If you’re looking for a fun, delicious treat to share with friends or family, this Easy Monkey Bread Recipe is just the ticket. With its irresistible layers of cinnamon-sugar coated bites, sticky caramel-like sauce, and crunchy walnuts, it’s pure comfort food magic. Every bite is bursting with buttery sweetness and a lovely hint of vanilla, making it perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert. Plus, it’s surprisingly simple to pull together, so you don’t have to be a baking pro to impress everyone at the table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Getting these simple, pantry-friendly ingredients together is all you need to make magic happen in the kitchen. Each component brings a special touch to the Easy Monkey Bread Recipe—from the soft biscuit dough forming the tender chunks to the cinnamon sugar adding that warm, inviting aroma and the walnuts providing a delightful crunch.
- Refrigerated biscuit dough: This pre-made base keeps the bread soft and fluffy, making your life so much easier.
- Granulated sugar: Perfect for mixing with cinnamon to create that classic sweet crust.
- Ground cinnamon: Gives the bread its signature warm spice and irresistible aroma.
- Salted butter: Adds richness and helps create the gooey, caramelized coating.
- Light brown sugar: Provides deep sweetness and a slight molasses flavor that complements the cinnamon beautifully.
- Vanilla extract: Brings a subtle floral note to balance the richness.
- Cooking spray: Essential for greasing the Bundt pan to ensure your monkey bread comes out perfectly.
- Chopped walnuts: Adds crunch and a toasty nutty flavor that contrasts wonderfully with the tender biscuit pieces.
How to Make Easy Monkey Bread Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Walnuts
Start by heating your oven to 350°F and placing the rack in the center. Grease a 10-inch Bundt pan thoroughly with cooking spray so nothing will stick. Sprinkle half a cup of the chopped walnuts evenly across the bottom of the pan to lay a crunchy foundation for your bread.
Step 2: Mix the Cinnamon Sugar
Grab a large zip-top plastic bag and combine the granulated sugar with the ground cinnamon. Seal the bag and shake it well until the cinnamon is evenly distributed, creating that sweet, spicy dust that makes monkey bread so irresistible.
Step 3: Coat Biscuit Pieces
Cut each biscuit into quarters—bite-sized pieces are best here. Work in batches of about 12 pieces, dropping them into your cinnamon sugar bag. Seal and shake the bag gently until every piece is generously coated. These coated pieces are the heart of your Easy Monkey Bread Recipe’s signature flavor and texture.
Step 4: Layer the Biscuit Pieces and Walnuts
Place a layer of the coated biscuit pieces into your prepared Bundt pan, then sprinkle about a quarter of the remaining walnuts over them. Repeat these layers, alternating biscuit pieces and walnuts, until you’ve used everything up, finishing with a biscuit layer on top to soak up the butter mixture later.
Step 5: Make the Butter and Brown Sugar Mixture
In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the salted butter completely. Stir in the light brown sugar and vanilla extract. Keep stirring until the mixture is smooth and well combined—about a minute. This luscious sauce will soak into your layers, coating every bite with sticky, buttery sweetness.
Step 6: Bake Your Monkey Bread
Pour the warm butter mixture evenly over the biscuit layers in the Bundt pan. Give the pan a gentle shake to distribute the sauce thoroughly. Pop it in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is a deep golden brown and the middle is cooked through with no doughy spots.
Step 7: Cool and Release
Once out of the oven, run a spatula around the edges to loosen the bread from the pan. Let it cool for 5 minutes, then invert the pan onto a serving plate. Let it sit for an extra minute, then carefully lift the pan away. Your Easy Monkey Bread Recipe is now ready to serve warm—pull apart those sticky bites and enjoy!
How to Serve Easy Monkey Bread Recipe
Garnishes
The classic way to enjoy monkey bread is warm and sticky, but you can add a little something extra by sprinkling powdered sugar on top or drizzling a light vanilla glaze for an elegant touch. A handful of extra chopped walnuts or a dollop of whipped cream also makes for a delightful finishing touch.
Side Dishes
Though monkey bread is delicious on its own, pairing it with fresh fruit like berries or sliced apples can brighten the richness. A cup of coffee, hot tea, or even a glass of milk perfectly balances the sweet, buttery flavors making any brunch or breakfast spread feel extra special.
Creative Ways to Present
For a festive twist, serve your Easy Monkey Bread Recipe in individual mini Bundt pans or muffin tins to make personal-sized treats. These are not only cute but perfect for parties and sharing. You can also add mix-ins like raisins, mini chocolate chips, or swap walnuts for pecans to customize your monkey bread experience.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If any of this delectable monkey bread remains, keep it covered tightly at room temperature for up to two days. The flavors meld even more beautifully after resting, though the texture might lose a bit of its fresh-baked softness.
Freezing
You can freeze fully cooled monkey bread in an airtight container or foil-wrapped securely for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm before serving. This makes Easy Monkey Bread Recipe perfect for preparing ahead for holidays or busy mornings.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-from-the-oven warmth, reheat your monkey bread in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes. You can also microwave single servings for 15 to 20 seconds for a quick fix, just be careful not to overheat and dry out those tender bites.
FAQs
Can I use homemade biscuit dough for this recipe?
Absolutely! While refrigerated biscuit dough keeps things quick and easy, homemade biscuit dough will add a personal touch and may yield an even fluffier texture in your Easy Monkey Bread Recipe.
Is it possible to make this recipe nut-free?
Yes, you can simply omit the walnuts or substitute them with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower for crunch. The monkey bread is just as delicious without nuts, making it allergy-friendly.
Can I make this recipe vegan?
To veganize this Easy Monkey Bread Recipe, use dairy-free butter and check that your biscuit dough is egg and dairy-free. The flavor and texture will still shine, delivering that same sticky, sweet goodness.
How can I add more flavors to the basic monkey bread?
Try mixing in mini chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or even swapping cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice. These simple additions make this recipe versatile and exciting for every season.
What’s the best way to serve monkey bread for a crowd?
Use multiple Bundt pans or mini Bundt molds to bake several cakes simultaneously. Arrange them on a big platter for an impressive and shareable centerpiece your guests will love digging into.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing quite like the warm, sweet aroma of freshly baked monkey bread filling your kitchen, and this Easy Monkey Bread Recipe brings that joy without any fuss. Whether you’re serving it up for a lazy weekend brunch, a special holiday, or just because, it’s bound to be a crowd-pleaser that brings smiles all around. Trust me, once you try it, this sticky, soft, cinnamon-packed treat will become one of your new favorite go-to recipes to make and share.
Print
Easy Monkey Bread Recipe
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
Description
This Easy Monkey Bread Recipe is a delightful, pull-apart treat made with soft biscuit dough coated in cinnamon sugar, layered with crunchy walnuts, and drenched in a rich, buttery brown sugar glaze. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this crowd-pleaser comes together quickly and bakes to a golden, gooey perfection.
Ingredients
Monkey Bread
- 2 (16-ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- Cooking spray
Butter Sauce
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and place a rack in the center position. Grease a 10-inch Bundt pan thoroughly with cooking spray, then evenly sprinkle ½ cup of the chopped walnuts across the bottom of the pan to add texture and prevent sticking.
- Mix Cinnamon Sugar: In a large plastic zip-top bag, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Shake well to ensure the mixture is evenly blended.
- Coat Biscuit Pieces: Cut each refrigerated biscuit into quarters. Working in batches of about 12 pieces, place them into the cinnamon sugar bag, seal tightly, and shake until every piece is well coated with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Layer Biscuit Pieces: Add a layer of the coated biscuit pieces into the prepared Bundt pan. Sprinkle about ¼ of the remaining walnuts on top. Continue layering the biscuit pieces and walnuts alternately until all have been used, finishing with a top layer of biscuit pieces.
- Prepare Butter Mixture: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the salted butter. Stir in the packed light brown sugar and vanilla extract, cooking and stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth and combined, about 1 minute.
- Add Butter Mixture to Pan: Pour the warm butter and brown sugar mixture evenly over the layered biscuits in the pan. Gently shake the pan side to side to distribute the sauce and ensure it seeps between all biscuit pieces.
- Bake Monkey Bread: Place the Bundt pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the monkey bread turns a deep golden brown color and the center is no longer doughy.
- Cool and Unmold: Remove the monkey bread from the oven and run a spatula carefully around the edges to loosen it from the pan. Let it cool for 5 minutes. Then place a serving plate upside down over the Bundt pan and carefully invert the pan to release the monkey bread onto the plate. Allow it to sit for 1 minute before removing the pan completely.
- Serve Warm: Serve the monkey bread warm for the best gooey, tender texture that pulls apart easily. Enjoy it as a sweet breakfast, brunch treat, or indulgent dessert.
Notes
- Using refrigerated biscuit dough cuts down on prep time but fresh biscuit dough can be used if preferred.
- Chopped walnuts can be substituted with pecans or omitted for nut-free versions.
- For an extra gooey bread, bake closer to 30 minutes; for a firmer texture, bake up to 35 minutes.
- Ensure to grease the Bundt pan well to prevent sticking and facilitate easy removal.
- Monkey bread is best served the day it is baked but can be reheated gently before serving if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
