Monkey Bread

I have no idea why this is called Monkey Bread.

I also have never made monkey bread before, despite it being ridiculously easy and ridiculously delicious. You could make your own biscuit dough, but I was all about the short cut this time around. I know I tend to be a "from scratch" snob with certain things. But when it comes to yeasted dough, I am all about the shortcuts.

I know I should have planned ahead as a blogger (especially since I had bought the biscuit dough almost a week before making this) and made/blogged about this this before Easter. It would have been a delicious addition to any Easter brunch, but instead I bring it to you the day after. Which is just fine in my book. I also, in hind sight, should've made some sort of glaze or as Ryan suggested, a cream cheese dipping sauce PLUS a nutella dipping sauce. So... I might be making monkey bread again soon. Just saying.

Anyway, Easter this year wasn't a big holiday. I got to meet Alicia's new baby niece (who I will be babysitting for as well) which was EASILY the highlight of the day. Getting to hold her and listen to the adorable baby sounds she made while sleeping.. so cute. I died. I love their family. Other than meeting the new baby, I spent the day at work.

But Ryan made me think about previous Easters, and for a holiday I don't really get excited about, I sure do have a lot of memories. I remember the big Swedish Easter eggs my mom would pack with candy and little presents for us instead of the traditional easter egg hunt. I remember adorable matching outfits with my brother and cousin. I remember huge egg hunts as a child at a family friend's house where a handful of us would sprint around searching. I think that I thought it was fun? I remember big family dinners. In recent years, though, I haven't done much celebrating. I literally have no memory of what I did last year and the year before that I was at school. And before that? Well.. I don't know.

Long story short, this monkey bread would have made a delicious dessert, breakfast, snack, etc for the holiday. But I think you should make it tomorrow, Tuesday, because why not? Sometimes you need a reason to get out of bed on a Tuesday (or Monday). Or really any day of the week you want to eat delicious sugary dough balls.

Monkey Bread

1 16-oz can biscuits
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch cake pan with butter or non-stick spray and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together granulated sugar and cinnamon. Cut biscuits in fourths, rolling into small balls. Roll each ball in the sugar cinnamon mixture and place in the pan.

In a small sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat once melted and mix in brown sugar. Whisk until smooth and combined. Pour over the biscuits.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is a golden brown. Let cool in pan for about 15 minutes before turning out onto a plate. Enjoy warm.

[source: adapted from Pillsbury]

And Ryan couldn't help but sneak in the shot..