Neiman Marcus Monkey Bread Recipe

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon active dry yeast (1 1/2 packages)
1 cup warm milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup melted butter
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

Yields about 1 dozen buns

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 F.

Place the yeast, milk and a pinch of the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (alternatively the dough can be mixed by hand in a large mixing bowl). Let stand for about 5 minutes, until the yeast is dissolved. Add the sugar, salt, and 1/2 cup of the melted butter, and stir in the flour to make a soft dough. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Punch down the dough, turn out onto a lightly floured work surface, and using a rolling pin, roll out to a thickness of 1/2 inch. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into 2-inch squares. Gather up four or five squares of the dough and press them together with your fingers (otherwise the finished roll will not hold together). Place the remaining 1/2 cup of the melted butter in a shallow bowl and dip the rolls into the butter (reserve the remaining butter). Transfer the dough to a buttered medium-size muffing pan, buttered side down, and let it rise in a warm place for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until doubled in volume. Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush again with the remaining melted butter.

Note: The bread may be baked in a 9-inch ring mold instead of a muffin pan.