The short answer: Monkey bread is a sticky, pull-apart cinnamon bread baked in a Bundt pan, and the easy version starts with canned biscuits.
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Prep time: 10 minCook time: 32 minTotal time: 47 minServings: 10 to 12 servingsTotal includes 5 min of resting, chilling or rising.
Cut 2 cans (16.3 ounces each) of refrigerated biscuits into quarters, shake them in ½ cup of sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, layer them in a greased Bundt pan, pour ¾ cup of melted butter stirred with 1 cup of brown sugar over the top, and bake at 350°F for 28 to 32 minutes. Cool it for 5 minutes, then flip it onto a plate. Below are the exact steps, a make-ahead plan for holiday mornings, flavor swaps and fixes.
I love the family time around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a pan everyone can pull apart together fits those mornings perfectly.
Monkey bread ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerated biscuits | 2 cans (16.3 ounces each, 16 large biscuits) | Or 4 cans (7.5 ounces each) |
| Granulated sugar | ½ cup | For the coating |
| Ground cinnamon | 2 teaspoons | |
| Butter, melted | ¾ cup (1½ sticks) | |
| Packed brown sugar | 1 cup | Light or dark |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon, optional | Stir into the butter |
| Chopped pecans | ½ cup, optional | Scatter in the pan first |
One Bundt pan serves about 10 to 12 people.
How to make monkey bread, step by step
- Heat the oven. Set it to 350°F and grease a 12-cup Bundt pan well, including the center tube.
- Mix the coating. Shake the sugar and cinnamon together in a large zip-top bag.
- Cut the biscuits. Cut each large biscuit into quarters. Cut smaller biscuits in half.
- Coat. Drop 8 to 10 pieces at a time into the bag and shake to coat.
- Layer. Sprinkle the pecans in the pan, if using, then layer the coated pieces loosely.
- Make the glaze. Stir the melted butter, brown sugar and vanilla until smooth, then pour it evenly over the dough.
- Bake. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, until deep golden and the center pieces spring back.
- Cool and flip. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn it out onto a large plate. Scrape any glaze left in the pan over the top.
Bubbling sugar can spill over in the oven, so set the pan on a rimmed baking sheet. The National Fire Protection Association's cooking safety guide recommends keeping anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop and staying alert while you cook.
Make-ahead monkey bread for holiday mornings
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| The night before | Coat and layer the dough in the pan; cover tightly and refrigerate up to 12 hours |
| The night before | Mix the glaze, cover and refrigerate it separately |
| In the morning | Heat the oven, warm the glaze until pourable and pour it over the dough |
| Bake | 35 to 40 minutes, since the dough starts cold |
Refrigerated biscuit dough needs to stay cold until you use it. FoodSafety.gov's cold food storage charts list tube cans of biscuit dough as safe in the refrigerator until the use-by date on the can.
Build the rest of the morning from our Christmas breakfast ideas and pair it with a pot of homemade hot chocolate.
Monkey bread variations
- Savory garlic monkey bread: skip the sugars, toss the pieces in garlic butter, parmesan and parsley.
- Cream cheese filled: tuck a cube of cream cheese inside each piece before coating.
- Apple cinnamon: layer 1 cup of diced apple between the dough pieces.
- Pumpkin spice: use 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon.
- Orange glaze: drizzle with powdered sugar mixed with orange juice and zest.
- From scratch: use a basic sweet yeast dough, let it rise once, shape 1-inch balls and proceed the same way.
Fixes for common monkey bread problems
- Doughy center: bake longer and tent the top with foil. The center should reach about 190°F.
- Burnt top, raw middle: the pan was too dark or too full. Drop to 325°F and bake longer.
- Stuck in the pan: it cooled too long. Flip it after 5 minutes, while the glaze is still loose.
- Dry pieces: not enough glaze reached the bottom. Pour it slowly and evenly over every part of the ring.
- Glaze overflowing: use a 12-cup pan and a baking sheet underneath.
Storing and reheating
| Where | How long | Reheat |
|---|---|---|
| Covered, room temperature | Up to 2 days | 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave |
| Refrigerator | Up to 4 days | 300°F oven, covered, about 10 minutes |
| Freezer, baked | Up to 2 months | Thaw overnight, then warm in the oven |
Plan your holiday breakfasts
- Meal Planner & Grocery List, $3.99. Map out Christmas week breakfasts and dinners and shop from one list.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you make monkey bread? To make monkey bread, cut 2 cans of refrigerated biscuits into quarters, shake them in cinnamon sugar and layer them in a greased Bundt pan. Pour melted butter mixed with brown sugar over the top and bake at 350°F for 28 to 32 minutes, then cool 5 minutes and flip it onto a plate.
What kind of biscuits are best for monkey bread? Large refrigerated buttermilk or flaky biscuits, two 16.3-ounce cans, make the fluffiest monkey bread. Smaller 7.5-ounce cans work too; use 4 cans and cut each biscuit in half instead of quarters.
Can I make monkey bread the night before? Yes, assemble the monkey bread in the pan, cover it tightly and refrigerate it for up to 12 hours. Let it sit out while the oven heats, then add 5 to 10 minutes to the bake time.
Why is my monkey bread raw in the middle? Monkey bread stays doughy in the middle when it's pulled too soon or the pan is packed too tightly. Bake until the top is deep golden and the center reads about 190°F, and tent it with foil if the top browns early.
Can I make monkey bread without a Bundt pan? Yes, bake monkey bread in a 9-by-13-inch pan for about 25 minutes, or in two loaf pans for 30 to 35 minutes. A Bundt pan cooks the center most evenly, because heat reaches it from the middle too.
How do you store leftover monkey bread? Store leftover monkey bread covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate it for up to 4 days. Rewarm pieces in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds.
Is monkey bread good for Christmas morning? Yes, monkey bread is a popular Christmas morning breakfast because you can assemble it the night before and bake it while everyone opens gifts. One Bundt pan serves about 10 to 12 people.
How do I plan monkey bread into my holiday breakfast menu? You can plan monkey bread into your holiday breakfast menu with the Meal Planner & Grocery List from HomeBase Paper Co. ($3.99), which puts it and the rest of your holiday breakfasts on one plan with a matching shopping list. Save the recipe in the Family Recipe Binder ($6.99) for next year.
Sources
- FoodSafety.gov: Cold food storage charts foodsafety.gov
- NFPA: Cooking safety nfpa.org