Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread

SUMMERTIME! 

Wait... what?? 

The weather gods literally just decided overnight to make it unbearably humid and hot.

Thank god for air conditioning and fans. And electricity.

It's suffocating...although now it's decided to be crazy and thunder/lightening all over the place. So confused.

Kay and I actually attempted this bread months ago. And I mean months. Totally got sidetracked with the craziness that is life, but now, it's finally time to revel in its glory. 

Initially inspired by Joy the Baker, and then re-motivated by Naturally Ella, this Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread is de-licious.  

Ever try Monkey Bread?

Essentially the same concept -cinnamon, sugar, bread, buttery goodness- this Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread was the perfect addition to our movie night gathering. 

Yes, I've admitted it before, I do have a cinnamon addiction. It's like my safety blanket. I can always rely on the sweet smell of cinnamon to pull me up from the dregs of rainy misery...or something like that.

Making the dough may seem daunting, but using yeast is definitely not as difficult as it may seem. 

After letting it rise, knead the dough on a floured surface until it's smooth!

Joy the Baker and Naturally Ella make this seem super easy. 

Just roll out the dough, slather on butter and cinnamon sugar.

Cut Cut and Voila! Done!

Not so with Kay and I...

The rolling and the cutting were easy enough. The stacking? No such luck!

It was a chaotic attempt to plop each rectangular section of sugared dough on top of each other. The dough would resist and stick and stretch -clearly not wanting to be bothered or budged. 

Luckily, it got easier after that.  Just slice through the pile of rectangular pieces and stack the squares into a buttered loaf pan.

  
The initial stacking definitely elicited anxiety and having two people slightly alleviated it.  In the end, the warm slices of bread is totally worth any trouble.  This Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread is best eaten right out of the oven, but we definitely enjoyed the very last bits of it a couple days later.  

Recipe (Adapted from Joy the Baker) 

Dough:
2 3/4 cup and 2 tbsp all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
a pinch of salt
1/2 stick of butter
1/3 cup whole milk
1/4 cup water
2 large eggs at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract

Filling:
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 stick butter, melted until browned

Whisk together 2 cups of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt and set aside.
Whisk eggs together and set aside.
In a saucepan, melt together milk and butter until just melted (little bubbles begin to come up, but before it boils).
Remove from heat and add water and vanilla.
Let stand for 2 minutes.

Pour milk mixture into dry ingredients. Mix with spatula.
Add eggs and keep stirring.
Add 3/4 cup flour. Stir for 2 minutes. The dough will be sticky.
Place in a large greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap and towel.
Set in a warm place until it has doubled in size -about 1 hour.

Whisk cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar together for filling.
Melt 1/2 stick butter until browned and set aside.
Grease a loaf pan. 

Once the dough has risen, deflate and knead about 2 tbsp flour into dough. 
Cover with towel and let rest for 5 minutes.
Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle 12 in x 20 in.
Brush melted butter onto dough and sprinkle with filling. 
Slice vertically into 6 strips (cut on the longer side).
Stack strips on top of each other and slice it into 6 more piles.

Layer the dough squares into the pan.
Place in a warm place for 30-45 minutes. 
Preheat to 350 degrees and bake for 30-35 minutes until top is golden brown. 
Remove from oven and let rest for 20 minutes before serving. 

Enjoy!!

Linked to  Make Ahead Meals, Mangia Mondays, Sweet As Sugar Cookies , Made It On a Monday, Savory Sundays