Kids Cuisine

A few weeks ago I was wandering aimlessly through Williams-Sonoma fantasizing about what life would be like if I owned more whisks (think of the possibilities!) when I stumbled across a monkey bread dish. With a wave of nostalgia I bought it and then was immediately plunged down memory lane.

Monkey bread was one of my favorite foods when I was a kid, and I loved cooking it and eating it with my mother. It’s the perfect food for little hands and little mouths, and as soon as I bought the dish I was so excited to make it with a little one.

The dish is adorable in and of itself, and can transition from oven to tabletop, which is essential in a sticky, hard to deal with dessert like monkey bread. It also came with a recipe, which was great because I have long since forgotten how its made. It was an easy recipe, easy to follow and even easier to enjoy!

Monkey Bread
Source: Williams-Sonoma

Dough:
3/4 cup warm milk
1/2 cup warm water
2 tbsp butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 package rapid rise yeast
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp salt

Sugar Coating:
1 cup light brown sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
8 tbsp butter, melted

Glaze:
4 tbsp butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp water

All ingredients should be room temperature unless otherwise noted.

Whisk together milk, water, melted butter, sugar, egg, and yeast. In a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, quickly mix flour and salt. Slowly add milk mixture while it’s mixing at a low speed. Beat for about two minutes until a dough forms, and then increase the speed for an additional five, until the dough becomes smooth and glossy.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for an additional two minutes. Oil a mixing bowl, place the dough ball in it, turn once, and cover with a damp towel. Let the dough rise for an hour.

To make the sugar coating, whisk together brown sugar and cinnamon and melt the butter. Set it up in a line- dough, butter, sugar, baking pan. I made my monkey bread in the ceramic monkey bread dish I bought at W-S. However, you can make it in a bundt pan as well.

When your dough has risen, cut it into about 40-50 square inch pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Dip the dough balls in butter, then in the sugar mixture, and then place in your baking dish.

Cover the dish with plastic wrap and let rise an additional 45 minutes in a warm place.

Heat your oven to 350. Bake the bread for 25 minutes, and then cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake an additional 30 minutes. You want the dough to be golden brown and springy to the touch.

While your bread is baking, you’ll make your glaze. Heat your butter, syrup, cinnamon, and sugar in a pan and melt it all completely. It only takes twenty minutes or so over low heat.

When the bread is baked and the glaze is done, pour the glaze evenly over the bread and let it sit for ten minutes. Serve and enjoy!