Monkey bread!

Does it seem like the weeks are getting shorter and shorter to anyone else? This past week just flew by and left me scrambling to figure out what I was going to share with you all. One thing my kids will never pass up on is something sweet, so this got me thinking about one of their all time favorites - monkey bread. While the whole process is time consuming, as the dough has to be rested and cold, it is really simple to make and definitely worth the time it does take to make this; usually I start the night before so I can finish in the morning. This sweet treat is also lots of fun to eat as is a pull-apart bread, making it a family activity while eating. Mmm mmm, and there's just something about the way brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon all smell when they are baking! Even the hubby joked, "Where is everyone else's? I've got mine." Make this for your family's next sweet treat and monkey bread will be their new favorite!

What's cooking in my kitchen this week:
Monkey bread

What you'll need:
Dough
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 1/4 cup warm milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp salt
5 cups flour, sifted

Coating
3/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Vanilla glaze
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
3 Tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

How to make it:
First, you need to make the dough. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir around a bit and let sit for about 2 minutes.

Add milk, melted butter, sugar, eggs, salt, and 3 cups sifted flour. Beat on high for 3 minutes.

Add remaining 2 cups shifted flour to form a firm dough. Turn dough on floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

Form dough into smooth ball and place in large greased bowl. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 8 hours, or overnight.

Now to make the coating for the dough. Melt 1/2 cup butter in small bowl. Mix cinnamon and sugar together in another small bowl and set aside.

Spray bundt pan with cooking spray and set aside. Punch cold dough down, vent gently to allow air bubbles to release. Pull apart and roll into balls.

Dip balls one at a time in melted butter and roll in cinnamon-sugar mix.

Place balls in bundt pan.

Pre-heat oven to 350° and melt remaining 1/4 cup butter and whisk in brown sugar and vanilla extract until combined.

Pour over dough balls in bundt pan.

Bake 30-35 minutes.

Let cool 10-15 minutes and then put serving plate over bundt pan and flip monkey bread onto plate.

For glaze, whisk powdered sugar. milk, and vanilla extract together in bowl. Pour over monkey bread, once on serving plate.

Pull apart when ready to eat. Enjoy!

Did you know?
On this day in 1839, George Cadbury was born. He took over his father's chocolate business and built it into a major chocolate manufacturer.