Banana Pecan Monkey Bread

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• ¾ cup plus 1 teaspoon raw cane sugar
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• ¾ cup natural buttery spread with olive oil
• 4 cups white whole wheat flour plus additional for dusting
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 4 ripe DOLE^® Bananas, peeled and thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Spray a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk 1 teaspoon sugar, yeast and ½ cup warm water (no warmer than 115°F) in bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook attached. Heat milk and ¼ cup buttery spread in a small saucepan over medium-high heat 3 minutes or until steamy (no warmer than 115°F). With mixer on medium-low speed, slowly add milk mixture to yeast mixture until incorporated. Slowly add flour; increase speed to medium and knead dough 3 minutes or until dough comes together.
2. Knead dough on a floured work surface 2 minutes or until smooth and elastic; form into a ball and place in prepared large bowl. Lightly spray top of dough with nonstick cooking spray; cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand 1 hour or until doubled in size.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F; spray 12-cup Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. Heat ½ cup sugar and remaining ½ cup buttery spread in a small saucepan over medium heat 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved, whisking occasionally; pour ½ cup into prepared pan, and sprinkle with ½ cup pecans and half the bananas.
4. Roll dough into 4 (20-inch-long) ropes on a lightly floured cutting board; cut each rope crosswise into 1-inch pieces. In large bowl, toss dough pieces and remaining ½ cup sugar-buttery spread mixture.
5. Whisk cinnamon, nutmeg and remaining ¼ cup sugar in a small bowl. Add half the dough mixture to pan and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cinnamon mixture and remaining ½ cup pecans; top with remaining bananas, dough mixture and 2 tablespoons cinnamon mixture.
6. Bake bread 30 minutes or until golden brown; cool 5 minutes in pan. Place serving plate over pan; invert to release bread.