Monkey Date Bread Recipe

Place warm water in large, warm bowl. Sprinkle in yeast; stir until dissolved. Stir in warm milk, sugar, salt, egg and butter. Add 3 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.

Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Place dough in bowl coated with cooking spray. Coat top of bread with cooking spray. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, make filling: In small bowl, combine dates, walnuts, cinnamon and 1/4 cup melted butter; blend well. Reserve.

Punch dough down; divide into equal pieces. With palms of hands, flatten to 3-inch circles. Place about 1 teaspoon filling in center of each circle. Pull up edges and pinch to enclose filling. To shape bread: Pour 1/4 cup maple syrup in bottom of 10-inch tube pan coated with cooking spray.

Dip half the balls in remaining melted butter and arrange in pan. Top with remaining 1/4 cup syrup. Repeat process with remaining balls and place in pan. Top with remaining syrup. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until double in size, about 30 minutes.

Bake at 375ºF for 40 minutes or until done. Let cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Turn out onto serving plate. Serve warm.