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Ready to take monkey bread to a whole new level? My easy monkey bread recipe is just like the one you grew up eating, but with my expert tips and amazing glaze to make it simply the best monkey bread recipe you’ve ever had!
Easy Homemade Monkey Bread
Monkey bread is the ultimate shareable sweet treat. I love how simple ingredients, when combined the right way, can bring people together. This fun recipe is the epitome of that, because it literally draws people in to gather around it and spend quality time together while enjoying irresistible little balls of sticky bread.
I think this is why it has traditionally been served on holiday mornings, but I say why wait for a special occasion? Why not make it a regular thing on Saturday mornings? Once you’ve tried the recipe below, you’ll agree!
This easy recipe with a buttery brown sugar sauce will transform a can of biscuits into a delicious dessert, and the best part is, you don’t need homemade dough! Add my glaze on top and you’ll be hooked! Keep reading to learn how to make the best monkey bread in just 8 easy steps!
What is Monkey Bread?
Monkey Bread is a sticky-sweet pastry made from bite-sized pieces of biscuit dough rolled in cinnamon sugar, layered and baked together to form a soft and gooey pull-apart treat perfect for sharing.
Fun Fact: This treat has many names, including bubble bread, cinnamon roll monkey bread, jumble bread and even monkey brains!
Easy Monkey Bread Recipe Ingredients
This simple and tasty dessert recipe uses simple ingredients that come together to create small pieces of ooey-gooey goodness. Keep reading for my tips, tricks, and the full recipe in the recipe card below.
- Buttermilk biscuit dough: refrigerated
- Granulated sugar
- Cinnamon
- Butter: salted or unsalted
- Brown sugar
Icing, optional
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
Biscuit Monkey Bread Variations
While this recipe is perfect as-is, there are other ingredients you can mix in. While there are endless variations, here are some ideas:
- Nuts. Many people enjoy adding nuts, as it adds a bit of crunchy texture and nutty flavor. Pecans or walnuts work well.
- Apples. Sprinkling in little chunks of diced apple creates an apple pie flavor. This can also add more moisture to your bread though, so be careful of that.
- Zest it up. Add in orange zest or lemon zest to give a brighter, fresher flavor and balance out the richness.
- Other fruits. Just like apples, you can sprinkle in other fruits like blueberries or chopped strawberries. Just remember that this may add moisture and I can’t guarantee the results will be the same texture-wise.
How to Make Monkey Bread
This delicious recipe takes just 8 easy steps, and can be prepped ahead the night before. Keep reading on how to make-ahead and get more tips! Get the full measurements and ingredients in the recipe card below.
- Generously coat a 12 cup bundt pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Separate the refrigerated biscuit dough and cut each one into four equal bite-size pieces of dough.
- In a gallon plastic bag, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Then add all of the small balls of dough. Close the bag and shake well to coat all the pieces.
- Arrange the dough pieces in the pan. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar until fully melted. Carefully pour this over the biscuits.
- Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the top is a golden, deep brown color.
- Allow to cool for 15 minutes. Then invert it onto a plate. If it doesn’t release immediately, tap the pan and it should release easily.
- While cooling, prepare the optional icing. Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until a smooth consistency is achieved. Drizzle over the monkey bread.
How to Make Monkey Bread Ahead of Time
This pull-apart bread can be assembled the night before and cooked in the morning, making it way easier to prepare this for breakfast first thing in the morning. I love to prep this the night before, then smell the delicious flavors coming out of the oven while it bakes and enjoy it fresh with a cup of coffee.
To prepare the night before follow all the steps above, just through step 5. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate it. In the morning, bake according to the instructions. It may require a few additional minutes of baking time because the dough is cold, but the rest of the recipe is unchanged.
How to Serve this Recipe for Monkey Bread
Pull-apart monkey bread can be placed on a large plate or serving platter and then shared by pulling the bite-sized biscuit pieces off with fingers (just like a monkey would). It’s a great recipe to gather around with friends and family and share!
You can also remove a section of the and place it on plates for individual servings. Some people prefer to eat with a fork so they don’t get their fingers sticky.
How to Store Biscuit Monkey Bread
While this recipe is best served fresh out of the oven, you can save left-overs (if there are any once you taste it!) Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave at 10-20 second intervals until just warm. If you over-heat in the microwave it will get hard.
Monkey Bread Recipe with Biscuits FAQs
The exact reason that monkey bread got its name is unknown. Some people believe it got its name from being a finger food that is picked apart in pieces with your fingers, which resembles the way a monkey may eat. Others believe it got its name from its resemblance to the monkey puzzle tree, scientifically known as Araucaria araucana.
Monkey bread is traditionally served on Christmas morning in many families, or other holidays like Thanksgiving morning. However, it can be enjoyed any time as a special breakfast treat or as a dessert.
Monkey bread is sweet and gooey, with hints of vanilla and cinnamon sugar flavors.
More Family Favorite Recipes
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad
- Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding
- Best Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
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Easy Monkey Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 32 oz refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough, two 16 oz packages
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup butter, salted or unsalted
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
Icing, optional
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Generously coat a 12 cup bundt with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Separate the biscuits and cut each one into four equal bite-sized pieces.
- In a gallon plastic bag, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Then add all of the cut biscuits. Close the bag and shake well to coat all the pieces.
- Arrange the biscuits in the pan. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar until fully melted. Carefully pour this over the biscuits.
- Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the top is a golden, deep brown color.
- Allow the monkey bread to cool for 15 minutes. Then invert it onto a plate. If it doesn’t release immediately, tap the pan and it should release easily.
- While the monkey bread is cooling, prepare the optional icing. Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until a smooth consistency is achieved. Drizzle over the monkey bread.
I haven’t made Monkey Bread in years. I can’t wait to try your recipe.Â
What other pans can you recommend baking it in besides a bundt pan? Thank you!
Hi Leslie! You can use a loaf pan (probably 2) or an 9×13 inch pan.
Made this recipe the other day and oh my goodness…it is Amazing! Everyone loved it. Thank you! This is definitely a keeper.Â