'We have to have sprouts', 'We can't have Yorkshires', 'We have to have Christmas pudding'.
Why? Christmas is supposed to be one of the most enjoyable days of the year, why set any restrictions? With regards to Christmas food, my view is that if you want it, have it.
I'm not saying I'm a tradition anarchist who eats spaghetti and garlic bread on December 25th, but there's nothing wrong with those who do. If I fancied it, I would. That's why this year I decided to replace the tradition of eating aged, brandy-soaked dried fruit (otherwise known as Christmas pud) with a similarly-spiced hot and sugary baked dough.
Behold the Monkey Bread:
It's like one giant sweet cream-cheese covered cinnamon roll doughnut.
Christmas has passed, but in lieu of following tradition, why not make this dessert all year round?
The dough:
4 tsps yeast (from a packet)
1/2 cup warm water
2 tbsps sugar (any)
2 tbsps salted butter
1 large egg
1 tsp salt
2½ - 3 cups plain flour
Sugar topping:
2½ tbsps white sugar
1 level tbsp ground cinnamon
6 tbsps salted butter, melted
2½ tbsps brown sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
Sugar topping:
2½ tbsps white sugar
1 level tbsp ground cinnamon
6 tbsps salted butter, melted
2½ tbsps brown sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
Combine the first 3 ingredients and whisk til combined. Leave to sit for 5 minutes until yeast has activated and the top is slightly frothy. Add the butter, egg, salt and gradually begin adding the flour, until the dough comes together and is manageable by hand. Work onto a floured surface and knead for around 5 minutes. Roll into a ball and place into a large bowl (the one you used for mixing is fine) and cover loosely with a tea towel. Leave in a warm-room temperature place for around 2 hours, or until doubled in size. When the dough is ready, turn out onto surface and cut into around 34 pieces. Mix the dry ingredients of the sugar topping in a bowl. Roll the individual dough pieces into the sugar mixture and arrange into a greased round cake tin. If you have a ring mould, excellent! Use it. I sadly did not but managed to DIY one by use of a small ceramic jug.
Any thin, round oven-safe object should work for this, just place it in the middle of your greased cake tin (and grease the object too). Once this is set up you can arrange the dough balls around the shape. Leave to rise in this position for another hour, half an hour through the waiting time is a good time to preheat the oven to 200ºC. Just before baking, mix the remaining ingredients from the sugar topping and pour over the balls.
Bake the dough for around half an hour, or until risen and nicely browned. Leave to cool for 10 minutes then turn onto a plate, then back on to another plate so the bottom is the side that was touching the cake tin.
Frosting:
3½ tbsps butter
4 tbsps cream cheese
3 tbsps icing sugar
1 tbsp alcohol of choice (I used Captain Morgan's Spiced)
1 tsp syrup (maple or golden)
Melt the butter and cream cheese in a small bowl in the microwave, Stir and add the remaining ingredients until smooth. Transfer to a small jug and drizzle over the bread. Use the leftovers for extra moisture when serving.
Best enjoyed warm with a mug of coffee.
