Monkey bread is a delightful pull-apart dessert made from soft, sweet dough pieces coated in cinnamon and sugar. This fun treat is perfect for gatherings and can be enjoyed warm right out of the oven.
The recipe is simple and involves minimal ingredients, making it a great choice for both novice and experienced bakers. You can customize it with nuts or a glaze for added flavor.
What is Monkey Bread?
Monkey bread is a delightful dessert that invites sharing and enjoyment. This pull-apart treat is made from soft dough pieces coated in a sweet cinnamon sugar mixture.
Often served warm, it creates a cozy atmosphere, perfect for gatherings or family nights. The fun lies in pulling apart the pieces, making it a hands-on experience for everyone.
Ingredients for a Cozy Treat
The beauty of monkey bread lies in its simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients, you can create a warm dessert that satisfies the sweet tooth.
Key components include refrigerated biscuit dough, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Optional additions like chopped nuts or a drizzle of glaze can elevate the flavors, making each bite even more enjoyable.
Preparing the Dough
Getting started with monkey bread is straightforward. Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking.
Next, open the cans of biscuit dough and cut each biscuit into quarters. This step is crucial as it allows for the perfect bite-sized pieces that will soak up the cinnamon sugar.
Coating and Layering
Once the dough is prepared, it’s time to coat each piece in a mixture of granulated sugar and cinnamon. This step is where the magic begins, as the dough transforms into a sweet delight.
Layering the coated pieces in a bundt pan is the next step. Start with half of the dough, sprinkle with nuts if desired, and drizzle melted butter over the top. Repeat this process for the remaining dough, creating a beautiful, layered effect.
Baking to Perfection
After layering, the final touch involves preparing a simple sauce with brown sugar and melted butter. Pour this over the layered dough to add richness.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. The aroma that fills your kitchen during baking is simply irresistible, signaling that a delicious treat is on the way.
Serving and Enjoying
Once baked, allow the monkey bread to cool for a few minutes before inverting it onto a serving plate. The pull-apart pieces will glisten with melted butter and cinnamon sugar, making it visually appealing.
Serve warm, and watch as everyone eagerly pulls apart the fluffy pieces. This dessert is perfect for sharing, creating moments of joy and satisfaction with every bite.
Easy Monkey Bread Dessert Recipe
This monkey bread features bite-sized pieces of dough rolled in cinnamon sugar, baked in a bundt pan until golden brown. The recipe takes about 1 hour from start to finish and serves 8 people.
Ingredients
- 2 cans (16 oz each) refrigerated biscuit dough
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the Dough: Open the biscuit cans and cut each biscuit into quarters.
- Mix Sugar and Cinnamon: In a bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon.
- Coat the Dough: Roll each biscuit piece in the cinnamon sugar mixture until well coated.
- Layer the Dough: In a bundt pan, layer half of the coated biscuit pieces, sprinkle with half of the chopped nuts (if using), and drizzle with half of the melted butter. Repeat with the remaining biscuit pieces, nuts, and butter.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and any remaining melted butter. Heat until combined and pour over the layered dough in the bundt pan.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a serving plate. Serve warm and enjoy!
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 8 servings
- Calories: 320kcal
- Fat: 15g
- Protein: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 45g