How To Make Monkey Bread

Step 1

Prep the pan: Place the melted butter in a wide, shallow bowl. Brush the sides and tube of a 12-cup Bundt cake pan with a thin layer of the butter; set the Bundt pan and butter aside.

Step 2

Prep the sugar mixture: Whisk the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a pie plate; set aside.

Step 3

Form dough ropes: Divide the bread dough into 6 equal pieces. Either rolling it between your hands or on a work surface, roll each piece into a 10-inch-long rope.

Step 4

Cut the dough: Using a knife or metal bench scraper, cut each rope into 10 pieces. You should now have 60 small pieces of dough; cover them loosely with plastic wrap.

Step 5

Make dough balls and coat: Working with 6 dough pieces at a time, roll each into a ball. (If the dough is sticky, dust your hands with all-purpose flour as needed.) Roll them in the butter to coat, then roll them in the sugar mixture to coat. Rewarm the butter as needed if it cools down and starts to congeal; warm butter makes a thinner coating.

Step 6

Fill the pan with dough balls: Place the sugared dough balls into the prepared pan, layering them over any spaces as you go. (Don't worry about being too precise.) Repeat with the remaining dough. When you're done, you should have about 3 layers of dough and the pan should be about half full.

Step 7

Use up the remaining butter and sugar mixture: Drizzle the remaining butter over the monkey bread and sprinkle with the remaining sugar mixture. This will turn into a caramel over the monkey bread.

Step 8

Let the bread rise: Cover the pan loosely with the plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until puffed and risen to about 1 inch from the top of the pan, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Step 9

Bake the bread: About 20 minutes before the bread is fully risen, arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Uncover the monkey bread and bake until golden-brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. If making the cream cheese dip, make it while the monkey bread is baking.

Step 10

Make the dip: Place the cream cheese, milk, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. (Alternatively, use a large bowl and a hand mixer.) Mix on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes more; transfer to a serving bowl and set aside.

Step 11

Cool the bread just slightly: When the monkey bread is ready, place the pan on a wire cooling rack and cool for 5 minutes. Do not cool any longer or the caramel will harden and stick to the pan.

Step 12

Flip the bread out: Invert a cake stand or serving platter over the Bundt pan. Holding onto the platter and the pan at the same time (use oven mitts or a towel — it's hot!), flip it over. Remove the Bundt pan (you may need to use a fork or knife to pry the pan up to lift it off). Let cool at least 15 minutes more before serving warm with the cream cheese dip.