Banana Monkey Bread

Banana monkey bread is a delicious twist on the classic monkey bread recipe, incorporating the sweet and creamy flavor of ripe bananas. Monkey bread is a popular dessert or breakfast treat made from bite-sized pieces of dough that are coated in sugar, cinnamon, and other delicious ingredients. Here's a basic recipe for banana monkey bread:

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (110°F or 43°C)
• 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 bananas)
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp salt

For the Coating:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water and let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed bananas, warm milk, granulated sugar, melted butter, and salt. Mix well.
3. Add the yeast mixture to the banana mixture and stir until well combined.
4. Gradually add the flour and knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. You can use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment or knead it by hand.
5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
6. While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a bundt pan.
7. In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for the coating.
8. Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air.
9. Pinch off small pieces of dough and roll them into balls, then dip each ball into the melted butter and roll it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place the coated balls in the greased bundt pan.
10. Continue this process until all the dough balls are coated and arranged in the pan.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and cooked through.
12. Remove the monkey bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then, invert it onto a serving plate.
13. Serve your delicious banana monkey bread while it's still warm, pulling apart the individual pieces to enjoy.

You can also drizzle a simple icing made from powdered sugar and milk over the top for an extra touch of sweetness if desired. Enjoy your homemade banana monkey bread!