Monkey-ish Bread

 

I had a visit from the New Years' Resolution Fairy last night.  I usually don't make a list of resolutions for the New Year, at least not out loud or written down.  I have a few ideas in my head that I think would be nice to achieve, but I am not going to beat myself up if I don't manage to accomplish them.  Life is too short for that.  However, one resolution came true on the first day of the New Year  1-1-11.  I made the Top 9 on Foodbuzz.  I know that it may not be earth-shattering, it will not change the world, or bring world peace but it meant a lot to me.  I wouldn't exactly call myself the most creative person, and I am not a very experienced photographer, but I am learning with the help of some wonderful new friends.

In celebration of the New Year I thought I would make my version of Monkey Bread.  There are a lot of different options out there for making this recipe, but I love to make it a little different by using cinnamon rolls.  I call it Monkey-ish Bread and it is always a big hit with my family.  It is so simple to prepare and is melt-in-your-mouth good.  It is a challenge to get everyone to let them cool a little before we put a dollop of icing on top.  To tell you the truth part of the fun is doing this whilst they are hot, because then it becomes a drizzled pool of sweet goodness, and you can keep dipping into it so none of your pieces miss out.

To all my friends, new and old, I wish everyone a very Happy New Year. I look forward to a fun and exciting new year of blogging. 

"May the New Year bring you all
Troubles that last only seconds
Giggles that last minutes
Chuckles that last hours
Laughs that last days
Smiles that last weeks
Happiness that last months
Friendships that last years
But most of all
Love that lasts a lifetime!"

-- unknown

Monkey-ish Bread

(Printer Friendly Recipe)

Ingredients

• 3 cans cinnamon rolls (I used Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls with icing)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Penzeys Baking Spice, optional
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped nuts, optional (I omitted these)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Grease a 10-inch tube pan
3. Mix white sugar, cinnamon, and Baking Spice in a plastic Ziploc bag.
4. Cut each of the cinnamon rolls into 4 equal pieces.
5. Put about 8 pieces at a time into the plastic bag and shake to coat.
6. Arrange pieces in an even layer around the base of the tube pan.  Continue layering pieces on top of each other.
7. Melt butter and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and let boil for one minute.  Spoon evenly over rolls.
8. Bake for approximately 35 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes and then turn onto a plate.  Do not cut - the bread will just pull apart.
9. Use the icing from the cinnamon rolls as a topping.

Recipe adapted from a thread on Cooking Light.

The remains