Monkey Bread

Monkey Bread is a favorite with my kids and my husband. It tastes like cinnamon rolls without all the work.

Bread

1/4 cup warm water

3 1/4 cups flour

1 large egg

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup sugar plus a pinch for yeast

3/4 cup warmed milk

2 T shortening plus more for pan

1 pkg yeast (2 tsp)

Coating

1 stick butter melted

1/2 cups chopped nuts (optional)

2 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 cup light brown sugar

Icing

2 cups powderd sugar

1/4 cup milk

Put warm water and pinch of sugar in small bowl and sprinkle yeast over top. Stir and let the yeast soften and dissolve about 5 min

Place shortening, warm milk, sugar, salt, and egg in mixer. Grease bundt pan and a medium bowl.

Once yeast is dissolved and foamy, add it to the mixer bowl. Mix well with dough hook. Slowly add flour, knead on med-low for 1 min or by hand for 5 min. Place in greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set dough in warm place and let rest for 20 min.

Make coating, put melted butter in a bowl. In another bowl mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts, Sprinkle 2 T nut mixture in Bundt pan. Cut dough into 1/2 inch pices. Roll into balls.

Dip balls in butter, then roll in nut mixture, and place in Bundt pan.

Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 30-35 min. Let cool for 15 min.

Turn bread out on a rack and cool

Make icing and drizzle over the bread.

Enjoy! Bet you can't eat just one