GARLIC & HERB MONKEY BREAD

[1]Not your sweet Monkey Bread but a new interpretation of garlic bread sure to please your guests!

4 ½- 5 cups all purpose flour

2 packages Rapid -Rise yeast

1 1/4 cups milk

1/4 cup sugar

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1 ½ teaspoons salt

2 eggs

 

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter

4 good sized cloves of garlic, minced or 1 Tablespoon jarred, chopped garlic

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh Rosemary

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh Basil or 2 teaspoons dried

1 teaspoon coarse salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1 Tablespoon sesame seeds

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1.   Combine 3 ½ cups of the flour and the yeast in a bowl of the electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Turn the machine on for 5 seconds to combine the yeast and the flour.
2.  In a 2 quart saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, butter and salt and heat until the mixture is hot to the touch but not simmering. A finger inserted into the liquid should need to be removed rapidly but never burned.
3. With the mixer running on medium-low, add the hot milk mixture to the flour and then add the eggs and continue mixing at this speed until the eggs are incorporated.
4.  Reduce the speed of your mixer to low and gradually add most of the remaining flour to make a soft but non-sticky dough.
5.  Turn oven on to 400F. Immediately grease a large bowl with a little oil and add the dough to the bowl turning once to coat lightly. Cover with plastic wrap. This should take only a minute! TURN THE OVEN OFF! Place the bowl in the warm oven and allow it to rise until doubled in size–this should take about 45 minutes
6.  Combine the garlic with the remaining butter in a small bowl and microwave for one minute or until the butter is melted. Add the fresh herbs to the melted garlic butter.
7.  Pinch off a Tablespoon of dough and loosely form it into a ball. Toss the ball quickly into the butter/herb mixture and then place in a non-stick Bundt or tube pan. Continue this procedure with the remaining dough but as you complete a layer, sprinkle the dough in the pan with some of the Parmesan cheese and some of the sesame seeds.
8.  Let dough rise for about 20-30 minutes in a warm place.
9.  Bake in a 350F oven for 30- 35 minutes or until bread is risen and golden. Invert onto a plate and serve.