Caramel Monkey Bread Recipes

MONKEY BREAD

Steps:

• Beat 1 cup butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-low speed until butter is smooth and pliable but still cold, about 1 minute. Scrape into a medium bowl; set aside. Save mixer bowl because you're going to use it again in a minute (no need to wash).
• Gently heat milk in a small saucepan over low until warm to the touch but not steaming hot. It should be 110°F-115°F. Whisk milk and yeast in a small bowl to dissolve yeast, then let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk flour, sugar, and salt in reserved mixer bowl to combine. Add yeast mixture and eggs, fit bowl back onto mixer, and beat on low speed with dough hook, gradually increasing mixer speed to medium as dry ingredients are incorporated, until dough comes together around hook. Continue to mix on medium speed until dough is smooth, elastic, and no longer sticking to the sides of the bowl, about 5 minutes. Add more flour by the tablespoonful as needed if dough isn't pulling away from bowl cleanly.
• With motor running, gradually add reserved butter about a tablespoonful at a time, waiting until it is absorbed before adding more. This process can take several minutes, so be patient. When you're done adding the butter, the dough will be extremely smooth, soft, and supple but not sticky. Place dough in a large buttered bowl and cover. Let sit in a warm, draft-free spot until nearly doubled in size, 55-65 minutes.
• Uncover dough and punch down several times to deflate. Line a 13x9" baking dish with plastic wrap, leaving generous overhang on all sides. Place dough in pan and press into an even layer, working all the way to the sides of the pan. Fold plastic up and over dough, eliminating air pockets between dough and plastic. Chill dough in freezer until firm to the touch, 20-30 minutes.
• Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl to combine. Lightly brush tube pan with butter. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, tapping out excess; set aside. Remove dough from freezer and peel back plastic. Brush entire surface with melted butter and sprinkle generously with some cinnamon sugar. Shake excess sugar back into bowl, then invert baking pan and turn out dough onto work surface sugar side down. Remove plastic; discard. Brush other side of dough with butter and sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar. Use a pizza cutter or a chef's knife to cut dough into a 12x6 grid.
• Working relatively quickly so dough doesn't become too soft, separate pieces and, working one at a time, roll lightly between your palms into balls, dusting with more cinnamon sugar as needed to prevent sticking. Place in prepared tube pan as you go. Cover pan with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm, draft-free spot until pieces have swelled to nearly doubled in size, 40-50 minutes. Preheat oven to 350° a little before monkey bread is ready to bake.
• Remove plastic from pan and bake monkey bread until golden brown, 25-35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then use a small offset spatula to loosen monkey bread from sides of pan. Pull bottom out from pan and use spatula to loosen bread from bottom. Slide bread back into pan; invert onto a plate and remove pan. Place a wire rack over bread and invert right side up onto rack. If using a Bundt pan, just invert directly onto wire rack. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
• Pour about 1/2 cup caramel sauce over monkey bread if desired. Serve with more sauce alongside for dipping.
• Do Ahead
• Dough can be made 1 day ahead. After punching down, pat into plastic-lined pan and chill in refrigerator instead of freezer.

CARAMEL-PECAN MONKEY BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water. Melt 5 tablespoons butter. Add milk, eggs and melted butter; stir in 1/4 cup sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Punch dough down; shape into 40 balls (about 1-1/4 in. diameter). Melt remaining butter. In a shallow bowl, combine cinnamon and remaining sugar. Dip balls in butter, then roll in sugar mixture., For caramel, bring brown sugar, butter and cream to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir 3 minutes. Pour half of the caramel into a greased 10-in. fluted tube pan; layer with half the pecans and half the dough balls; repeat. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Bake until golden brown, 30-40 minutes. (Cover loosely with foil for last 10 minutes if top browns too quickly.) Cool 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate., For optional glaze, beat cream cheese and butter until blended; gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Add enough milk to reach desired consistency. Drizzle glaze over warm bread.

CARAMEL MONKEY BREAD

Steps:

• PREPARE hot roll mix according to package directions using the hot water, softened butter and egg. Proceed through step 3. Allow dough to rest 5 minutes. Coat 12-cup fluted cake pan with no-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle nuts in bottom of prepared pan.
• MIX sugar and cinnamon in shallow dish. Cut dough with sharp knife to make about 48, 1-inch balls. Roll in melted butter, then cinnamon-sugar mixture. Layer in pan on top of nuts. Combine caramel topping and syrup. Pour evenly over top of dough.
• COVER loosely with plastic wrap and towel. Let rise in warm place 30 minutes or until doubled in size. Remove cover.
• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately invert onto serving plate. Let rest 5 minutes. Remove pan. Serve warm.

SALTED CARAMEL MONKEY BREAD

Steps:

• For the monkey bread: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 10- to 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray.
• Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add the biscuit pieces and toss to combine.
• Place the pieces in the pan, sprinkling in the dates, raisins and walnuts. Set aside.
• Add the brown sugar and butter to a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook until the butter has melted and started to bubble, then add the heavy cream and salt and whisk until thoroughly combined.
• Remove from the heat and pour over the dough pieces in the Bundt pan. Put the pan into the oven and bake until golden brown and no longer doughy in the center, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn upside down on a large platter to remove the pan.
• Slice while warm, drizzled with the salted caramel sauce and dollops of whipped cream.

MONKEY BREAD WITH CARAMEL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with cooking spray.
• In 1-gallon food-storage plastic bag, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon. Separate dough into biscuits. Cut each biscuit into quarters. Shake in bag to coat; place in pan. In small bowl, mix melted butter and brown sugar; pour over biscuit pieces.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Turn upside down onto heatproof plate; remove pan. Serve warm.

GOOEY CARAMEL MONKEY BREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray 12-cup fluted tube cake pan.
• Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon in 1-gallon food-storage plastic bag. Separate dough into 16 biscuits; cut each in quarters.
• Shake biscuit pieces in bag to coat; place in pan. Sprinkle any extra sugar mixture over biscuits.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar to boiling over medium-high heat; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour over biscuit pieces.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until biscuits are deep golden brown and cooked through in center. Cool 5 minutes. Turn upside down onto serving plate; pull apart to serve. Serve warm.

CARAMEL APPLE MONKEY BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®) with cooking spray.
• Mix white sugar and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Add apple chunks and stir to coat thoroughly. Set aside.
• Divide dough into 20 pieces. Wrap 1 piece of dough around a coated apple chunk and pinch to seal shut. Dip in melted butter, then roll in brown sugar. Arrange balls of dough in even circles in the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Carefully invert pan onto a large plate so caramel mixture runs over each piece. Cool briefly before serving.