This Best Monkey Bread recipe is warm, gooey, buttery, and packed with cinnamon-sugar flavor in every bite. Made with simple refrigerated biscuit dough, it’s the perfect pull-apart breakfast treat or cozy dessert for family gatherings, holidays, and weekend brunches.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients
- Soft, sticky, and perfectly caramelized
- Family-friendly and fun to pull apart
- Great for breakfast, brunch, or dessert
- Customizable with nuts, raisins, or extra cinnamon sugar
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 (12-ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- ½ cup raisins (optional)
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9- or 10-inch Bundt pan or tube pan thoroughly.
- In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the white sugar and ground cinnamon.
- Cut each biscuit into quarters.
- Add 6–8 biscuit pieces at a time into the cinnamon-sugar mixture and shake until fully coated.
- Arrange the coated biscuit pieces evenly in the prepared pan. If using walnuts and raisins, sprinkle them between the layers as you build the monkey bread.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 1 minute while stirring.
- Pour the warm brown sugar mixture evenly over the biscuit layers.
- Bake the Best Monkey Bread for 35 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a serving plate.
- Serve warm and enjoy the soft pull-apart texture.
Tips & Tricks
- Grease the pan generously to prevent sticking.
- Use freshly opened biscuit dough for the fluffiest texture.
- Add chopped pecans instead of walnuts for a richer flavor.
- Sprinkle a pinch of nutmeg for extra warmth.
- Serve with cream cheese glaze or vanilla icing for a bakery-style finish.
Details
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 15 servings
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Difficulty: Easy
- Dietary Notes: Vegetarian
Notes
- Raisins can be replaced with dried cranberries for a slightly tart flavor.
- For extra gooey monkey bread, add an additional 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
- Best served fresh and warm from the oven.
Nutrition (Approximate Per Serving)
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fat: 14g
FAQ
Why is it called monkey bread?
Monkey bread is named for the way people pull apart the sticky dough pieces with their fingers, similar to how monkeys pick at food.
Can I make monkey bread ahead of time?
Yes. Assemble it the night before, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Bake fresh the next morning.
Can I freeze monkey bread?
Yes. Allow it to cool completely, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months.
What can I use instead of walnuts?
Pecans, almonds, or no nuts at all work perfectly in this easy monkey bread recipe.
How do I know when monkey bread is done?
The top should be deep golden brown and the center should no longer look doughy.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze tightly wrapped portions for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 15–20 seconds or reheat in the oven at 300°F until warmed through.
Similar Recipes
Best Monkey Bread
Best Monkey Bread is a soft pull-apart cinnamon bread made with refrigerated biscuit dough and a buttery brown sugar glaze.
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 12-ounce packages refrigerated biscuit dough
- ½ cup chopped walnuts optional
- ½ cup raisins optional
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9- or 10-inch Bundt pan or tube pan thoroughly.
- In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the white sugar and ground cinnamon.
- Cut each biscuit into quarters.
- Add 6–8 biscuit pieces at a time into the cinnamon-sugar mixture and shake until fully coated.
- Arrange the coated biscuit pieces evenly in the prepared pan. If using walnuts and raisins, sprinkle them between the layers as you build the monkey bread.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 1 minute while stirring.
- Pour the warm brown sugar mixture evenly over the biscuit layers.
- Bake the Best Monkey Bread for 35 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a serving plate.
- Serve warm and enjoy the soft pull-apart texture.
Notes
- Raisins can be replaced with dried cranberries for a slightly tart flavor.
- For extra gooey monkey bread, add an additional 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
- Best served fresh and warm from the oven.
Conclusion
This Best Monkey Bread recipe is the ultimate comfort bake with its buttery caramel sauce, soft biscuit layers, and irresistible cinnamon flavor. Whether you serve it for brunch, holidays, or dessert, this pull-apart treat is guaranteed to become a family favorite.