Tillie Doyle
Monkey bread is a sweet, sticky, gooey, and indulgent pull-apart bread that is easy to make and even easier to eat. It is made by coating small pieces of dough in butter, cinnamon, and sugar, arranging them in a pan, and baking them with a buttery brown sugar sauce. The name monkey bread comes from the way it is eaten—by grabbing and pulling apart the bread with your fingers, much like a monkey would. While a Bundt pan is the most popular choice for baking monkey bread, it can also be made in a tube pan, loaf pan, cake pan, or muffin tin.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pan | Bundt pan, tube pan, loaf pan, cake pan, muffin tin, or 9x13 pan |
| Pan preparation | Lightly grease the pan with butter, margarine, or cooking spray |
| Dough | Biscuit dough, or from-scratch dough |
| Dough preparation | Cut the dough into small pieces, coat with butter, cinnamon, and sugar, and arrange in the pan |
| Add-ins | Dried fruit (raisins, dried cherries, cranberries), nuts (walnuts, pecans, cashews), chocolate chips, or cheese, herbs, and bacon for a savoury twist |
| Baking time | 30-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown |
| Serving | Invert the bread onto a serving plate or platter, and drizzle with glaze, vanilla icing, or extra cinnamon sugar |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right pan
Monkey bread is a fun, pull-apart treat that can be made in various types of pans. The right pan for making monkey bread will depend on the shape and size you want to achieve, as well as the availability of pans in your kitchen. Here are some options to consider:
Bundt Pan
A Bundt pan is a popular choice for making monkey bread due to its distinctive ring shape, which allows for even baking. The circular shape of the Bundt pan creates a visually appealing monkey bread with a hole in the centre, making it easy to pull apart and serve. It is recommended to use a 10-inch Bundt pan and lightly grease it with cooking spray or butter before adding the dough.
Tube Pan
A tube pan is another suitable option for monkey bread as it also has a circular shape that promotes even baking. Similar to the Bundt pan, the tube pan creates a ring-shaped monkey bread that can be easily pulled apart and served. You can use a one-piece tube pan or a standard tube pan with a removable bottom, ensuring even heat distribution during baking.
Loaf Pan or Cake Pan
If you don't have access to a Bundt or tube pan, you can opt for a loaf pan or cake pan. These pans will give your monkey bread a more traditional loaf shape. It is recommended to use a 9x5-inch loaf pan or a similar-sized cake pan. Keep in mind that the baking time may vary, so adjust accordingly to ensure the centre of the monkey bread is fully baked.
Muffin Tin
For an individual serving option, you can use a muffin tin to create monkey bread "muffins." This option is great if you want to make smaller portions or customise each serving with different ingredients. Grease your muffin tin and adjust the baking time accordingly, as the smaller portions will cook faster.
Pan Preparation
Regardless of the pan you choose, it is important to prepare it properly before adding the dough. Greasing the pan with butter or cooking spray can help prevent the monkey bread from sticking, making it easier to remove and serve. Additionally, consider placing the pan on a parchment-lined sheet pan before baking to catch any potential drips and make cleanup easier.
In summary, the right pan for making monkey bread depends on your desired shape, size, and the equipment available to you. Bundt and tube pans are popular choices for their even baking and visual appeal, but loaf pans, cake pans, and muffin tins can also be used with adjustments to baking times. Proper pan preparation, including greasing and using a parchment-lined sheet pan, will ensure a smooth release and cleanup.
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Preparing the dough
Next, you'll coat your dough balls in butter. Melt some butter and dip each ball into it. You can also use margarine for this step. Then, roll the buttered dough balls in cinnamon sugar. You can use either light or dark brown sugar, depending on your preference. The sugar will make the dough balls easier to pull apart after baking and give them a crisp coating. You can also add other ground spices like cardamom or pumpkin spice. Make sure each ball is well-coated to avoid dry spots in your monkey bread.
Finally, arrange the coated dough balls in your pan. You can use a Bundt pan, tube pan, or another type of pan, such as a loaf pan or cake pan. Just be sure to use a pan that's large enough to allow for the dough to expand. Layer the dough balls in the pan, staggering them slightly so they aren't stacked directly on top of each other. This will ensure even cooking and a light and fluffy texture.
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Coating the dough
Monkey bread is a pull-apart bread made with bite-size pieces of dough coated with sugar, spice, and butter. The sugar and cinnamon are used to coat the biscuit dough pieces for flavour and to make them easier to pull apart after baking. You can substitute other ground spices such as cardamom or a pumpkin spice blend.
To coat the dough, start by cutting the biscuits into quarters. You can do this by turning the dough onto a lightly floured or greased surface and patting it into a thick square or rectangle. Then, cut the dough into 64 equal pieces and roll each piece into a round shape. You should end up with around 40 to 45 balls of dough.
Next, you'll coat the dough balls in butter and cinnamon sugar. Working with one ball at a time, dip each ball into melted butter and then roll it generously in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. You may need more cinnamon-sugar depending on how heavily you coat each ball. You can also place the pieces into a large zip-top bag, add the cinnamon-sugar, seal, and shake until the pieces are evenly coated.
Once coated, arrange the dough balls in a well-buttered Bundt pan. Try to arrange them as evenly as possible, staggering them slightly so they aren't stacked exactly on top of each other. This will ensure even baking and allow the hot air to circulate to the middle of the bread.
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Layering the dough in the pan
Monkey bread is a pull-apart bread made with bite-size pieces of dough coated with sugar, spice, and other optional ingredients. It is usually baked in a tube or Bundt pan. The pan should be well-buttered or greased.
First, cut the biscuits into quarters. Then, coat them in cinnamon-sugar. You can do this by placing the biscuit pieces in a large zip-top bag with the sugar and cinnamon, sealing the bag, and shaking it until the pieces are evenly coated. You can also dip each ball in melted butter and then roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. If you want to add raisins, nuts, or other dried fruits and nuts, you can do so at this stage.
Next, arrange the coated dough balls in the pan. Try to arrange them as evenly as possible, staggering them slightly so they aren't stacked exactly on top of each other. This will allow room for the dough to rise as it bakes.
Once you have arranged the dough balls in the pan, cover the pan with aluminium foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Let the monkey bread rest for 20 minutes. During this time, the balls will slightly rise.
After the monkey bread has rested, it is ready to be baked. However, before baking, you can pour a butter-brown sugar mixture over the dough balls. To make this mixture, simply melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved.
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Baking the bread
Monkey bread is a fun, pull-apart bread that is perfect for sharing. The name comes from the way it is eaten, with people grabbing pieces with their fingers, like monkeys. The bread is made up of bite-sized pieces of dough coated in sugar and spice and baked with a buttery brown sugar sauce.
First, preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 10-inch Bundt pan with cooking spray or butter. You can also use a tube pan, a loaf pan, a cake pan, or a 9x13 pan. The Bundt and tube pans are recommended as they allow hot air to circulate to the middle of the bread and bake the dough evenly.
Next, prepare your dough. You can make your own dough from scratch, or use a convenient shortcut by using store-bought biscuit dough. If making your own dough, whisk together warm milk, yeast, and sugar in a bowl. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Then, add eggs, butter, salt, and flour. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the remaining flour. Beat on medium speed until the dough comes together. If you are using store-bought biscuit dough, cut the biscuits into quarters.
Place the dough pieces into a large bag and add cinnamon and sugar. Seal the bag and shake until the pieces are evenly coated. You can do this in batches if needed. If you are using dried fruit and nuts, add them now. Walnuts, pecans, cashews, raisins, dried cherries, and cranberries all work well. Alternatively, you can add chocolate chips or caramels.
Arrange the coated dough balls in the pan, staggering them slightly so they aren't stacked exactly on top of each other. Cover the pan and let the dough rise until puffy. This is a crucial step to ensure your monkey bread is light and fluffy.
Now, prepare the sauce. Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is boiling. You can also add vanilla extract to the sauce. Pour the sauce over the dough balls in the pan.
Bake the monkey bread for 35 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown. If you insert an instant-read thermometer into the bread, it should read 190 to 200°F. Place the pan on a wire rack and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
Finally, turn the bread out onto a serving plate or platter. You can drizzle the bread with a glaze made from confectioners' sugar and milk, or with vanilla icing. Monkey bread is best served warm, but it can also be eaten cold.
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Frequently asked questions
A Bundt pan is the most popular choice for monkey bread, but a tube pan, loaf pan, cake pan, or 9x13 pan can also be used.
Lightly grease a 10-inch pan with cooking spray or butter. If you want to avoid a mess in your oven, place the pan on a parchment-lined sheet pan before baking.
Layer the coated dough balls in the pan, staggering them slightly so they aren't stacked exactly on top of each other. Leave room for the dough to rise as it bakes.
