Name: Monkey Bread Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tubes refrigerated biscuit dough (8 biscuits each); 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; ¾ cup butter; 1 cup brown sugar

Jump to Recipe

Monkey Bread is the kind of irresistible treat that brings everyone to the kitchen before you even call them. With soft, gooey chunks of cinnamon-sugar biscuit dough, bathed in a buttery brown sugar glaze, it pulls apart effortlessly and fills your home with the most delightful aroma. Whether you’re serving it at a holiday brunch or just because, Monkey Bread is a playful, cozy classic that’s easy enough for a casual weekend and special enough to wow any guest.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You just need a handful of basic pantry staples to whip up this family favorite. Each ingredient is simple on its own, but together they create that irresistible caramelized edge, fluffy texture, and sweet spiced flavor that Monkey Bread is known for.

Refrigerated biscuit dough: These make the process quick and easy, creating soft, fluffy bites that soak up all the sweet glaze.
Granulated sugar: Essential for adding just the right touch of sweetness and helping the cinnamon stick to every piece.
Ground cinnamon: Brings a warm, spicy note that turns simple biscuits into an aromatic treat.
Butter: Melted and mixed with brown sugar, it forms the gooey sauce that holds everything together.
Brown sugar: Adds depth and a rich, caramel flavor that makes each bite decadent.

How to Make Monkey Bread

Step 1: Prep Your Pan

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. To guarantee every piece of Monkey Bread comes out in one glorious mound, generously grease a 9-cup bundt pan. A little extra here means no sticky disasters when you flip it later.

Step 2: Cut the Biscuit Dough

Open your tubes of refrigerated biscuit dough and separate the biscuits. With a sharp knife or kitchen scissors, cut each biscuit into four equal pieces. This gives you the perfect bite-sized chunks that bake into soft, pull-apart perfection.

Step 3: Coat with Cinnamon-Sugar

Toss those biscuit pieces into a large zip-top bag. Add granulated sugar and cinnamon, seal it tight, then shake! Every piece gets beautifully coated, creating a spiced base for your Monkey Bread.

Step 4: Layer in the Bundt Pan

Pour your cinnamon-sugar biscuit pieces into the prepared pan, scattering them evenly so they bake up nice and fluffy. Little clumps are welcome—that’s what makes the final loaf so fun to pull apart!

Step 5: Make the Buttery Glaze

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together. Stir constantly until they combine into a smooth, bubbling caramel sauce. Immediately pour this luscious mixture all over your biscuit pieces in the pan.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the bundt pan into your preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes. The top should turn a deep golden brown and the center should no longer look doughy—peek if you need to!

Step 7: Cool and Flip

Once baked, let your Monkey Bread cool in the pan for five minutes. Then, with a little confidence, invert it onto a serving platter. Let it rest for another ten minutes—this gives the gooey glaze time to set just enough.

Step 8: Time to Enjoy

Gather everyone around, and dig in! Monkey Bread is best served slightly warm, when the glaze is silky and the biscuit pieces peel away in sticky, cozy clusters.

How to Serve Monkey Bread

Garnishes

You can sprinkle powdered sugar for a snowy touch, or drizzle with a quick vanilla glaze if you’re feeling fancy. Chopped toasted pecans or walnuts add a nice crunch, while a handful of fresh berries can make the dish pop with color.

Side Dishes

Monkey Bread shines when paired with a simple fruit salad for brunch or a creamy vanilla yogurt on the side. For the ultimate indulgence, enjoy it alongside a hot mug of coffee, chai, or your favorite spiced tea.

Creative Ways to Present

Present your Monkey Bread as the centerpiece of your breakfast table, or make individual mini versions using a muffin tin for bite-sized fun. For parties, serve it on a cake stand with tongs, so guests can pull apart their own sweet pieces.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you manage to have leftovers, keep your Monkey Bread fresh by wrapping it tightly or storing it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. The texture stays delightfully soft, especially if you cover it well.

Freezing

Monkey Bread freezes surprisingly well. Wrap slices or portions tightly in foil and place them in a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to a month, making it easy to enjoy a warm treat on a whim.

Reheating

To reheat, simply pop a slice in the microwave for 15–25 seconds until warmed through (a slightly damp paper towel over the top helps keep it moist). For larger portions, warm in a low oven, covered with foil, to restore that just-baked softness without drying it out.

FAQs

Can I make Monkey Bread ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can assemble the Monkey Bread up to the point of baking, then cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let it sit at room temperature while the oven preheats, then bake as directed.

What if I don’t have a bundt pan?

No worries! A tube pan, angel food cake pan, or even a deep 9×13 inch baking dish will work. Just watch the color and adjust bake time as needed; the goal is golden and no longer doughy in the center.

Can I use homemade biscuit dough?

Yes! If you love baking from scratch, homemade biscuit dough works beautifully in this recipe. Just make sure to cut it into similar bite-sized pieces and proceed as directed for classic Monkey Bread flavor.

How can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Simply swap the butter for a high-quality vegan butter and use dairy-free biscuit dough if you can find it. The results are still wonderfully gooey and indulgent!

Can I add extras like chocolate chips or fruit?

Definitely! Try sprinkling in mini chocolate chips, diced apples, or raisins between the biscuit layers before pouring on the glaze. These fun additions make each bite of Monkey Bread a sweet surprise.

Final Thoughts

Monkey Bread is one of those magical recipes that invites everyone to pull up a chair and get a little sticky together. It’s playful, comforting, and downright delicious—give it a try and see how fast it disappears from the table!

Monkey Bread Recipe

★★★★★

5.2 from 20 reviews

Author: lina
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 8 servings 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Delicious and easy-to-make Monkey Bread recipe that’s perfect for breakfast or dessert. This sweet and sticky pull-apart bread is a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Monkey Bread:

2 tubes refrigerated biscuit dough (8 biscuits each)

For the Coating:

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

For the Glaze:

¾ cup butter
1 cup brown sugar

Instructions

Grease: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Liberally grease a 9 cup bundt pan.
Cut: Remove the biscuits from the can and cut each biscuit into 4 pieces.
Shake: Place biscuit pieces into a large zip top bag and add the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Seal the bag and shake to coat the biscuit pieces in the cinnamon and sugar.
Pan: Add the biscuit pieces to the prepared bundt pan.
Stir: Melt the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often. Once smooth and combined, pour the mixture over the biscuits.
Bake: Bake for 35 minutes or until no longer doughy in the center.
Cool: Let cool for 5 minutes and then carefully flip onto a serving dish.
Serve: Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American