Blueberry Monkey Bread: A Cozy Sweet Treat for Any Gathering Recipe
Blueberry Monkey Bread is a delightful pull-apart sweet treat made from soft, buttery dough pieces coated in sugar and cinnamon, layered generously with fresh blueberries. Perfectly golden and warm from the oven, this cozy dessert is ideal for gatherings, brunches, or any occasion that calls for a comforting, shareable treat.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 4 cups All-Purpose Flour (Gluten-free flour can be used as a substitute.)
- 1 cup Warm Milk (Any dairy or plant-based milk works.)
- 2 tablespoons Sugar (Brown sugar can be used for richer flavor.)
- 1 packet Active Dry Yeast (Ensure it’s fresh for best results.)
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted (for dough richness)
- 1 large Egg (Substitute with applesauce or a flax egg for egg-free option.)
Assembly Ingredients
- 2 cups Fresh Blueberries (Use frozen if fresh is unavailable.)
- 4 tablespoons Melted Butter (Essential for sticking dough pieces together)
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar (Cinnamon can be added for extra flavor)
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon (For a warm, flavorful twist)
- Cream Cheese (Optional filling between dough pieces)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large warm bowl, combine the active dry yeast, warm milk, and sugar. Let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes until it becomes bubbly, indicating the yeast is active and ready to use.
- Prepare Dough Mixture: Add melted unsalted butter and the beaten egg to the yeast mixture. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add Flour: Gradually incorporate the all-purpose flour into the wet ingredients, mixing continuously until a soft dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead it for 5 to 8 minutes until it is elastic and smooth. Then place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour until it doubles in size.
- Prepare for Assembly: After the dough has risen, punch it down to release air. Divide the dough into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Coat Dough Pieces: Dip each piece of dough into melted butter, then roll it in a mixture of granulated sugar and cinnamon to fully coat.
- Layer in Pan: Grease a bundt pan, then layer the coated dough pieces inside the pan, sprinkling fresh blueberries (and optional cream cheese pieces) between layers to ensure an even distribution of flavor and moisture.
- Second Rise: Cover the bundt pan with a cloth or plastic wrap and let the dough pieces rise again for 30 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat Oven: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake: Place the bundt pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the monkey bread is golden brown and fully cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Carefully invert the monkey bread onto a serving plate. Serve warm, allowing guests to pull apart the delightful pieces.
Notes
- You can substitute gluten-free flour to make the recipe gluten-free.
- For a richer flavor, use brown sugar instead of white granulated sugar.
- Frozen blueberries can be used if fresh are not available; just thaw and drain any excess moisture.
- Optional cream cheese pieces between dough layers add a creamy texture.
- Ensure the yeast is fresh and milk is warm (not hot) for successful rising.
- For an egg-free version, substitute the egg with applesauce or a flaxseed egg.
- Adding cinnamon to the sugar coating gives a warm, spicy depth to the monkey bread.
- Allow the dough to rise fully both times for light and fluffy results.
Keywords: Blueberry Monkey Bread, pull-apart bread, sweet bread, blueberry dessert, breakfast bread, bundt cake, homemade dessert
