Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine your sourdough starter, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Blend everything thoroughly to achieve a uniform mixture.

Add the wet ingredients: Crack the egg into the bowl and pour in the warm water. Stir until the dough begins to form. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky—don’t worry if it’s not perfectly smooth right away!

Knead the dough: Place the dough on a floured work surface and knead for about 5–7 minutes, or until it becomes soft and stretchy. If it’s too sticky, sprinkle a little extra flour on your hands or the work surface, but keep it light—sticky dough is a good sign!

Cover the dough: Place the dough back into the bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Leave it to rise in a warm spot for roughly 1 hour, until it has doubled. If you’re in a rush, you can place the bowl in a slightly warmed oven with the door cracked open to speed up the process.

As the dough rises, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. The smell of this combination is enough to get you excited to bake!

Melt the butter: Gently heat the unsalted butter in the microwave or on the stovetop. Once it’s melted, let it cool slightly.

Punch down the dough: After the dough has risen, gently press it down to release trapped air. After that, move the dough to a floured surface and form it into a log.

Cut into small pieces: Use a sharp knife or kitchen scissors to cut the dough into small, bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch in diameter. This is where the fun begins, as you’ll be rolling these little pieces into sweet, buttery goodness!

Dip in butter: Take each dough ball and dip it into the melted butter, ensuring it’s fully coated.

Roll in cinnamon-sugar: After buttering, roll the dough ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until it’s well coated. Place the coated dough balls on a clean surface or a tray as you work through them.

Grease your pan: Generously coat a bundt pan (or a similar pan) with butter or non-stick spray to ensure the bread releases easily after baking.

Layer the dough: Start layering your cinnamon-coated dough balls in the pan, stacking them evenly. If you’re using nuts or chocolate chips, sprinkle them between layers for an extra burst of flavor.

Finish with butter: Once all the dough balls are in the pan, drizzle any remaining melted butter over the top. This will help create that golden, crispy finish that makes this bread so irresistible.

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) while you’re assembling the bread.

Bake: Place your pan in the oven and bake for approximately 30 to 35 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the top is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped. The edges should be crispy, and the cinnamon-sugar mixture will be bubbling beautifully around the dough.

Let it rest: Once the bread is done, take it out of the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 5-10 minutes. This makes it simpler to invert.

Flip and serve: After the cooling time, carefully invert the bundt pan onto a large plate or serving platter. The bread should slide out effortlessly, revealing a gorgeous golden-brown monkey bread.