Microwave Monkey Bread
Soft and pillowy nuggets of monkey bread pieces soaking in gooey caramel sauce is a mouthful to say and well, let’s face it. It’s kind of a handful to make, too. Not that it’s not worth it. Classic homemade monkey bread is definitely worth it.
Exhibit A
However if you’re not up to the task, don’t hesitate to whip up this easier short-cut version. This microwave monkey bread in a mug takes a fraction of the time and produces a yummy single serving. If it so moves you, you could even stuff each piece with a piece of chocolate, cream cheese, pumpkin pie filling…you get the idea. I mean, with all the time you’re saving, you certainly could!
Today, I’m aiming for the straightforward monkey bread experience, drenched in spiced caramel sauce. It only calls for 3 ingredients for the dough that then gets rolled in cinnamon sugar then dropped into a 2 ingredient caramel sauce. There are a few things to consider here but really, that could be said about most all short-cut methods. Right off the bat, since there are only a few ingredients, strive to use the best ingredients you can find. I personally love ceylon cinnamon aka “the true cinnamon.” It really shines here especially as it’s the one and only spice used here. Additionally, I would stick with brown sugar. I’ve used regular and it just isn’t the same. The second is to give the caramel a head start. The third is to avoid overcooking the dough. These dough balls can go from soft and fluffy to rock hard in a matter of seconds if you’re not careful. The actual dough only gets cooked for a minute in my 700 watt microwave. Please adjust accordingly. Lastly, salt is your friend. Any sweet sauce can have the potential of becoming overwhelming with its cloying sweetness. The salt both enhances and balances out the sweet aspect of this sweet bread. I added salt in the dough and used salted butter in the sauce. You can always add in a pinch of salt if you’re using unsalted butter. That’s what I usually do but in the spirit of being short, sweet and to the point…
- 2 tb warm water {not exceeding 110 degrees}
- ¼ ts yeast
- 5 tb unbleached flour
- Pinch of salt
- Cinnamon sugar
- 1 tb salted butter
- 2 tb brown sugar
- In a bowl, mix the water and yeast. Set aside for 5 minutes if not using instant yeast.
- Stir in the flour and salt until it becomes smooth and comes together. Set aside for 15 minutes.
- Roll out thumb pieces of the dough and roll each one in cinnamon sugar. Set aside.
- In the mug you’ll be microwaving in, stir the butter and brown sugar together. Microwave for 1 minute {the timing for my 700 watt microwave, adjust accordingly}.
- Plop in your dough balls and microwave for an additional minute.
- Allow to set for a few minutes then serve.
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this is brilliant!! I would NEVER have thought to make monkey bread in the microwave!
monkey bread because when u eat it so hot u go…ooo aaa ahh! hahaha
Exactly =)