This monkey bread recipe is baked in a loaf pan and makes a super soft and gooey, caramel-drenched, pull apart loaf! The brioche dough is proofed overnight in the refrigerator, yielding a more flavorful and easy-to-work with dough.
I bake mine in one of the best Bundt pans, but a tube pan works, too. You could even bake it in a muffin tin for individual monkey bread “muffins.” Wouldn’t that be cute?! Just be sure to adjust the baking time.
Day 1: Make The Brioche Dough
- Prep the ingredients for the brioche dough. (Prep Time: 10 minutes) For this recipe, it’s important that all its ingredients are at the temperature listed in the recipe. Why? Remember that yeast is a living thing. If you activate the yeast at a temperature that’s too warm, you might accidentally kill the yeast and end up with a dough that doesn’t rise. However, on the flip side, the yeast won’t activate if other ingredients—like the buttermilk, egg, and melted butter—are too cold. So, to really set yourself up for success, take the extra 5 minutes to make sure all the ingredients are measured out and are at the right temperatures!
- Make the dough. (Work Time: 15 minutes) After you’ve prepped the ingredients, making the dough itself is a breeze. First, mix together the dry ingredients in a stand mixer. Pour in the wet ingredients and let the stand mixer knead it into a beautiful, elastic dough for 10 minutes. That’s it!
- Proof the dough. (Rise Time: Overnight) Once the dough is ready, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and stick it in the refrigerator. The fridge’s cooler temperature enables the dough to rise at a slower pace than it otherwise would at room temperature. The next morning, you end up with a perfectly risen dough that’s perfect for shaping and baking!
Why You Should Make This Monkey Bread Recipe
Here are all the reasons to make this monkey bread recipe in a loaf pan:
Do you have to use a Bundt pan for monkey bread?
FAQ
Can I use a 9×13 pan instead of a bundt pan?
What’s the difference between a bundt pan and a regular pan?
Can I use an angel food cake pan instead of a bundt pan?
What can I use instead of a bundt pan for monkey bread?
In addition to the alternatives mentioned above, you can also use a variety of other baking pans as substitutes for a traditional bundt pan when making monkey bread. This includes options like a cake pan, pie dish, muffin tin, casserole dish, springform pan, cast iron skillet, loaf pan, or glass baking dish.
Can one use low calorie bread instead of gluten free bread?
Low calorie bread and gluten free bread are totally different foods that cannot replace each other. Gluten free bread is a food specifically intended for people with celiac disease or who have a non-celiac gluten intolerance. Low calorie bread is a reduced fat product in relation to other standard breads, so it provides less calories, but it contains gluten.
Can a silicone Bundt pan be used to make monkey bread?
Yes, a silicone bundt pan can be used to make monkey bread as a substitute for a traditional metal bundt pan. Silicone pans are flexible and non-stick, making it easy to remove the monkey bread after baking.
Can You bake monkey bread without a bundt pan?
The classic monkey bread recipe calls for a bundt cake pan to create a donut-shaped cake that’s easy to pull apart. But if you don’t have a bundt pan, others can work just as well. Here are some options. You can use a pie pan, but the monkey bread may need a little longer in the oven to thoroughly cook the center. Keep an eye on it while baking.