Day 2 of our Vegan MoFo we are making Monkey Bread!!! This is one of our ABSOLUTE FAVORITES in this house. But we try to only make it if there is company because otherwise we eat the ENTIRE batch ourselves because it is too too too delicious not to! Check it out...
RECIPE:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp Earth Balance Buttery Spread
1 cup warm water (around 110 F)
1 tbsp sugar
2.25 tsp (one packet) dry yeast
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1/2 Earth Balance, melted
Combine water, 1 tbsp sugar and yeast and let the yeast activate for 5 mintues. A layer of foam indicates if your yeast has activated.
Add flour, salt, 3 tbsp of sugar and Earth Balance to a stand mixer, food processor or large bowl. Mix to combine. Slowly add water, while mixing, to incorporate. Once the dough comes off the sides, continue to knead until the dough becomes elastic and smooth. This takes 3-5 minutes using a machine and 15-20 by hands. Place in a lightly oiled/cooking sprayed bowl and cover with plastic wrap/ damp towel and let proof for 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in size.
After the dough has risen, combine the remaining sugars and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Divide the dough in half, and roll each half of the dough out into a snake shape on a lightly floured surface. Cut the snakes into pieces, roughly 3/4 in size. Form each piece into a ball. Dip each ball into the melted Earth Balance, and then roll into the cinnamon/sugar mixture to coat. Arrange in a sprayed pan (I use a 9" round cake pan, but anything roughly that size will work), leaving 1/2 space between balls on the first layer. Continue this procedure by placing the second layer in the spaces of the first. You may or may not evenly cover the pan with the dough balls, but it isn't too important. I pour a part of any remaining butter and sugar over the top, but this is optional. Cover with plastic wrap/damp towel and let proof for another 45-60 minutes.
In an oven preheated to 350 F, bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean of the bottom layer of dough balls. Let cool for 10 minutes and enjoy warm!
OUR REVIEWS:
Joe: This is the best f-ing s**t on the planet! BEST!
Alex: I agree-it's sweet and delicious. It's like a donut but better and I get to slap the bread which is super fun! Joe and I like to each take a bit, he drops the dough in the vegan butter and I do the sugary party. And I can pretty much eat monkey bread all day and any day. It's a great breakfast, snack, and dessert. The only bad thing is the desire to eat it all and then put on a million pounds! HA! But in all seriousness it is pretty addicting so make with company in mind! :D
