CHOCOLATE MONKEY BREAD FROM SCRATCH

This chocolate monkey bread recipe from scratch is our favourite, because it’s fluffy, gooey and full of chocolate covered pieces, that we can eat with our fingers. You will definitely lick your fingers for next two days.

Why you’ll love chocolate monkey bread made from scratch

You are going to love this monkey bread recipe from the first moment you will start the dough. It’s fluffy and very easy to work with that even kids can help you to roll the small monkey balls and cover them is yummy chocolatey coating. This recipe is made all from scratch, so it will require little more time, especially when proving /rising the dough. But I promise it’s all worth, when you will lick your fingers from the chocolate glaze, mmm!

Three steps to perfect chocolate pull-apart bundt bread

• This monkey bread is made from three parts; the dough, the coating for the dough pieces and the chocolate glaze. Each is done one after another. First we have to whip up the dough, super easy process I promise!
• Meanwhile, the dough will be rising on a warm spot, we will make the chocolate coating. After that, once the dough is proven, we will be rolling small balls which will be covered in the chocolate coating and place in the bundt cake.
• After baking the monkey bread, we will let it cool down and in the meanwhile we will prepare the chocolate glaze. We will pour all that silky chocolate glaze over the baked monkey bread and hurry now, we can enjoy it.

Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour: Flour serves as the primary structure-builder in monkey bread. Its proteins, when combined with liquid and kneaded, create gluten, which gives the bread its elasticity and texture. In this case, all-purpose flour provides the necessary structure for the dough.
• Milk or Buttermilk (Warmed Up): Milk or buttermilk adds moisture to the dough while also contributing a rich, creamy flavour. The warmth of the milk helps activate the yeast, leading to proper fermentation and rise. The proteins and sugars in milk also enhance browning during baking, giving the bread a desirable colour.
• Fresh Yeast or Instant Dry Yeast: Yeast is the leavening agent that causes the dough to rise by fermenting the sugars in the dough, producing carbon dioxide gas. Fresh yeast or instant dry yeast provides the necessary rise, resulting in a light and fluffy texture in the monkey bread.
• Sugar (Granulated): Sugar serves multiple purposes in this recipe. It provides food for the yeast, promoting fermentation and rise. Additionally, sugar sweetens the dough, contributing to the overall taste of the bread. In monkey bread, it also plays a role in creating a caramelized, sticky coating when combined with butter.
• Butter (Softened): Butter contributes to the flavour, texture, and richness of the dough. It helps make the bread tender and moist, while also providing a buttery taste. In monkey bread, butter plays a crucial role in creating a luscious, gooey, caramel-like coating when combined with sugar.
• Salt: Salt enhances the flavour of the dough by balancing the sweetness and highlighting the other ingredients. It also controls yeast activity, preventing the dough from rising too quickly and resulting in a more manageable rise.
• Cocoa Powder (Good Quality): Cocoa powder is the key ingredient that imparts a rich chocolate flavour to the monkey bread. It also contributes to the deep brown colour of the dough, making it visually appealing.
• Milk Chocolate or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: The milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips add bursts of chocolate flavour and gooeyness to the monkey bread. As the bread bakes, these chips melt and create pockets of chocolatey goodness throughout the bread, making it a true chocolate lover’s delight.

Quantities of all ingredients are listed below in the recipe card, but in general these are the ingredients necessary to make monkey bread. As I had explained in previous paragraph, this recipe will be done in three parts. So let’s get in depth what we will be doing in each part.

HOW TO MAKE THE CHOCOLATE MONKEY BREAD

The dough

1. We are going to start with warming up the milk. Place the milk in a kitchen bowl and warm the milk in the microwave (about 1 minute) make sure it’s not more than 43 C/ 110 F. And sugar and stir.
2. Fit a dough/ kneading hook to the stand mixer and in another in the bowl combine the flour, dry yeast and salt. Add the heated milk with sugar. Start the mixer on speed stir and slowly increase the speed and mix until the dough comes together.
3. Lower the speed and gradually add the butter, knead for about 2-3 minutes. The dough will be soft and sticky. Remove the dough from the bowl, lightly grease the bowl with oil or melted butter, and place the dough back in the bowl. Cover the dough with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm, humid place for 1 hour.
4. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and butter a Bundt pan. Dust with cocoa powder and set aside.

Chocolate coating

1. Melt the butter in the microwave in a bowl. In another bowl, combine the sugar and cocoa powder. Set aside.
2. Take the rising dough, place it on a clean flour-dusted surface and cut the dough into about 40 pieces. Lightly roll each piece into a ball using the palms of your hands.
3. Dip each balls in the melted butter to coat, then roll it in the sugar/cocoa mixture. Place the balls in the pan, after each coating. If you have leftover sugar mixture, sprinkle the remaining over the dough. Do the same thing with remaining butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm, humid place for 30 minutes, or until the dough has risen just above the edge of the pan.1 tablespoon cocoa powder for dusting
4. Preheat the oven to 350 F/ 180 C, rack positioned in the middle of the oven.
5. Remove the plastic wrap and place the bundt pan in the oven. Bake the monkey bread for 35- 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, let stand for 5 minutes, and then turn the bread out onto a serving platter. Let cool for at least 10 minutes.

Chocolate glaze

1. For the glaze, while the bread cools, prepare the double boiler (or Bain Marie) fill it with water and on top place a large steam proof bowl.
2. In the bowl place chopped milk chocolate or chocolate chips, add butter and let it melt. Occasionally stir.
3. Once the chocolate is melted with the butter, add milk for the shine. Stir and use immediately to pour the melted chocolate over the monkey bread.

FAQ & TIPS

Does monkey bread have to be made in a bundt pan?

Does the monkey bread need to be made in bundt pan? The truth, it’s super cute when made in bundt pan, but you don’t really need a bundt pan. The angel cake pan, any bread pan or even smaller Dutch oven will bake your monkey bread. The only difference will be the shape of the monkey bread.

How do you know when monkey bread is done?

The best way is to check with the skewer. Insert the skewer inside the baked part of the monkey bread once you’ve baked it the recommended time and if the skewer comes out clean, it means it’s done. Monkey bread should also be crispy on top.

How long is monkey bread good for? Storage tips

Usually when the bread is stored in an airtight container (I love this cake carrier from Amazon, it’s versatile, you can use it even for cupcakes) it should last for one week/ 7 days. To reheat the bread, set the oven to 350 F/ 177 C, wrap the bread in aluminum foil and place it on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. If the bread is still not warm enough, add another 5 minutes.

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Variations

1. Nutty Chocolate Monkey Bread: Add chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts to the dough, or sprinkle them between the layers. The combination of chocolate and nuts adds a delightful crunch and extra flavour.
2. Double Chocolate Monkey Bread: Incorporate both cocoa powder and chocolate chips into the dough for an even richer chocolate flavour. You can also drizzle melted chocolate over the finished monkey bread for extra decadence.
3. Cinnamon Chocolate Monkey Bread: Combine cinnamon with the cocoa powder in the dough for a delightful cinnamon-chocolate twist. You can also add a cinnamon-sugar layer between the dough balls.
4. S’mores Monkey Bread: Incorporate graham cracker crumbs into the dough and add mini marshmallows along with the chocolate chips. After baking, you can even drizzle the monkey bread with melted chocolate and crushed graham crackers.
5. Coconut Chocolate Monkey Bread: Incorporate shredded coconut into the dough or sprinkle it between the layers. You can also use coconut milk for added flavour and richness.

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• CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD RECIPE WITH PEARS
• CHOCOLATE ALMOND BABKA RECIPE
• BREAD PUDDING SAUCE from Keeping It Simple Blog

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