Contributed by: Angie McGowan www.eclecticrecipes.com
One of my favorite sweets to make for big family breakfasts or brunches is monkey bread. Traditional cinnamon- and raisin-filled monkey breads are fine, but I wanted a lighter flavor for spring...something that would be a different yet still a welcome addition to my table.
When I think of springtime sweet treats, I always think of citrus, so I decided to make a sticky, gooey Lemon Monkey Bread. To make this recipe really easy, I used pre-packaged lemon pudding mix combined with fresh lemon zest for extra flavor. Then I finished off the monkey bread with a light lemon glaze.
This monkey bread is simple to make. You can have it ready for your family in less than an hour. To save time, you could also assemble it the night before, store in the refrigerator and bake the next morning.
We start with two tubes of Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers Butter Tastin’ biscuits and ¾ cup melted butter.
Then combine 1 cup packed brown sugar and a 1 oz package of lemon-flavored pudding mix. To this, add 1 tablespoon lemon zest (the zest of about 1 lemon). Mix well with your fingers or a fork. I like to really get my hands in there!
Next, cut the biscuits into quarters and place in the bowl of melted butter; toss well to coat. (I also do this with my hands to make sure every piece of dough is covered in butter.) Remove the buttered biscuits one by one and roll in the sugar mixture.
Place these biscuit pieces in a well-greased fluted tube pan. (I use non-stick cooking spray to grease my pan.) You may want to get a kid to help you. My son loves this part! When you are all done, bake the bread at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown and not doughy.
While the bread is baking, you can make your lemon glaze. Just combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 to 3 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 to 2 drops of yellow food coloring in a mixing bowl. Mix well; set aside.
After your monkey bread comes out of the oven, let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then turn it upside down onto a serving platter. While the bread is still warm, drizzle the icing on top. My son loves this part!
Then serve your warm Lemon Monkey Bread. You can cut the bread with a knife...or let your family pull it apart with their fingers!
