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.
Ingredients (10″ cake):
Dough 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
Directions:
Grease tube pan or bundt pan with 2 tablespoons 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 minutes. 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 minutes.
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 to 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 minutes.
Heat oven to 350F. Uncover pan and bake until top is deep brown and caramel begins to bubble around edges, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then turn out on platter and allow to cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Serve warm. (Do not let the bread cool in the pan for more than 5 minutes or it will stick to the pan and come out in pieces)
