Thursday 22 November 2012

We Should Cocoa: Chocolate Monkey Bread

This months We Should Cocoa, the creation of Choclette and Chele, is hosted by Nazima of Franglais Kitchen who has challenged us to use our loaf (pun intended) and come up with a bread and chocolate creation. Last months round up featuring all things pumpkin from Nat at The Hungry Hinny, can be found here.

I wrote all the narrative for this post. Left it to one side. Had a flick about on the Internet about the subject and landed on a blogpost on exactly the same subject about what I had written. This has happened before. I think I've come up with something witty to say and then BAM! I find someone has beat me to it. Someone has probably beaten me to this too.

People do come up with the same ideas. If you've ever been near anyone who deals with patents, they'll give you examples.

Which made me think about this bread. It's not new, or amazing*, or never been done before. The quantities and methods are different but the end result is the same. I don't think I can find anything new to say.

Apart from the fact that I know someone who calls it "Monkey Brain Bread", and that made me laugh, loudly and uncontrollably.

Ingredients

Bread Dough
400gr strong bread flour
1 x 7g sachet of easy blend yeast
10gr cocoa powder
50gr caster sugar
50gr butter
250ml lukewarm milk
1/4tsp vanilla powder or 1tsp vanilla extract

50gr caster sugar and 25gr melted butter for the dough glaze

50gr dark chocolate, melted for the top

Method

1, In a large bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, yeast and salt together. Stir in the sugar and rub in the butter until it is all uniform in texture.
2, Slowly incorporate the milk to form a dough and turn out into a floured work surface. Knead for around 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
3, Place in a greased bowl and cover with cling film. Allow to rise, in a warm place, for an hour or until doubled in size.
4, When the dough has risen, knock it back with your fist and knead it briefly. Flatten the dough out and cut into pieces that are just smaller than a ping pong ball when rolled into balls.
5, Dip the balls of dough into melted butter and then roll in the sugar. Place them in a 1lb greased loaf tin. Cover with clingfilm and return to the warm place until doubled in size again.
6, Preheat your oven to 220o/c and bake the loaf for 20-25minutes until the underside of the load sounds hollow when tapped.
7, Remove from the oven and leave to cool slightly before drizzling the melted chocolate on and eating. It's best served slightly warm with doughy aromas and sticky chocolate covered fingers. We're all friends here..

*It begs to be torn apart and shared. That means it doesn't have to be new, or amazing. You get to share it with people you love. Perfect.

12 comments:

  1. Best not to look at anything else before writing posts I find, then at least you know everything you've written is original to you. I've heard a lot about Monkey bread, but not made it myself. Think I prefer that appellation rather than Monkey Brain Bread, which just freaks me out! I like how you've managed to include both cocoa and chocolate and it sounds just the thing to be torn apart by friends and relished. Thanks for another great WSC entry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Choclette :) I'd definitely give monkey bread a go again, although trying not to think of the monkey brain anaology!

      Delete
  2. I agree with Choclette, best not look at what others write, and just go with what you originally had in mind! However, I am so glad that you posted this delicious looking chocolate bread, as it is lush! Gorgeous! Great we should cocoa entry, Karen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Karen, I think I will in the future - it was really similar and didnt want to be accused of anything! The bread was tasty compensation in any event!

      Delete
  3. This would be just delicious on a cold, frost Sunday afternoon infront of a roaring fire shared between friends over a good natter! Lovely, lovely entry to WSC!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kate - definitely one for sharing! Might try some sweet dips with it in the future!

      Delete
  4. I have to agree with everyone else here in saying I would never look up what others write because whatever they wrote, they are not you! I think you should have faith in yourself more which has just been accentuated by this rich indulgent loaf of monkey's brains bread, great name!
    I would eat this with lots of lovely butter and I'm sure it would not last long x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Laura. I think I do need a bit of faith sometimes, everyone's comments have been a lovely boost to do so. I think "monkey brain bread" is comedic GOLD!

      Delete
  5. Well it is a new one on me...so now I know about Monkey Bread! And how tasty does it look...especially with that chocolate drizzled over the top! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my goodness! This is a great bread! I can taste it through the screen, I feel like.

    I'm hosting a new party at my blog called Pantry Party and I'd love if you joined us in December! http://lawstudentscookbook.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/introducing-pantry-party/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wonderful bread idea - I do love tear apart breads and this chocolate one wounds divine. I have to say that the photos are also really gorgeous. they really make the bread utterly drool inducing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's bread looks so good. Maybe I can buy it in Latvia? I try found bakery who can make it bread. Firstly i call to Felix bakery in Riga.

    ReplyDelete