Monkey Bread

If you’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast treat that will stop everyone in their tracks, look no further than this monkey bread recipe. It’ll impress everyone at the table, and the best part is that you only need five ingredients to put it together.

You’ll often see monkey bread made with balls of soft, enriched yeast dough, like this caramel pecan monkey bread. However, we use store-bought biscuit dough as a shortcut for this monkey bread recipe, which makes prep pretty effortless. Thanks to the tube or Bundt pan, it comes out in a ready-to-serve shape that’s perfect for Sunday brunch. Bake it fresh in the morning or prep a batch to warm up and serve later. Either way, you’ll have a soft, tender bread with plenty of sticky-sweet caramel and cinnamon-sugar flavor to enjoy during any season.

What is monkey bread?

Monkey bread is a pull-apart treat made of many small dough balls that are shaped and then packed into a dish before being baked. Some say it’s called monkey bread because you pull it apart with your hands to eat it, as monkeys would do.

Monkey bread can be sweet or savory, and can be made with either yeasted or biscuit dough. Sweet versions typically feature the same caramel and cinnamon flavors as cinnamon rolls or morning buns, though some sweet interpretations include nuts, chocolate or glazes. Savory monkey bread recipes can include everything from pizza fixings to herbs, cheese and spices.

Our easy monkey bread recipe is sweet, with the biscuit dough balls rolled in cinnamon sugar, set in a baking dish or Bundt pan, and drizzled with a caramel sauce. Caramel enrobes each ball when it bakes, giving you a delicious, sticky caramel flavor in every bite.

How do you make monkey bread?

Thanks to its simple ingredients list, this easy monkey bread recipe comes together in a few simple steps. Dough balls are rolled in cinnamon sugar and assembled in a tube pan. Once assembled, you just pour a mixture of brown sugar and melted butter over the top to give it some extra-gooey texture while baking.

Ingredients for Monkey Bread

• Refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough: Use your favorite canned biscuit dough for this easy monkey bread recipe.
• Sugar: This recipe uses both granulated and brown sugar. The dough balls are rolled in cinnamon and granulated sugar before they’re placed in the pan. A mix of butter and brown sugar (light or dark brown sugar are both fine here) acts as the glue.
• Cinnamon: There are many types of cinnamon to choose from for this and any recipe. Go with cassia cinnamon for some kick or Ceylon when you want a milder, more luxurious spice.
• Butter: Melted butter is used to create the caramel sauce to pour over the dough balls. It helps the cinnamon-sugar mixture stick to the dough while giving the monkey bread excellent flavor and a gooey texture.

Directions

Step 1: Form the dough balls

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the biscuits from the cans and cut each into four pieces. Shape each piece into a ball.

Step 2: Roll the dough in cinnamon sugar

In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar. Arrange the balls evenly in a generously greased 9-inch or 10-inch fluted tube pan. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar.

Step 3: Mix the melted butter and brown sugar

In the same bowl, combine the melted butter and brown sugar and pour it over the dough.

Step 4: Bake until golden

Place the tube pan on a baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until the dough is golden brown and cooked through. Let the monkey bread cool for five minutes before inverting it onto a serving platter.

Monkey Bread Variations

• Make mini monkey breads: Want individual servings? Divide the dough into even smaller pieces, roll them in cinnamon sugar and build mini monkey breads in greased muffin tins. Drizzle each with brown sugar and melted butter and bake them for about 15 to 20 minutes. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
• Add a glaze: This monkey bread with biscuits is tasty, but you can make it even better by whisking up a quick vanilla glaze to add as an extra-sweet topping.
• Add mix-ins: This easy monkey bread recipe can be customized. For example, you can add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts, sliced bananas for upside-down banana monkey bread, or chocolate chips and marshmallows for s’mores monkey bread.

How to Store Monkey Bread

Monkey bread is best served fresh and slightly warm. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container or zip-top storage bag. Monkey bread lasts at room temperature for two to three days, or for up to five days in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze monkey bread?

Yes, prebaked or leftover monkey bread can be kept in the freezer for up to three months, either wrapped in storage wrap and aluminum foil or stored in a freezer bag.

Can you make monkey bread ahead of time?

Our monkey bread is quick and easy on purpose. To make it even easier to serve on the day you want to enjoy it, fully make the monkey bread one day in advance and reheat it in the oven for a few minutes until it’s warm.

Monkey Bread Tips

What’s the best pan to use for monkey bread?

A fluted tube pan is the best option for monkey bread. Its design makes removing the baked bread from the pan easier. In a pinch, you can also use a Bundt pan. Either way, generously grease the pan to help prevent the monkey bread from sticking.

How can you tell when monkey bread is done?

One way to know your monkey bread is done is by the smell of melted butter and cinnamon sugar filling the house. It should have a dark, caramelized appearance, the dough should be firm to the touch, and the whole thing should be bubbly and gooey. This recipe should take about 20 to 25 minutes, but you can check the bread with an instant-read thermometer for doneness. Fully baked monkey bread should read 185°.

How do you serve monkey bread?

Monkey bread is a wonderful breakfast treat. Serve it on its own or create a spread with other breakfast recipes, such as an egg casserole and fresh fruit salad.