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Learn how to make this Easy Monkey Bread Recipe for a quick and delicious breakfast idea your family will love. Monkey bread is so inexpensive to make and you will be amazed how little time it takes to make this tasty recipe.

Close up image of a Monkey Bread on a plate.
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What is Monkey Bread?

Monkey bread, also known as cinnamon pull apart bread, that gets its name from the cinnamon, buttery covered biscuit that are all cooked together. The buttery, cinnamon loaf stays together and then you pull one biscuit off at a time.

This center of the bread is the best part as all the cinnamon glaze comes together. This basic recipe is so easy to make and with easy ingredients it is the perfect weekend breakfast idea.

Your family will love this easy idea for breakfast! You might also like our crock pot version or Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread.

Monkey Bread Ingredients:

Ingredients needed - biscuits, sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter
  • Buttermilk Canned Biscuits 
  • Granulated Sugar 
  • Cinnamon 
  • Brown Sugar 
  • Butter

How to make Monkey Bread:

  • Start Oven and Prepare Pan – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 10″ Bundt pan with a non stick cooking spray. 
The biscuits placed on a cutting board and cut into quarters.

Step 1 – Remove the biscuit dough from the packaging and cut biscuits into quarters or 4 pieces each.

The biscuit quarters placed in a large ziplock bag.

Step 2 – Place the biscuit pieces into a large zip lock bag. 

The cinnamon and sugar added to the large ziplock bag.

Step 3 – Add the granulated sugar and cinnamon to the bag. 

The bag sealed and the biscuit quarters coated with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Step 4Seal the bag and shake to coat the biscuits with the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Do not remove the air from the bag. 

The biscuit pieces placed in the prepared bundt pan.

Step 5 – Then place the biscuit pieces into the Bundt pan.

The butter and the brown sugar placed in a saucepan.

Step 6 – Prepare the Glaze. Place the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan.

The butter and brown sugar mixture heated through in a saucepan and thoroughly combined together.

Step 7 – Heat over medium high. Whisk the ingredients together and bring the brown sugar mixture to a boil.

The butter sugar and butter mixture poured over the biscuits in the bundt pan.

Step 8 – Pour the buttery brown sugar sauce over the biscuits in the Bundt pan. 

The monkey bread in the bundt pan baked.

Step 9 – Bake for 35 minutes or deep golden brown and the center is no longer doughy.

The monkey bread fully cooked and carefully inverted onto a serving plate.

Step 10 – Let the pan set for 5-10 minutes and then carefully invert onto a serving platter to serve. 

Keep reading for all the step by step instructions.

Variations:

  • Add in pie fillings. You can stir in any pie fillings in with the monkey bread.
  • Top with a Glaze. We love to mix powdered sugar and milk to make a quick glaze. Then drizzle on top.
  • Add in mix-ins. You can stir in nuts, pecans, or raisins and pour over the biscuits.
  • Use Homemade Biscuits. We used canned biscuits but you can make biscuits from scratch.

Can I use any brand of biscuits?

We have used the cheap biscuits and we have used the name brand biscuits and both have turned out amazing. So grab yourself a can of cheap biscuits and make this easy breakfast or brunch recipe.

Why this is the best Monkey Bread Recipe!

  • Easy 5 Ingredients – These ingredients are easy and ones we always have on hand.
  • Quick Breakfast Idea – This breakfast is quick and easy to prepare. In less than an hour you will have a yummy breakfast.
  • Yummy Cinnamon Glaze – Our favorite part is the buttery, cinnamon glaze.
  • Everyone Loves it – When I make this for my family or for a crowd, it is always a hit and there is usually none leftover.
Close up of monkey bread on a serving plate.

How do you store Monkey Bread?

This recipe is best served warm and on the same day. If you do have left overs, wait until the monkey bread is at room temperature. Cover with a plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator. It will stay good for about 3 days.

Can it be prepared the night before?

Yes, it can. This would be prefect breakfast to make for your Christmas morning breakfast. Simply, make monkey bread as indicated and cover. Place in the refrigerator overnight.

In the morning, remove plastic wrap and bake. It is that easy.

Why did my Monkey Bread Fall apart?

Normally monkey bread will fall apart because it sticks to the pan. The best way to prevent this is to make sure you grease the pan well before baking.

Can I use Frozen Biscuit Dough?

Yes you can use frozen biscuit dough instead of canned biscuits. However, you will want to make sure the biscuit dough is completely thawed out.

Close up image of a Monkey Bread on a plate.

More easy Breakfast Recipes:

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Easy Monkey Bread Recipe

4.99 from 197 votes
Learn how to make Easy Monkey Bread Recipe for a quick and tasty breakfast idea. Monkey brains recipe is inexpensive to make and so easy to put together.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 10
Cuisine American
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Calories 563

Ingredients

  • 2 cans Buttermilk Biscuits 10 ct
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup melted butter

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 10" bundt pan with a non stick cooking spray.
  • Remove the biscuits from the packaging and cut them into 4 pieces each.  
  • Place the biscuit pieces into a large zip lock bag.  Add the granulated sugar and cinnamon to the bag.  Do not remove the air from the bag.  Seal the bag and shake to coat the biscuits with the cinnamon and sugar mixture. 
  • Then place the biscuit pieces into the bundt pan.  
  • Place the butter and brown sugar in a small sauce pan. Then heat over medium high. Whisk the ingredients together and bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Pour the brown sugar and butter mixture over the biscuits in the bundt pan. 
  • Bake for 35 minutes or golden brown and the center is no longer doughy.
  • Then let the pan set for 5-10 minutes and then carefully invert onto a pan to serve. 
  • Serve warm and enjoy!   

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Store the leftovers in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.  Reheat the leftovers for 20-30 seconds to make them warm and gooey again! 

Nutrition Facts

Calories 563kcal, Carbohydrates 72g, Protein 6g, Fat 29g, Saturated Fat 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat 6g, Monounsaturated Fat 10g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 38mg, Sodium 997mg, Potassium 237mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 29g, Vitamin A 430IU, Vitamin C 1mg, Calcium 71mg, Iron 3mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

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Comments

  1. 4 stars
    Great recipe, though some small tweaks needed. 1) Double the amount of cinnamon, and 2) Cover lightly with foil and increase the cooking time by 10-15 minutes. The flavor is better and the caramel is perfect all the way through, and all the biscuit pieces are cooked all the way through as well. And if you are adding chopped pecans, also add 1/2 to 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg to enhance the nutty flavor. Done this way, you probably will have no need for icing and the flavor will be more pronounced rather than just overly sweet.

  2. 5 stars
    I love to put pecans in mine. No icing too sweet . Love the carmel taste of the brown sugar and butter .

  3. Monkey Brains… The perfect Halloween season breakfast treat!! The monkeys, however, are hard to catch, and take exception to having their brains removed. I like mine with icing. I also add a smattering of raisins, craisins, or dried cherries on top. Just put the dried fruit in a mixing bowl and cover with boiling water. Wait 10 minutes. They will plump into juicy little balls of flavor.

  4. Definitely icing!!! Not a big fan of nuts, but you could chop up snickers or Reeces peanut butter cup, stuff these inside each piece of biscuit and make a peanut butter icing!

  5. Oh I have to have icing on my monkey bread. Yummy! I like it with or without nuts. I’m going to make this recipe tonight!

  6. 5 stars
    Monkey bread is a great comfort food for an easy breakfast or snack. I like it with the cinnamon sugar glaze and some chocolate chips. No nuts needed for us, but raisins would be a plus.

  7. 5 stars
    We love monkey bread! I’ve honestly never tried it with any type of icing but toasted pecans is great!

  8. 5 stars
    I like your recipe. It is easy and helpful for breakfast, even for the afternoon as a snake. Sometimes I make it with toast. I will try your recipe tomorrow.

  9. 5 stars
    I’ve eaten Monkey Bread from a frozen recipe from the grocery store. It was good, but your recipe is amazing. I can’t wait to try it! I think I’d make one recipe with nuts and one without. I can’t wait it to try it!! Oh! Definitely icing!

  10. We love monkey bread. sometimes I’ll put have the dough pieces in the pan and add a layer of.tiny diced apple pieces and then top with remaining dough following the remainder of the recipe as written. Also for a savory version I do an Italian cold cuts cut small and put in the center and instead of sugar and cinnamon I shake the pieces in italian seasoning and grated cheese.

  11. 5 stars
    Love this monkey bread recipe. It is sooo easy to make and everyone loves it.
    Must have frosting ? I usually put a cream cheese frosting on the monkey bread just for a little decadence!!
    Yummy ?

  12. I love Monkey Bread and it’s great with apple slices or you can use other fruit, whatever you prefer( peach slices, pineapple chunks, cherries,etc. You can also make a little white glaze to string across the top.

  13. Nuts – it would be great with pecans or walnuts.

    And icing is OK – it’ll add to the ooey-gooey sweet flavor.

    You could always toss in some raisins too – it’d be like making cinnamon toast with raisin bread – scrumptious!

  14. No nuts…love the cinnamon. Going to try this in the morning for Saturday….going make 1 change..use Stevia brown sugar substitute for regular brown sugar. Having excellent results using Stevia substitutes as it is equal measuring. Thanks for all your ideas!

  15. 5 stars
    I love this monkey bread recipe! It is a hit at home! We love to have it just the way it is, no additional icing is required. On occasion, I will add walnuts or even better, pecans! Either way, it is delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

  16. 5 stars
    I don’t believe I’ve ever had the opportunity to enjoy Monkey Bread, but this recipe looks so delicious. I’ve printed it out and added the rolls to my store list so that we can enjoy this soon. I’ll be making the basic recipe my first time around.

  17. I love monkey bread but have always been intimidated to make it. This looks very simple! Can’t wait to try it! I might add some pecans to part of it to try!

  18. We make a form of Monkey Bread, but I have never used the biscuits before. Ours is rolled in butter and cinnamon sugar and drizzled with maple syrup and caramel sauce. It is like our form of icing! Definitely pecans too!!!

  19. 5 stars
    To me monkey bread has to have icing. I can take it with or without nuts but usually make it without because the grands don’t like nuts.

  20. I have never had monkey bread, but I look forward to trying this recipe. I will definitely add some chopped nuts when I make it.

  21. This sounds so yummy! I would drizzle icing and sprinkle extra brown sugar on the top for a little crunch!!

  22. I adore monkey bread with pecans and a handful of chocolate chips! I’ll be making this for saterday morning breafast ??

  23. 5 stars
    I have made this recipe for years! It is a family favorite for sure! No nuts ever but using tubes of cinnamon rolls sounds like a winner!

  24. Definitely plan to make this! I might try it with chopped nuts, as well. This is a keeper, I’m sure.

  25. i love monkey bread——-I hae never added iceing to it,
    i like the gooey caramel just plain!!!!

  26. Monkey bread is such a fun breakfast idea and I love how fast it is to make. I think it’s best with icing!

  27. My family loves monkey bread with a lot of icing! We tried with nuts on it and wasn’t something we would add on it again..

  28. My family LOVES Monkey Bread! No icing and no nuts!! Great breakfast when family is all together!!

  29. 5 stars
    Love monkey bread!!! Anyway you fix it!!
    Icing makes it extra good. Love adding nuts and
    chocolate chips too.

  30. That looks super easy! I had no idea it could be that easy to throw together. I don’t need icing on mine but would love to throw in some nuts. I also had no idea that you could prep it the night before. That is a sure timesaver. Thanks so much!!

  31. This is incredibly delicious as well as being quick and easy to make. My husband and I both LOVED this?. Can’t stop pulling off pieces here and there & popping one in our mouths?