Gooey Monkey Bread Recipe

Super Scrumptious Pull-Apart Monkey Bread Recipe for Beginners

Warm, gooey, and irresistibly delicious, this easy monkey bread recipe will make your weekend mornings extraordinary.

Sweet cinnamon swirls dance through soft, pillowy dough that pulls apart with pure delight.

Nothing beats the aroma of freshly baked treats wafting through your kitchen.

Clusters of caramelized sugar coat each tender morsel, creating a decadent breakfast experience.

Simple ingredients and minimal prep time mean you can whip up this crowd-pleasing pastry in no time.

Sticky, sweet, and utterly addictive, this monkey bread transforms an ordinary morning into a celebration of comfort and flavor.

Dive into this mouthwatering recipe and watch everyone’s faces light up with pure joy.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35-40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 7

Items You Need To Make Easy Monkey Bread

For The Dough Base:
  • Refrigerated Biscuit Dough: Convenient shortcut that delivers perfectly soft, pillowy texture without complex baking.
  • Granulated Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps create golden caramelized exterior.
For The Coating Mixture:
  • Ground Cinnamon: Warmly aromatic spice that brings cozy, comforting flavor to every bite.
  • Brown Sugar: Creates rich, molasses-like caramel coating that transforms simple dough into decadent treat.
For The Finishing Touch:
  • Unsalted Butter: Provides luxurious moisture and helps bind ingredients, creating irresistible sticky glaze.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile with deep, complex sweetness.

Helpful Tools To Make Easy Monkey Bread

  • Bundt Pan: Large, ring-shaped cake pan with a distinctive fluted design, perfect for creating monkey bread's signature look.
  • Cooking Spray or Butter: Essential for greasing the pan and preventing the bread from sticking.
  • Mixing Bowls: Two medium-sized bowls for preparing the dough and cinnamon sugar coating.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise tools for accurately measuring ingredients.
  • Whisk: Great for mixing ingredients smoothly and eliminating lumps.
  • Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Helpful for stirring and combining ingredients.
  • Cutting Board: Surface for cutting and preparing dough pieces.
  • Sharp Knife: Needed for cutting the dough into small, even chunks.

Easy Way To Prepare Easy Monkey Bread

  • Oven Preparation

Warm up your kitchen companion to a cozy 350 degrees, creating the perfect environment for a delightful baking adventure. Grab your trusty bundt pan and give it a loving coat of butter or a quick spray to ensure nothing sticks.

  • Dough Transformation

Separate each biscuit into small, bite-sized morsels. Roll these little pillows of dough in a heavenly mixture of cinnamon and sugar, making sure each piece is luxuriously coated with sweet, aromatic goodness.

  • Pan Layering

Artfully arrange the cinnamon-kissed dough bits into your prepared bundt pan, creating a tempting landscape of deliciousness. Don’t worry about perfection – random placement adds character to this crowd-pleasing treat.

  • Caramel Drizzle

In a small saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar together, stirring until they become a rich, glossy caramel sauce. Pour this liquid gold evenly over the dough, ensuring every nook and cranny gets a delectable coating.

  • Baking Magic

Slide the pan into the preheated oven and let the magic happen. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, watching for a golden-brown top that hints at the crispy, gooey treasure waiting inside.

  • Cooling and Serving

Once out of the oven, let the monkey bread rest for a few minutes. Carefully flip the pan onto a serving plate, allowing the caramel-coated masterpiece to reveal itself in all its sticky, sweet glory.

Cooking Notes For Easy Monkey Bread

  • Perfect Pan Prep: Use a light-colored bundt pan to prevent over-browning and ensure even baking. Generously coating the pan with butter or non-stick spray helps the monkey bread release smoothly after cooking.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Assemble the monkey bread the night before and refrigerate overnight. Simply remove from the fridge 30 minutes before baking to bring to room temperature, making breakfast prep a breeze.
  • Dietary Swap Solutions: For gluten-free friends, replace regular biscuit dough with gluten-free biscuit mix. Dairy-free bakers can substitute butter with coconut oil or dairy-free margarine for an equally delicious treat.
  • Flavor Adventure Twists: Experiment with mix-ins like chopped pecans, dried cranberries, or mini chocolate chips tossed in the sugar coating. Sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice into the sugar mixture for extra warmth and depth of flavor.
  • Storage Smart Tip: Store leftover monkey bread in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Gently reheat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore that fresh-from-the-oven softness and warmth.

What To Pair With Easy Monkey Bread

  • Party Platter Pizzazz: Create a stunning dessert centerpiece by arranging the monkey bread on a decorative wooden board, surrounding it with fresh berries and mint leaves for a pop of color and freshness.
  • Brunch Companion Delight: Serve alongside crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and fresh fruit for a decadent weekend morning treat that will make everyone smile and feel indulged.
  • Ice Cream Extravaganza: Top warm monkey bread pieces with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, allowing the cold, creamy texture to contrast beautifully with the warm, gooey bread for an irresistible dessert experience.
  • Dipping Sauce Dream: Prepare small ramekins with cream cheese glaze, caramel sauce, or chocolate dip on the side, letting guests customize their monkey bread with their favorite sweet drizzle.

Save And Enjoy Easy Monkey Bread Later

  • Refrigerator Smart Storage: Keep leftover monkey bread in an airtight container for up to 3 days, ensuring maximum freshness and soft texture.
  • Freezing Magic: Wrap individual portions or the entire batch in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, storing in the freezer for up to 2 months for quick future treats.
  • Reheating Hack: Warm refrigerated or thawed monkey bread in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300F for 5-7 minutes to restore that delightful gooey warmth.
  • Room Temperature Tip: Allow monkey bread to cool completely before storing to prevent condensation and maintain its delectable crumbly consistency.
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Gooey Monkey Bread Recipe

Gooey Monkey Bread Recipe


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4.5 from 30 reviews

  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 7 1x

Description

Scrumptious monkey bread delights dessert enthusiasts with its gooey, caramelized layers of sweet dough. Pulled-apart pieces reveal a rich, cinnamon-sugar coating that draws friends and family together for a memorable treat.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (16 oz/454 g) Pillsbury Grands! refrigerated biscuit dough
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (150 g) packed brown sugar
  • 2 tsps ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • Vanilla glaze or cream cheese icing (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Generously grease the bundt pan with butter or non-stick spray, ensuring complete interior coverage to prevent sticking.
  2. Coating: Create a fragrant cinnamon-sugar mixture in a shallow bowl, then meticulously roll each biscuit segment to achieve a complete, even coating.
  3. Layering: Loosely arrange the sugar-dusted dough pieces in the prepared bundt pan, allowing space for expansion and caramelization during baking.
  4. Caramel Sauce: Craft a rich glaze by melting butter and brown sugar in a saucepan, stirring until the mixture transforms into a smooth, glossy caramel.
  5. Glazing: Drench the layered dough with the warm caramel sauce, ensuring each piece receives a luxurious, even coating that will create irresistible sticky layers.
  6. Baking: Position the pan in a preheated oven and bake until the top achieves a deep golden-brown hue and the edges bubble with caramelized sweetness, approximately 30-35 minutes.
  7. Resting: After removing from the oven, allow the monkey bread to rest in the pan for 10 minutes, enabling the caramel to set and prevent potential burning.
  8. Serving: Carefully invert the pan onto a serving plate, releasing the monkey bread with its tantalizing, interconnected cinnamon-sugar layers, and serve warm for maximum enjoyment.

Notes

  • Prevent Sticking Carefully: Generously grease the bundt pan with butter or non-stick spray, covering every crevice to ensure easy removal and perfect shape.
  • Master Coating Technique: Gently roll dough pieces in cinnamon-sugar, ensuring complete and even coverage for maximum flavor in each bite.
  • Control Caramel Consistency: Stir butter and brown sugar continuously while melting to create a smooth, evenly distributed caramel sauce without burning.
  • Achieve Perfect Texture: Let monkey bread rest for 10 minutes after baking to allow caramel to set and prevent potential burns when serving.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 7
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 34 g
  • Sodium: 550 mg
  • Fat: 20 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 63 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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