Description
This Bacon Cheddar Monkey Bread is a savory, pull-apart bread packed with crispy bacon and melted sharp cheddar cheese. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a snack.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted & slightly cooled
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (2–1/4 teaspoons)
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 2 and 1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 12 slices bacon
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add the yeast and sugar to a small bowl. Gently pour the warm water over it. Let it proof until foamy, about 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, melt the butter. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Once butter is slightly cooled, whisk in the milk, egg, and the proofed yeast mixture.
- Add the flour and salt and stir until well combined. Using well-floured hands, form dough into a moist ball. Place in a buttered bowl and cover in plastic wrap. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 and 1/2 hours.
- While the dough is rising, fry the bacon until extra crisp, reserving 1/4 cup of the bacon fat. Let bacon cool on a paper towel and then crumble into bits.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9 or 10-inch tube pan. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese and a few tablespoons of bacon onto the bottom of the tube pan.
- Gently punch down on the risen dough to release the air bubbles. Take half of the dough and form it into 1-inch size balls, dipping each one into the reserved bacon fat before placing into the bottom of the tube pan. Arrange with about thumb space between the balls.
- Sprinkle dough balls with 1 and 1/4 cups cheese and half of the remaining bacon bits.
- Form remaining dough into 1-inch size balls, dip in remaining bacon fat and place on top of the first layer in the tube pan. Sprinkle dough balls evenly with remaining cheese and bacon bits.
- Place tube pan on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted and crisp on top.
- Let cool for just 5 minutes before running a knife around the edges and inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm or cooled.
Notes
- Use sharp cheddar for a stronger flavor.
- Ensure bacon is very crispy for best texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Bacon Cheddar Monkey Bread, savory bread, pull-apart bread, breakfast bread