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Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread. Also known as bubble bread or pull apart bread, this favourite flavour combination would make an outstanding addition to a weekend brunch.

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread photo of a single serving on a white plate

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread. Also known as bubble bread or pull apart bread.

Doesn’t this Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread look great? This style of baking breakfast or brunch sweet rolls goes by a couple of different monitors, depending on location. I have often seen recipes like this one referred to as bubble bread or pull-apart bread.

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread ready for the oven

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread ready for the oven.

In some places this is called Pinch Me Cake, even though it isn’t a cake at all. If a name promises cake, it had better deliver is what I say! Nonetheless, it’s a tasty treat no matter what you call it.

In coming up with my own version it was inevitable that I would venture into well travelled ground, as the number of orange and chocolate recipes to be found on this blog can attest. Served warm from the oven, it certainly did not disappoint!

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread ready to serve on a white serving plate.

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread ready to serve.

The melting chocolate, the fragrant orange and the warm sweet rolls are a winning combination. It disappeared in no time at our weekend brunch with family.

This is an amazing idea for a weekend brunch, especially if you’re invited to one and show up with these delicious pull-apart sweet rolls. It should get you an invite back, don’t you think?

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread fresh from the oven

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread fresh from the oven

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread photo of uncut bread with title text added for Pinterest

 

Find more great bread ideas in our Bread and Baking Category where you will find this incredibly popular recipe for No Knead Bread.

No Knead Bread photo collage with title text added for Pinterest

Originally published September 2008. Updated September 2020.

Like this Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread recipe?

You’ll find hundreds of other great ideas in our Brunch Category and even more in our Muffins, Tea Biscuits & Scones Category.

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread photo collage with title text added for Pinterest

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Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread photo of a single serving on a white plate with title text added for Pinterest

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Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread photo of a single serving on a white plate
Yield: 16 servings

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Orange Chocolate Monkey Bread - also known as bubble bread or pull apart bread, this favourite flavour combination would make an outstanding addition to a weekend brunch.

Ingredients

For the sweet bread dough

  • 1 ¼ cups warm milk
  • 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 envelope instant yeast, 8 g, about 2 tsp
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten

For the Candied Orange Peel & Syrup.

  • 1 large orange
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup corn syrup
  • 1/3  cup water

You will also need

  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

To prepare the sweet bread dough

  1. Combine 2 cups of the flour along with the sugar, instant yeast and salt in a large bowl or in the bowl of a large electric mixer that uses a dough hook.
  2. Add the melted butter, warm milk, eggs and vanilla extract. Using a wooden spoon or the regular paddle of your electric mixer beat for 4-5 minutes until the mixture is smooth with no lumps.
  3. If using an electric mixer, switch to the dough hook at this point and begin to slowly incorporate the remaining flour. If not using an electric mixer keep mixing in the flour gradually until a soft dough forms that leaves the sides of the bowl. You may need to use a little less or a little more flour, this is not uncommon.
  4. Knead the dough for an additional 10 minutes either in the electric mixer or on a bread board or countertop.
  5. Cover dough and leave to rest and rise for one hour. Punch the dough down and knead it for a few minutes by hand before letting it rest for another 10 minutes.

To prepare the Candied Orange Peel & Syrup

  1. With a sharp vegetable peeler, avoiding the white part of the peel, remove the outer skin of the orange.
  2. Combine the orange peel with the juice of the peeled orange, plus the sugar , corn syrup & water.
  3. Simmer together very gently for about 10-15 minutes until the syrup begins to thicken. Watch it carefully, any boiling sugar is prone to burning if left unattended.
  4. remove the orange peel to drain on some parchment paper and set the syrup aside to cool.
  5. When cool chop the candied orange zest into small slivers.

Preparing for the oven.

  1. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls. Place the first layer of balls in the bottom of a very well greased tube or a 10 cup large bundt pan, or if you prefer 2 loaf pans.
  2. Lightly brush the top of the layer of dough balls with the orange syrup and sprinkle with some chopped candied orange zest and about 1/3 to 1/2 the chocolate chips depending on how many layers you get and the size of your pan.
  3. You may not use all of the orange syrup. That's okay because I like to brush it onto the bread after it bakes too.
  4. Repeat the layers until all of the dough balls are used. Cover and allow to rise until double in size.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 40 - 50 minutes depending on the size of your baking pan. Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing. after cooling for a few minutes  brush on any remaining orang syrup.
  6. Cool for an additional 15-20 minutes and serve warm. Excellent at Sunday Brunch!

Notes

Time does not include the additional rising time for the dough. allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours extra for this stage.

Nutrition Information

Yield

16

Serving Size

1 serving

Amount Per Serving Calories 258Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 32mgSodium 123mgCarbohydrates 46gFiber 2gSugar 23gProtein 5g

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.

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Darlene

Wednesday 16th of September 2020

Can you freeze this and reheat. I’m thinking two loaf pans use one, freeze one? Small family in this house

Vi Griffin

Tuesday 15th of September 2020

Your list of ingredients said regular yeast but Step 1 of instructions says instant yeast. Which one is correct.

Barry C. Parsons

Tuesday 15th of September 2020

Instant. It's corrected now.

Alecia Ramirez

Friday 15th of February 2019

Made this tonight and it was delish!!! Highly recommend it’s to anyone

Wavey

Saturday 17th of March 2012

I made this for a church function..everyone LOVED it. Will make again.

Anonymous

Saturday 11th of February 2012

I will be baking it this weekend! Oranges are in season right now in Pakistan, have some of the best. I can't find any good chocolate chips anywhere, would bits of milk chocolate work?

Barry C. Parsons

Sunday 12th of February 2012

I'm sure they would.

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