Foodie Friday: Super-Sticky-Caramelly Monkey Bread

Hey Humble Readers...

Summer has finally arrived on the flatland, and because it's been super warm this week (warm for us is probably luke-warm for some of my readers further south, but without a/c, I'm just a big ol' puddle) I haven't been doing a lot of cooking.  So, that means you all are getting a recipe that I've been hanging onto for a while. 

This is super yummy with breakfast, brunch, snacking, or dessert, and it's so simple you wouldn't even believe it. 

You can use whatever basic white bread recipe you like.  If you have a bread-maker, just throw all the ingredients (in manufacturer's recommended order) use the dough cycle and let the machine to do the hard work.

Super-Sticky-Carmelly Monkey Bread

Bread:
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup water

Sauce:
1 1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup raisins, soaked so they are plump

Place all bread ingredients into the bread-maker in order suggested by the manufacturer (mine is liquids on the bottom, then dry, topped with yeast).  Run a dough cycle.  When bread machine is almost finished, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat.  Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon, and keep stirring until sugar disolves.  Add raisins to sauce and remove from the heat.  When the bread machine cycle is complete, remove dough to a floured surface.  If the dough is a bit sticky you may need to knead it a few times with a sprinkle of flour.  Tear or cut into 1 inch chunks.  Dip chunks of dough into butter sugar sauce to coat (your fingers will get sticky!).  Layer the chunks in a greased bundt pan.  When all the dough has been chunked, dunked, and stacked in the pan, pour any remaining sauce evenly over the dough.  Allow the dough to rise in a warm spot for 15-20 minutes, then bake in a preheated 375F for 20-25 minutes until golden.  Remove from oven and invert onto a plate.  Serve warm.
 
You can also throw some nuts into this recipe, if you like.  It's super yummy either way!