;) LOL
    ~Carolyn

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  7. I am not familiar with this bread, but it looks absolutely delicious and I must try it soon!
    Karen

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  8. It really looks sooooooooooo good!!
    Yeast pastries (all kinds) are my favorite

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  9. Love, love, LOVE monkey bread! Is there anything better!

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  10. Que pinta tan espectacular, me encanta, y me llevo la receta.

    SAludos

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  11. How would you do this without the bread machine? Because it looks AMAZING!

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  12. Hi Laura... Without a bread machine, sprinkle the yeast on the lukewarm buttermilk until it gets foamy (~5 minutes). Then add everything else...maybe eggs first---flour, sugar, salt next---butter last. Mix with a wooden spoon until you can't anymore, then use your hands and continue to knead by hand until smooth and pliable ~10-15 minutes. Put it in an oiled boil and cover. Let rise at room temperature for ~1 hour. Continue on from the point when you turn the dough out of the bread machine.

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  13. I have a feeling that if I made this...it would quite possibly become the most dangerous thing I've ever made. A.Ma.Zing.

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  14. I have made this befor and it is really good stuff. Yours is Spectacular; mine never looked that good. I am a bradmchine user so this is perfect. Saving this one for the kids next visit.
    Rita

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  15. That looks so moist and delish...gotta have some with my coffee!!!!
    By the way, you'll be having "girl troubles" by the soulful look in you son's eyes...been there!!

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  16. Okay after devouring that teenage sammy I would likely need two pieces of thei goodness..lol

    bonnie

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  17. Wonderful cake looks stunning, a real treat, I take a chunk, hugs.

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  18. oh wow looks amazing and so worth it when folks love it

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  19. It sure does look lick your fingers good! What an adorable son you have!

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  20. Looks wonderful but I dare not make it for fear of eating too much.

    Lisa~~
    Cook Lisa Cook

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  21. Yum that monkey bread looks delicious. I have this cinnamon roll recipe that I love; do you think that I could just use that instead?

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  22. @kyleen...yes, I do think that you could. Just divide it and roll it into balls after its first rise. I think pretty much any sweet bread recipe would work for this. =)

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  23. If that came out of my oven I would keep at it until it was gone. I couldn't resist those warm bits of bread covered in caramely cinnamon and sugar. Oh man, does that look good.

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  24. Mmmm. I have this book. I need to make this bread. And eat it all myself. ☺

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  25. I have not had monkey bread since I was a little girl! It looks so delicious! I might have to make some in the very near future...
    -Ami

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  26. Look delicious love this type of cake! gloria

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  27. Smile. I just loved seeing everyone enjoying this breakfast classic. Thank you for sharing another delightful treat. I hope you had a great Tuesday. I'm looking forward to a week of good food and baking. Take care and much love

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  28. Mmmmmm, I LOVE this! Like a pile of cinnamon buns but better. I've always wanted to make Monkey Bread, never have... but mmmmm filled with cinnamon sugar? Yah! Yours is perfect!

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  29. OMG !!! That is simply divine. Can I join the party too? :)

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  30. I've been looking for a recipe for this bread for ages! I'm so excited to try this! Your photos are beautiful, as well =)

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  31. Oh yes please! Looks like it'd be easy enough without a breadmachine too.

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  32. Oh man, I don't really know why they call it monkey bread either but it looks SO good!! I think I'll try this soon.

    ~Kayla

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