Monkey Food Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degree F. Grease a 10-inch Bundt or tube pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Cut the biscuits into quarters and roll into balls. Combine 2/3 cup of the sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon, the cardamom and the zest from 1 orange in a shallow dish. Roll the biscuit balls in the mixture. Place the coated balls in the pan, sprinkling some of the mixture over the balls occasionally while filling the pan.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the remaining 1/3 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon and the vanilla. Warm, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Add the remaining orange zest and pour over the top of the biscuit balls.
• Bake until the top of the bread is golden and caramelized, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit at least 5 minutes. Unmold the monkey bread onto a cake plate. Slice or pull apart to serve.

Steps:

• Start with the dough. Put the milk and butter into a medium pan and heat gently until the butter melts and the milk is at a simmer. Cool for a few mins, then beat in the eggs with a fork. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl with 1½ tsp fine salt, then add the liquid and stir to a sticky dough. Leave for 5 mins, then tip onto a floured worktop and knead for 5-10 mins until smooth and springy. Use a little oil to grease a large bowl, add the dough, turn it in the oil to coat, then cover the bowl with clingfilm. Leave in a warm place for 1 hr or until doubled in size. Knead in a tabletop mixer with a dough hook if you prefer.
• To assemble, grease a 25cm bundt pan with butter. Melt the rest of the butter in a pan. In a medium bowl mix the spices and sugar plus a pinch of salt. Spoon 2 tbsp melted butter, 3 tbsp spiced sugar and 4 tbsp pecans into the bottom of the tin.
• Pull the dough into about 65 small pieces and roll into balls. Taking 4 or 5 at a time, dunk the dough balls into the melted butter, let the excess drain off, then tip them into the spiced sugar. Roll to coat, then put haphazardly into the tin. Repeat until there's a full layer of dough in the tin. Scatter with the rest of the chopped nuts, then carry on filling the tin with the coated dough balls. Tip any leftover sugar and butter over the dough. Can be frozen now for up to 1 month. Defrost in the fridge then let prove.
• Cover the pan with oiled clingfilm then leave to rise in a warm place for 1 hr, or until risen and the dough no longer springs back when you poke it.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake the monkey bread for 35 mins, or until well risen and golden. Let the pan cool for 5 mins, then give it a sharp rap on the counter. Leave in the tin until just warm.
• Whisk all of the ingredients together to make the glaze. It will thicken as the melted butter cools. Turn the monkey bread onto a serving plate, then drizzle with the glaze. Let it set, if you can bear the wait.

Steps:

• Knead dough.
• Mix sugar and cinnamon in small bowl.
• Pinch off dough into walnut-size balls.
• Roll in melted butter, then in sugar-cinnamon mixture.
• Place in butter-greased bundt or angel food pan, in layers.
• Sprinkle nuts over each layer, if desired.
• Pour remaining butter and sugar over top.
• Let rise, about 10 minutes.
• Bake in 325 degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes.
• Invert onto plate while still warm.