Monkey Bread

Buttery, cinnamon-sugar coated Monkey Bread is super easy to make, thanks to pre-made biscuit dough! This classic bake makes an awesome breakfast or snack for kids, and grownups, too!

Fun and Easy Monkey Bread

Have you ever tried monkey bread? If so, you probably fell in love just like I did back in the day, when I first tried it in grade school. My friend’s mother made some, and I was SO intrigued as I pulled off buttery pieces of baked dough, one by one. These days, I like to make it as a back-to-school treat. 

Also known as pull-apart bread, monkey bread is actually an old Hungarian style of coffee cake. The idea is that balls of dough are rolled in cinnamon sugar and then packed into a coffee cake pan (a Bundt pan is my favorite). From there, melted butter is poured over, and the whole cake (bread? Dough ball extravaganza?) is baked to a deep golden brown.

It’s easy to see why this traditional recipe took off, right!? Monkey bread makes a wonderful breakfast, dessert, or snack. Whatever you call it, you won’t be able to resist just one more piece!

What You’ll Need

The ingredients for this recipe couldn’t be simpler! Use any type of refrigerated biscuit dough you like—or if you prefer, make your own homemade yeast dough.

• Biscuit Dough: To fill the average Bundt pan, you’ll need 3 rolls of refrigerated biscuits (I used Pillsbury Grands).
• Cinnamon: You’ll need 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon.
• Sugar: I like to use plain granulated sugar.
• Butter: To get that soft and melting monkey-bread texture, use 1 cup (two sticks) of real butter.
• Brown Sugar: Adding brown sugar to the recipe not only gives a depth of flavor and sweetness, it adds a pretty color, too!

How to Make Monkey Bread with Biscuit Dough

This is not only a nice treat to make for children, it’s a great way to introduce kids to baking! Little ones (and big ones too) will love the opportunity to cut up biscuit dough, roll it in the cinnamon sugar, and layer it in the cake pan.

1. Prep Your Oven, Pan, and Cinnamon Sugar. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously spray a Bundt pan (or angel food cake pan) with cooking oil, or grease with butter. Set aside. In a small bowl, mix together the ground cinnamon and granulated sugar. Set that aside as well.
2. Make the Dough Balls. Open up the rolls of refrigerated biscuit dough, and separate the individual biscuits. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. Roll one piece at a time in the sugar mixture to coat, and place in the prepared Bundt pan. 
3. Make the Brown Sugar and Butter Mixture. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the brown sugar. Whisk continuously, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Then carefully pour the butter mixture over the biscuit dough in the Bundt pan.
4. Bake. Place the monkey bread in the oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the center of the monkey bread registers 190°F on an Instant-Read thermometer. 
5. Plate the Monkey Bread. Allow the monkey bread to cool slightly. Then place an oven-safe plate over the Bundt pan. Using two oven mitts to prevent burns, carefully flip the pan and plate over together. Gently lift the pan, leaving the monkey bread on the plate. 
6. Enjoy! Serve this delicious cake warm.

Tips for Successful Monkey Bread

Are you getting hungry? I know I am! But don’t heat up the oven just yet. Take a minute to look over these handy tips and variations before you get started!

• Substitute Bread Dough: If you prefer, you can make a batch of sandwich bread dough or use premade frozen bread dough in this recipe!
• Make It Your Own: I like to add a splash of orange liqueur to my butter mixture, or use pumpkin pie spice in place of the cinnamon! 
• Think Churro: For an extra-special touch, drizzle the finished Monkey Bread with a bit of melted chocolate. Serious. Yum
• Monkey Muffins: You can also make muffins with this recipe! Just press several dough pieces gently into each cup of a standard muffin tin. 

Serving Suggestions

When I make monkey bread, I typically serve it on its own, but it also makes a fantastic addition to a breakfast or coffee hour menu! Here are some ideas for serving alongside this easy bake.

• Apple Butter: Warm monkey bread is a natural companion to homemade Instant Pot Apple Butter! The cinnamon-apple combo can’t be beat.
• Bacon: Crispy Oven Baked Bacon is the ultimate way to make and serve everyone’s favorite breakfast protein! It’s so good, so easy, and eliminates the hassle and mess of frying bacon on the stove!
• Iced Coffee: This indulgent Mocha Iced Coffee is super refreshing, and goes perfectly with warm cinnamon-y monkey bread.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Store leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container, like a cake plate with a sealed dome lid, or in plastic food storage bags.
• Monkey bread will keep for two days.
• If you want to warm leftover monkey bread, place in the oven or toaster oven on a baking sheet at 350F until warm. You can also microwave it.

Can You Freeze Pull Apart Monkey Bread?

• Yes! Tightly wrap leftovers in plastic wrap, and then place in freezer bags. Freeze for up to one month. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.

Print Recipe

5 from 4 votes

Monkey Bread

Buttery, cinnamon-sugar coated monkey bread is super easy to make, thanks to pre-made biscuit dough! This classic bake makes an awesome breakfast or snack.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time40 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: monkey bread, recipe monkey bread

Servings: 12

Calories: 668kcal

Author: Katerina | Easy Weeknight Recipes

Ingredients

• 3 cans (16.3 ounces per can) refrigerated biscuits, I used Pillsbury Grands
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup butter
• ¾ cup brown sugar

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Generously spray a Bundt pan (or angel food cake pan) with cooking oil. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, mix together the ground cinnamon and granulated sugar. Set the bowl aside.
• Open the rolls of refrigerated biscuit dough. Remove the dough and separate the individual biscuits. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces.

  Roll one piece at a time in the sugar mixture to coat, and place in the prepared Bundt pan.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the brown sugar. Whisk continuously until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Pour the butter mixture evenly over the biscuit dough in the Bundt pan.
• Place the Bundt pan into the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the center of the monkey bread registers at 190°F on an Instant-Read thermometer.
• Allow the monkey bread to cool slightly. Then place an oven-safe plate over the Bundt pan. Using two oven mitts, to prevent burns, carefully flip the pan and plate over together.
• Gently lift the pan, leaving the monkey bread on the plate. Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 668kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 1207mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 477IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 4mg

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