Only four ingredients and takes under 30 minutes to make?! Where do I sign up!? Let’s be real, what could be better than this delicious pull apart easy monkey bread!!
Who says you don’t learn anything in school? I was taught how to make Easy Monkey Bread long before the Internet or ability to research and communicate short-cut recipes.
It was 6th grade home economics (do they still even teach home ec?) at Renner Middle School in Dallas, Texas. The name of my teacher is long gone from my memory, but Easy Monkey Bread will live forever in my family.
This recipe is kind of sentimental to me because of how long I’ve been making it for. It brings me back to my childhood in some way because it’s one of the first things I learned to make.
Biscuit pieces coated in a cinnamon, brown sugar, melted butter mixture? What’s not to love right? It’s the best way to serve a delicious treat on Christmas morning, or any holiday mornings really.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Monkey Bread
If you’ve never indulged in monkey bread, you’re guaranteed to fall in love at first bite, and here are a few reasons why.
- Quick and easy – When I say quick, I mean this monkey bread recipe only requires five minutes of prep! You can’t get much easier than that.
- Simple ingredients – My favorite recipes are those where the ingredient list is short and I have most of them on hand. You only need four for this monkey bread.
- Great for special occasions – Although it’s simple, quick and easy, this sweet treat is a total show stopper, making it perfect for special occasions and regular weekend breakfasts alike.
Monkey Bread Ingredients
Only four simple ingredients are needed to make the best monkey bread recipe. And you might have all if not most of them in your pantry or refrigerator already!
- Refrigerated biscuit dough – The best part about this recipe, besides being so delicious, is the fact that a can of biscuit dough really simplifies everything. I like to use Pillsbury Grands, but you can use the brand you like.
- Light brown sugar – You can use dark brown sugar if that’s all you have, just be aware that there will be a stronger molasses flavor to your delicious monkey bread.
- Cinnamon – Ground cinnamon is really the star of the show here. Reminiscent of cinnamon rolls, that’s where we get the bold flavor of this homemade monkey bread.
- Butter – Normally I would usually say to use unsalted butter so that you can control the amount of salt in the recipe. But for this recipe, it doesn’t matter as much and you can use whichever type you have on hand.
How to Make Monkey Bread
Making this breakfast treat couldn’t be easier. Follow the steps below to learn how.
- Prepare oven and pan. Preheat oven and place butter into an 8-inch circular pie plate or bundt pan. Place prepared pan in the oven while preheating to melt the butter. When melted, swirl around to get all of the nooks and crannies.
- Combine cinnamon and sugar. Meanwhile, mix light brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut each biscuit into quarters.
- Add to pan. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture into pie plate or bundt pan first, then loosely arrange biscuit quarters on top.
- Bake. Bake in preheated oven until tops are light brown.
- Flip. While still hot and very carefully, fit a serving platter over the top of your cooking vessel and quickly invert onto wire rack or plate.. Tap the pie plate or bundt pan several times to the monkey bread loosens, then remove.
Easy Monkey Bread Serving Suggestions
This dish is a funny one because it can be served as both a dessert or a breakfast pastry. And I’ve definitely served it as both. You can also make it into monkey bread muffins, which are great for brunches or events where a big cake is cumbersome.
If you’re going the dessert route, serving it with a scoop of homemade ice cream or fresh whipped cream and berries is a great way to serve it.
It also tastes great alongside almost all of your breakfast favorites. A breakfast casserole, eggs and bacon or whatever your heart desires.
Variations
There are endless variations to this homemade monkey bread recipe. Here are a few suggestions, but feel free to use your creativity.
- Savory version – Not into sweets? You can totally turn this savory. Roll those dough balls in garlic butter, herbs and cheese instead of the cinnamon sugar mixture and your sweet treat just turned savory.
- Cinnamon roll monkey bread – Want even more gooey cinnamon roll flavor? Use a can of cinnamon rolls instead of cans of biscuits and you’ll take this simple monkey bread recipe to a whole new level.
- Homemade dough – If you have a homemade biscuit dough recipe that you love, feel free to use that! Just be sure to cut the dough pieces into a similar size as quartered refrigerated biscuits.
- Caramel monkey bread – Take this dessert one step further by drizzling or pouring caramel sauce on top. I would recommend waiting to do this until the monkey bread has already baked.
Storage, Make Ahead and Freezing
Storage: Because there is no dairy, this pull-apart bread is fine to sit out at room temperature for awhile. To store, simply cover in plastic wrap or put in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Make ahead: Busy prepping for the holidays and want to prep ahead of time? Just prepare the recipe as written and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Allow to come to room temperature or increase baking time to make up the difference.
Freezing: You can wrap baked monkey bread tightly with plastic wrap and then foil to store in the freezer. It will last for about three months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called monkey bread? Because of how you eat it! Picking the small pieces apart with your fingers, just like a monkey. Insert monkey noises here.
No bundt pan? No problem! You can use an 8-inch pie plate or loaf pan instead. Bake until golden brown because bake time will vary.
That buttery brown sugar sauce is made from, well, butter and brown sugar! And cinnamon of course. Some recipes also call for a cinnamon-sugar mixture with white sugar in addition to the brown sugar. When these three ingredients are baked, they melt together to form this deliciously sweet and sticky sauce that we all now and love.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
Italian Fried Dough
No Bake Avalanche Cookies
Banana Cookies
Easy Monkey Bread Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ounce can of refrigerated extra large biscuit dough
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 heaping tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place butter into an 8-inch circular pie plate or bundt pan and place in the oven while preheating to melt the butter. When melted, swirl around to get all of the nooks and crannies.
- Meanwhile, mix light brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut each biscuit into quarters.
- Sprinkle brown sugar mixture into pie plate or bundt pan first, then loosely arrange biscuit quarters on top.
- Bake for 20 mins, or until tops are light brown.
- While still hot and very carefully, fit a serving platter over the top of your cooking vessel and quickly invert. Tap the pie plate or bundt pan several times to the monkey bread loosens, then remove.
- Serve and enjoy!
Loved it! I will totally make it again. Easy to follow instructions too.
If you follow this recipe, you have cinnamon sugar in the bottom of the pan, n ok ne one the dough chunks and a bowl full of cinnamon sugar on the counter while baking the plain dough balls. Why.
I’m not sure I understand what you are asking. I just read through the recipe and it is very clear that the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture goes into the bottom of the pan, you load the biscuits in on top of this and bake. When it is done, you flip it over so the brown sugar mixture is on top.
Wow, this sounds beyond delicious!!!!
Cinnamon is one of my favourite flavours (and smells) There is very little better than the smell of hot buttered cinnamon bread. But you have taken it to a whole new level with this money bread!!!
So good!
Oh my this looks amazing and so easy! This is my kind of recipe
So super easy!
This is delicious! The smell while baking and the taste when it’s done is delightful.
Who doesn’t like carbs, sugar, butter and cinnamon!?! My only problem is it’s hard not to eat it all.
The smell is intoxicating! I have a hard time not eating more than my share as well. Thanks for stopping by!