Monkey Bread


Ingredients

Dough

  • ¼ cup warm water
  • 2½ teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar
  • 3½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup milk, warmed
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Coating

  • 1.5 cups brown sugar
  • 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions

  1. Lightly grease a fluted tube pan with vegetable oil or butter; set aside.
  2. Make dough; combine warm water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar in a large bowl. Let stand until bubbly and foamy, about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in 1 cup flour, warm milk, egg, 3 tablespoons sugar, butter, salt, and vanilla extract until combined. Add remaining 2½ cups flour. Mix and knead until dough comes together in a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
  4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and punch down gently to deflate. Divide dough into small or medium balls.
  5. Make coating: Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Dip each dough ball in melted butter, remove with a fork, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture until well coated.
  6. Arrange coated dough balls in the prepared pan. Cover with plastic or a damp cloth and let rise until almost doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
  7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  8. Bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes.
  9. Invert onto a large plate; cool for 10 minutes before serving.