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Slow Cooker Monkey Bread

Soft and rich brioche no-knead dough pieces coated with a cinnamon-sugar mixture and topped with caramel sauce. Baked in a slow cooker, this monkey bread is an easy and fun baking project for the kids.
Slow Cooker Monkey Bread
Yield 1 monkey bread

Ingredients

Brioche Dough

  • Makes about 4 pounds (1814g) of dough.
  • 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
  • 1 tablespoon Platinum Yeast
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup (170g) honey
  • 1 1/2 cups (340g) unsalted butter (melted and cooled slightly)
  • 7 cups (990g) unbleached all-purpose flour (see note)

Monkey Bread

  • 1 1/2 pounds (680g) brioche dough (from recipe above)
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon table salt
  • 3/4 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade )

Instructions

Make the dough

  • Add water, Platinum yeast, salt, eggs, honey and melted butter in a 6-quart round food container with lid.
  • Mix in flour without kneading, using a spoon, a Danish Dough Whisk or a heavy-duty stand mixer (with paddle). The dough will be loose and shaggy but will firm up when chilled.
  • Cover (not airtight), and allow to rest at room temperature until dough rises for approximately 2 hours. Then refrigerate for at least four hours before first use; it is easier to handle when thoroughly chilled. This dough can be stored for up to 5 days in the fridge. Makes about 4 pounds (1814g) of dough.

Make the Monkey Bread

  • Line your slow cooker with parchment paper. You will use this paper to remove the monkey bread from the pot, so make sure it is coming up the sides of the slow cooker. It may have some creases, but this won't affect the bread baking.
  • Sprinkle the surface of your dough with flour and take out a 1 1/2 pound (680g) piece. Place remaining dough back in refrigerator, loosely covered.
  • Divide the dough into about 32 pieces, as even in size as possible, but perfection is not needed here.
  • Roll the dough into small balls. If the dough is sticking to your hands, coat your palms with a small amount of flour.
  • Combine the sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Drop the dough balls into the melted butter, then the bowl of cinnamon sugar and roll them around to evenly coat the outside of the balls.
  • Place the balls in the lined slow cooker, cover and turn it to high. Leave the crock pot covered until the dough is cooked through and springs back when touched, anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, depending on your appliance. Use the parchment paper ends to remove the monkey bread from the pot.
  • Flip the monkey bread onto a serving plate and remove the parchment paper (which is now the top).
  • Drizzle the Monkey Bread with the caramel sauce and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Eat and enjoy!

Notes

Artisan Bread in Five recipes use the scoop and sweep method for measuring flour.
Recipe by Artisan Bread in Five.