Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread
How do you make bread even better? You stuff it with pepperoni and cheese. Then, you bake it in a bundt pan that allows you to pull off little chunks and dip them in pizza sauce. This is the perfect thing to bring to a party (and I did, where it disappeared quickly!) or to eat during a football game. Or, make it for dinner and serve with a salad. It's basically pizza, heavy on the crust...right?!
This bread takes a little bit of time to prepare, but in about half an hour I had filled my bundt pan with little dough balls, each with a piece of pepperoni and cheese stuffed within it. I was a little disappointed when I finished because I felt like my bundt pan should've been fuller. It puffed right up in the oven, however, and I removed it from the oven when it was nicely browned on top. The monkey bread released from the pan easily and after snapping a few pictures, I immediately dug in.
My new definition of bliss: warm dough with a cheesy center and a bite of pepperoni. The garlic butter that I'd brushed on each piece was noticeable, but not so much that you'll be suffering from garlic breath all day! I'm quite certain this will be my new go-to recipe for potlucks and football parties, especially since I still have pepperoni left over in the fridge! You can certainly make your own dough and marinara sauce, but this recipe is really easy if you pick up those ingredients (I used Trader Joe's dough and basil marinara for dipping).
One Year Ago: Peanut Butter Banana Panini
Two Years Ago: Caramel Corn
Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread
from Confections of a Foodie Bride
Ingredients:
-2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
-4 tbsp butter
-2 lbs pizza dough (I used 2 balls of Trader Joe's fresh dough)
-6 oz. mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes (about 48 pieces)
-pepperoni (about 48 slices)
-2-3 cups marinara sauce for serving
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, heat garlic and butter over medium heat until garlic begins to brown. Remove from heat and allow to sit. Brush the inside of a bundt pan with the garlic butter.
2. Pull off large marble-sized balls of dough and flatten. Place a slice of pepperoni and a piece of cheese on each, folding the dough around the cheese and pepperoni and pinching well to seal.
3. Brush the pizza ball with the garlic butter and place in the prepared bundt pan. Continue until all dough has been used.
4. Cover and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400F and bake for 35 minutes, until top is browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Invert onto a platter and serve with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.
