Looking for the perfect, fun snack? This one is fabulous. You can serve it at a backyard barbecue this summer, or make it a special afterschool treat. It's also great for the Sunday game-watching munchies. Wherever you serve it, your family (or your guests) will be tickled.

So, what is it?

Pretzel Monkey Bread.

Oh, yes.

It's like one big, tear-apart pretzel and it's fabulous. The mouthwatering, thick, and crunchy crust gives way to a wonderful, buttery, soft inside. And the shape? It's layered and cooked in a bundt pan. You know that we at AmazingMoms are totally infatuated with Monkey Bread, so of course, that is what this is; the pull-apart goodness works for so many occasions and in so many variations. This one is no exception.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 1 envelope active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 4 cups all purpose flour (plus some for dusting the pan and cutting board)

• 1 tablespoon butter (plus some for greasing the pan)
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• coarse salt

Instructions

1.
Place the warm water in a large mixing bowl and add the yeast. Stir to mix. Then, let sit five minutes. Stir again.
2.
Add the sugar to the yeast mixture and stir well. Add the 4 cups of flour and stir until mostly incorporated. The dough should be crumbly.
3.
Knead the dough with your hands for 3 - 5 minutes, until it forms a cohesive ball.

4.
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
5.
Turn the dough out onto a floured cutting board.
6.
Tear off a piece of dough and roll it into a long log, about 1-inch in circumference. Keep making logs until all the dough has been used. Then, use a pizza cutter (or sharp knife) to cut the logs into 1-inch pieces (as pictured).

7.
Use a little butter to grease the inside of a bundt cake pan (all over). Sprinkle flour in and shake the pan to coat it; it's best to do this over a bowl or the sink, as it can get a little messy.
8.
Arrange the dough in the pan. Using one piece of dough at a time, dip each piece in the beaten egg and place it into the bundt cake pan. Make one layer at a time, pausing to sprinkle salt between dough layers. Repeat until all the dough has been used.

9.
Slide the pan into the oven and cook for 35 - 45 minutes, until dough is cooked through and a rich brown crust forms on top.

10.
Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then loosen with a knife and turn over onto a plate.
11.
Brush the cooked monkey bread with a little butter and sprinkle with additional salt before serving.

Tips

Don't overdo the salt!

If desired, serve this with dipping sauces such as marinara, honey mustard, or cheese sauce.