White Pizza Monkey Bread

More About This Recipe

• There was this pretty defining moment in my life. It happened about 10 years ago on my second trip to NYC. Walking home from a show at Times Square, it was chilly and nearing midnight. Toes ached from wearing dress shoes. Belly ached for something to eat. As I traipsed along, the street ahead of be was suddenly aglow with the blinking fluorescent light of an “Open” sign. Moving quickly toward it, I found myself standing in front of the warm, welcoming door of a tiny pizzeria. Four chefs were in the kitchen. The place smelled of garlic and Italy. Ten different pizzas with gooey soft cheese were displayed ready-to-go under hot lights. Knees nearly buckled under the gladness of it all. I walked up and oogled the options. There was your average pepperoni. A slice or two of Margherita and sausage. And one piping hot, just-cut white pizza. Sweating olive oil, melted dollops of mozzarella and fresh chopped garlic, I could barely bring myself to point at it. So much splendor. It was like pointing directly at a garlic sun, or staring right into the face of the most beautiful piece of cheese you’ve ever known. With order tallied, the guy behind the counter handed over a tiny paper plate, pizza splayed far outside the edges. A handful of napkins. And a beer to go. I cozied myself into a corner of the café, folded my pizza piece flat and bit into the single most glorious midnight snack I’ve ever eaten. It was so good, I didn’t ever want it to stop. Cheese, cheese, golden dough, garlic. Cheese. It was that experience so long ago that inspired this insanely perfect White Pizza Monkey Bread. Little squares of pizza dough, wrapped around mozzarella, dipped in garlic-alfredo sauce and rolled into more mozzarella. Then baked until so golden and gooey (and so, so good). You’ll pretty much feel like it’s midnight in NYC. Bake up a batch and treat yourself. You deserve it! Or call in all your favorite humans and enjoy together. Or grab a beer, tuck yourself into a corner and keep this one all to yourself. That’s exactly what I’d do!