Easy Monkey Bread

Monkey Bread is a delightful, pull-apart treat that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert. This Easy Monkey Bread recipe uses refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough to cut down on prep time, making it a quick and simple way to enjoy a warm, sweet, and cinnamon-spiced pastry that everyone will love. The soft biscuit dough pieces are coated in a cinnamon-sugar mixture and then baked together in a buttery, caramelized sauce that creates a golden, sticky exterior and tender inside. Each bite offers a perfect balance of sweet, buttery, and cinnamon flavors that will keep you coming back for more.

Because it’s made with ready-to-use dough, this monkey bread is incredibly convenient for busy mornings or spontaneous gatherings. It’s a fantastic recipe to share with family and friends, and its pull-apart nature makes it fun and interactive to eat. The gooey, sugary sauce seeps into the biscuit dough during baking, giving every piece a luscious texture and flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  1. Quick and Easy: Uses refrigerated biscuit dough, saving hours of rising and prep.
  2. Perfectly Sweet and Buttery: Cinnamon sugar coating and caramelized butter sauce.
  3. Pull-Apart Fun: Great for sharing and easy for guests to serve themselves.
  4. Versatile: Ideal for breakfast, brunch, snack, or dessert.
  5. No Special Skills Needed: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps.

Ingredients

  • Refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough
  • Granulated sugar
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Unsalted butter
  • Light brown sugar (packed)

Variations

  • Add Nuts: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts between layers for crunch.
  • Use Cream Cheese: Add small cubes of cream cheese inside the dough pieces for a creamy surprise.
  • Glaze It: Drizzle a simple vanilla or cream cheese glaze after baking.
  • Fruit Additions: Toss in mini chocolate chips, raisins, or dried cranberries.
  • Savory Twist: Omit sugar and cinnamon, add garlic and herbs for a savory pull-apart bread.

How to Make the Recipe

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a bundt pan generously with butter or nonstick spray.

Step 2

Cut each biscuit dough piece into quarters.

Step 3

In a large bowl, mix the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon.

Step 4

Toss the biscuit quarters in the cinnamon sugar mixture until coated evenly.

Step 5

In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat, stirring until smooth and combined.

Step 6

Layer the coated biscuit pieces in the bundt pan, pouring some of the melted butter and brown sugar mixture over each layer.

Step 7

Pour any remaining butter mixture over the top.

Step 8

Bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.

Step 9

Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.

Tips for Making the Recipe

  • Use a bundt pan for the classic ring shape and even cooking.
  • Don’t skip greasing the pan well to avoid sticking.
  • Let it cool slightly before removing to keep the gooey texture intact.
  • Cut dough evenly to ensure consistent baking.
  • Serve warm for the best flavor and texture.

How to Serve

  • Serve warm and pull apart with your hands or forks.
  • Pair with coffee, tea, or a glass of milk.
  • Add a drizzle of vanilla glaze or cream cheese frosting for extra indulgence.
  • Great alongside scrambled eggs or fresh fruit for brunch.
  • Serve as a fun dessert at parties or gatherings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover monkey bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Reheating

Reheat in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5-10 minutes to refresh the gooey texture.

Freezing

Monkey bread is best enjoyed fresh but can be frozen before baking. Freeze in a bundt pan wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and foil, thaw overnight, then bake as directed.

FAQs

1. Can I use homemade biscuit dough?

Yes, homemade biscuit dough works perfectly if you want to make it from scratch.

2. How do I prevent the monkey bread from sticking?

Grease the bundt pan thoroughly with butter or nonstick spray.

3. Can I make this dairy-free?

Use dairy-free biscuit dough, margarine or coconut oil, and substitute sugars as desired.

4. How long does monkey bread keep fresh?

It’s best eaten within 2 days for optimal texture and flavor.

5. Can I add nuts or other mix-ins?

Yes, nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruits make great additions.

6. Can I bake it in a regular cake pan?

A bundt pan is preferred for shape and even baking, but a deep cake pan can work.

7. How do I store leftovers?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

8. Is this recipe very sweet?

It’s moderately sweet with a buttery cinnamon flavor.

9. Can I prepare it the night before?

You can assemble it and refrigerate overnight; bake fresh in the morning.

10. Can I double the recipe?

Yes, use two bundt pans or a larger pan, adjusting baking time accordingly.

Conclusion

Easy Monkey Bread is a wonderfully simple and crowd-pleasing recipe that brings warmth and sweetness to any table. Thanks to refrigerated biscuit dough, it’s quick to prepare yet yields a beautifully caramelized, pull-apart treat that tastes like it took hours. Whether for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this sticky, cinnamon-sugar coated bread is guaranteed to become a family favorite. Serve it warm, share it with loved ones, and enjoy every delicious bite.

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Easy Monkey Bread


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  • Author: Lina Judi
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

A classic, pull-apart sweet bread made with buttery cinnamon sugar-coated biscuit dough. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert with minimal effort and maximum flavor.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 (16.3-ounce) packages refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough

  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200 g)

  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 cup unsalted butter (226 g)

  • ¾ cup packed light brown sugar (165 g)


Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a bundt pan generously with butter or non-stick spray.

  • In a large zip-top bag, combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon.

  • Cut biscuit dough into quarters and place a few pieces at a time into the sugar-cinnamon bag. Shake well to coat all pieces evenly.

  • Arrange coated biscuit pieces evenly in the prepared bundt pan.

  • In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and cook until sugar dissolves and mixture is bubbly, about 2-3 minutes.

  • Pour the butter-brown sugar mixture evenly over the biscuit pieces in the pan.

  • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Check with a toothpick to ensure dough is fully baked.

  • Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate. Pull apart and enjoy warm.

Notes

  • For an extra twist, add chopped nuts or raisins between layers.

  • Serve with cream cheese frosting or drizzle with glaze if desired.

  • Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

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