Perfectly Cheesy Monkey Bread

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHAT YOU GET: This Cheesy Monkey Bread recipe is the perfect and irresistible cheesy, bready snack that includes two types of cheese and garlic in two ways!

If you’re looking for the ultimate comfort food, a game-day snack, an easy and satisfying appetizer for a dinner party, or just an excuse to eat bread and cheese, then look no further. This Cheesy Monkey Bread is truly everything you want in a pull-apart cheese bread.

This recipe makes an amazingly cheesy, garlicky, herby, savory monkey bread — I think I’ve perfected the combination of ingredients on this one.

My homemade savory monkey bread calls for both Swiss and mozzarella cheese, making this bread both melty and stringy, so you get the best of both worlds. It also features garlic in two ways — roasted and sweet and raw and spicy. I also add fresh herbs to brighten it up for the best cheesy, bready snack!

If you like Monkey Bread, you’ve gotta try these recipes: Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread, Stuffed Monkey Bread with Pecans & Caramel, Pizza Monkey Bread (Pull Apart Bread).

What Is “Monkey Bread?”

Monkey bread is also called pull-apart bread or bubble bread. It was likely named the way it is eaten — picking and pulling sections apart as a monkey might. It is made with a yeasted dough, which makes the bread super soft and stretchy. 

How Do I Make Cheesy Monkey Bread Overnight?

You can make this recipe the night before and bake it off the next day if you would like. After the second rise, wrap the dough well and place it in your refrigerator. Before baking, let the dough come to room temperature for a couple of hours, unwrap, and bake as instructed!

What Type Of Cheese Is In Cheesy Monkey Bread?

I love the combination of Swiss and mozzarella cheese for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorites! Keep in mind that every type of cheese does melt differently, so your results may vary. You may also want to experiment with different fresh herbs from my recipe, which calls for parsley and thyme. Again, different herbs are better with certain cheeses than others! 

How Do I Roast Garlic?

To roast garlic:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare the garlic bulb by cutting the tips off the top of both to expose the cloves.
2. Rub the garlic all over with olive oil and wrap it in aluminum foil.
3. Roast the garlic on a baking sheet for 40 minutes until they are brown.

Once they are roasted and cooled a bit, you can simply squeeze the garlic out. It will still taste like garlic, but roasted garlic takes on a sweeter, more mild flavor as it caramelizes, and it becomes soft and buttery and loses the sharpness of raw garlic. 

Tools You Need To Make Cheesy Monkey Bread

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Stand mixer
• Mixing bowls
• Baking sheet
• 10-inch (25 ½cm) bundt pan

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Cheesy Monkey Bread

• This recipe uses instant yeast that does not need any proofing. Check that you have the correct yeast before you begin.
• If you only have active, dry yeast, you can still use it, but it will need to be proofed to activate it. This can be done with the milk before adding it to the flour.
• If your kitchen is cold, you can create a warm place for the dough to rise by turning on your oven for a few minutes. Be sure to turn the oven off before placing your dough inside.
• You can often find pre-roasted garlic in grocery stores. If you buy it, use 12 cloves.
• You can use different cheeses or herbs in this recipe, but all cheeses melt differently, so you may not get the same result.
• This is a great make-ahead recipe: Wrap the dough well and refrigerate it overnight after the second rise. The next day, allow the dough to come to room temperature for a couple of hours, then unwrap and bake.
• Try serving this with a side of my Five-Minute Pizza Sauce for dipping!

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