Monkey Bread with Frozen Bread Dough

Also known as tear-and-share or pull-apart bread, you can count on monkey bread to always be a hit. It’s a sweet treat that invites you to reach right in and grab the caramel-loaded pieces. Our recipe for monkey bread with frozen bread dough has a short prep time thanks to the use of premade bread dough, pudding mix and a few baking staples.

Since it makes 16 servings, this caramel monkey bread recipe with frozen bread dough can be shared at game-day gatherings and movie nights. It’s also one of our favorite easy brunch recipes—you can even prepare monkey bread made with frozen bread dough in advance so it’s ready to pop in the oven in the morning.

Ingredients for Monkey Bread with Frozen Bread Dough

• Frozen bread dough: Check your store’s freezer case for frozen white bread dough, enough for two loaves (2 pounds). If the store stocks frozen sweet bread dough, that’s also a great choice. Or, if you regularly freeze yeast dough when you bake bread, use that! This monkey bread is just one of many recipes that begin with frozen bread dough.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar sweetens the sauce, creating a caramel-like flavor as it bakes and soaks into the monkey bread dough. Use light or dark brown sugar; dark brown sugar has a more robust molasses flavor.
• Vanilla pudding mix: Boxed pudding mix comes in two types: instant or cook-and-serve. You want the cook-and-serve variety, which is quickly simmered with the rest of the sauce ingredients.
• Milk: Just a splash of milk (we use 2%, but other percentages will work too) is all that’s needed here. It moistens and loosens the sauce for the monkey bread recipe made with frozen bread dough.
• Butter: This monkey bread recipe is full of sweet, rich flavor, thanks partly to the butter. It cooks and caramelizes with the brown sugar and pudding mix to create sticky, gooey bread.
• Cinnamon: Use your favorite type of cinnamon, such as Ceylon for a mild flavor or Vietnamese for more of a kick.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the dough

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Cut the thawed bread dough into 1-inch pieces, and place them in a greased 13×9-inch baking dish.

Editor’s Tip: If you can’t find frozen bread dough, frozen dinner rolls will also work here. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge, and tear them into 1-inch pieces.

Step 2: Make the sauce

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Combine the brown sugar, cubed butter, vanilla pudding mix, milk and cinnamon in a large saucepan, and bring the mixture to a boil.

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Cook and stir the sauce for one minute, then remove the pan from the heat. Pour the hot sauce over the bread dough pieces in the baking dish.

Step 3: Let the dough rise

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Cover the dish loosely with parchment or nonstick foil. Let the dough rise in a warm place until it’s almost doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Step 4: Bake the monkey bread

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Remove the foil or parchment, and slide the dish into the oven. Bake the monkey bread until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Immediately invert the monkey bread onto a serving platter or plate. Serve it warm.

Editor’s Tip: Have a large platter or plate ready! You’ll need it to hold the inverted monkey bread once it comes out of the oven. If there’s any saucy goodness left in the baking dish after inverting the bread, use a rubber spatula to remove every last sticky bit.

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Monkey Bread with Frozen Bread Dough Variations

• Make it nutty: Sprinkle chopped nuts like walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts or pistachios over the bread dough in the dish before adding the sauce. Chop nuts quickly with everyday kitchen tools.
• Try a caramel apple version: Add chunks of peeled apple to the baking dish before adding the sauce. Try our simple hack: Use salt or soda to keep the apples from browning in the fridge.
• Add dried fruit: The monkey bread recipe made with frozen bread dough is even tastier with raisins, dried cranberries or dried blueberries. Add them to the baking dish with the dough pieces.
• Include a citrus zing: Add 1 tablespoon orange zest to the dough in the dish and a splash of orange juice to the caramel sauce ingredients.
• Insert a savory twist: Add diced, cooked bacon if you and your family love savory-salty-sweet combos.
• Surprise with chocolate: Hide a chocolate kiss at the center of each dough ball—it’ll take a little longer to prepare, but one bite of chocolate monkey bread and you’ll know it’s worth it!

How to Store Monkey Bread with Frozen Bread Dough

If you have some monkey bread left over, we’ll be shocked! The good news is that you can save it to enjoy the next day. Cover the cooled bread with storage wrap, or transfer the bread and any excess sauce to an airtight container. Store the monkey bread in the refrigerator.

How long does monkey bread last?

Plan to eat leftover monkey bread within three days for the best flavor and texture.

How do you reheat monkey bread?

You can warm leftover monkey bread in the oven so it’s sticky and gooey again. Place the bread and excess sauce in a baking dish and cover it with foil. Reheat in a 350° oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the bread warms through.

Can you make monkey bread with frozen bread dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare monkey bread in advance. Follow the recipe through Step 2, let the mixture cool to room temperature and cover the baking dish with storage wrap. Place the dish in the fridge and let the dough rise overnight. The next day, pull the dish from the fridge two to three hours before you want to bake it so that the dough can warm up. Then, follow the directions to bake the monkey bread.

Monkey Bread with Frozen Bread Dough Tips

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How long does frozen bread dough take to defrost?

To thaw frozen bread dough, start it the night before you want to make your monkey bread. Take the dough out of the packaging and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl with storage wrap and place the dough in the fridge to defrost overnight. Some brands also have directions to defrost frozen bread at room temperature, which will take several hours. So, whichever approach you choose, just remember to plan ahead!

What baking pans can you use to make monkey bread?

This monkey bread recipe made with frozen bread dough is versatile, which means you can make monkey bread in many ways. Instead of a 13×9-inch baking dish, try a standard-size Bundt pan or a large tube pan. Or, divide the dough and sauce between two 9×5-inch loaf pans. You can also divide the recipe into two 12-cup muffin pans to make mini monkey breads.

Changing the pan size means you’ll also have to adjust the baking time. Look for the golden brown color, but to be sure your monkey bread is done, check the internal temperature of the bread with a digital thermometer—the center of the bread should be 190°.

What can you serve with monkey bread?

A monkey bread recipe made with frozen bread dough is sweet and rich, so serve it as a breakfast or brunch dish with a fresh fruit side like a mixed fruit salad or a strawberry salad. Monkey bread is also delicious as a snack or for dessert—pair it with a hot drink like slow-cooker chai tea, hot coffee or homemade hot cocoa.