The origin of its name may be a mystery, but what makes monkey bread so delicious
and fun is no secret: Balls of sweet yeast dough are dipped in butter and coated with
cinnamon sugar, then piled high in a tube pan and baked into a tender pull-apart loaf
HANDS-ON TIME
30 minutes
TOTAL TIME
3 hours
MAKES
24 pieces
INGREDIENTS:
- DOUGH:
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup warm water (100°F/38°C)
- 2 tsp active dry yeast
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- ¾ tsp salt
- 4½ cups all-purpose flour (approx)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup golden raisins
- CINNAMON COATING:
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- CINNAMON DRIZZLE:
- ½ cup icing sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
- DOUGH:
- In a large bowl, dissolve 1 tsp of the sugar in warm water. Sprinkle in yeast; let stand until frothy, about 10 minutes.
- Whisk in remaining sugar, milk, butter, eggs, vanilla, and salt.
- Whisk in 2 cups of the flour and cinnamon.
- Using a wooden spoon, stir in enough of the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, to make soft, slightly sticky dough.
- Turn out onto lightly floured surface; knead, adding as much of the remaining flour as necessary to prevent sticking, until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
- Knead in cranberries and raisins.
- Place in a large greased bowl, turning to grease all over.
- Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1½ hours.
- CINNAMON COATING:
- Punch down dough.
- Divide into 24 pieces; shape each into a ball.
- Place in a large bowl; pour butter over top.
- Stir gently to coat.
- In a separate bowl, stir sugar with cinnamon; roll balls in the mixture.
- Arrange in a greased 10-inch (4 L) tube pan.
- Cover with plastic wrap; let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
- Bake in a 350°F (180°C) oven until golden, about 45 minutes.
- Let cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes.
- Remove side of pan; let cool completely.
- CINNAMON DRIZZLE:
- Whisk together icing sugar, 2 tbsp water, and cinnamon until smooth.
- Using a fork, drizzle over bread.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION, PER PIECE:
- About 176 cal, 3 g pro, 4 g total fat (2 g sat. fat), 32 g carb, 1 g fibre, 25 mg chol, 105 mg sodium, 74 mg potassium.
- % RDI: 2% calcium, 10% iron, 4% vit A, 25% folate.




