Pull Apart Monkey Bread Ultimate Easy Cinnamon Roll Bake

Introduction

Warm, gooey, sticky, cinnamon-sugar goodness that you can pull apart with your fingers… that is monkey bread at its best.

Pull apart monkey bread is like a giant, shareable cinnamon roll. Every little piece is soft, buttery, and coated in sweet cinnamon sugar, with a shiny caramel glaze on top. You bake it in a bundt pan or baking dish, then flip it out and let everyone grab chunks and enjoy.

This recipe is the ultimate easy cinnamon roll bake because:

• You get all the cozy flavor of cinnamon rolls
• But you skip the long kneading, rolling, and shaping
• We use simple store-bought dough to save time – perfect for busy mornings or holidays

Monkey bread is amazing for:

• Weekend breakfasts
• Holiday brunch (Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day)
• Sleepovers
• Potlucks and church gatherings
• Any time you want a fun dessert you can share and pull apart

In this guide, I’ll walk you through each step in simple, clear language so you can make a beautiful, gooey monkey bread even if you’re a beginner baker. We’ll also talk about variations, how to store leftovers, and how to make it ahead.

Get your cinnamon ready – let’s make your kitchen smell incredible.

History / Background

Monkey bread has a funny name, doesn’t it?

The exact origin of monkey bread isn’t 100% clear, but here’s what most people agree on:

• It became popular in the United States in the mid-1900s
• It’s related to sweet, pull-apart bread made from many small dough balls baked together
• You eat it by pulling off pieces with your fingers, a bit like how monkeys might pick at food – and that’s probably where the name came from

The basic idea:

• Little pieces of dough
• Rolled in butter and sugar (often cinnamon sugar)
• Packed into a pan
• Baked until golden and sticky

In the 1980s, monkey bread became very famous in some American homes when it was said to be a favorite treat of Nancy Reagan at the White House. It spread through cookbooks and magazines, especially as a fun breakfast or brunch idea.

Traditional monkey bread is often made with a simple yeast dough rolled into balls. Delicious, but a bit time-consuming for busy families.

That’s why many modern recipes now use:

• Refrigerated biscuit dough
• Or refrigerated cinnamon roll dough

These shortcuts keep the classic monkey bread taste and texture but save a lot of work. Our recipe uses this easy method so you can enjoy warm, fresh monkey bread with very little effort.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• No-fuss and beginner-friendly – Uses store-bought dough, so there’s no kneading, rising, or shaping.
• Tastes like a giant cinnamon roll – But even gooier and more fun to share.
• Perfect pull-apart texture – Soft, buttery pieces with crisp, caramelized edges.
• Crowd-pleaser – Everyone can grab pieces with their fingers; great for family-style eating.
• Amazing smell while baking – Your home will smell like a bakery.
• Customizable – Add nuts, chocolate chips, cream cheese glaze, or even apple pieces.
• Great for holidays and weekends – Looks impressive on the table but is secretly very easy.
• Kid-friendly – Kids love helping roll the dough in cinnamon sugar and pulling pieces apart.
• Can be made ahead – Prep the night before and bake in the morning.
• Works with different pans – Bundt pan is classic, but you can use a loaf or baking dish too.

Ingredient Notes

Let’s look at the ingredients for this easy pull apart monkey bread and why they’re used.

Refrigerated Dough

You have two main options:

• Refrigerated biscuit dough (like flaky or homestyle biscuits)
• Refrigerated cinnamon roll dough (with the little icing cup included)

Both work, and you can even mix them.

Biscuit dough gives more of a traditional monkey bread texture. Cinnamon roll dough gives extra cinnamon flavor and sweetness.

We’ll write the recipe using canned biscuit dough, with notes on cinnamon roll dough.

Granulated Sugar

Plain white sugar is mixed with cinnamon and used to coat the pieces of dough. This:

• Sweetens the bread
• Helps form a light crust on each piece
• Builds the sugary base that turns into a caramel glaze

Brown Sugar

Brown sugar is mixed with melted butter and poured over the dough in the pan.

• It melts and turns into a caramel-like sauce
• Gives a deep, richer sweetness than white sugar alone

Light brown sugar works best, but dark brown sugar is fine for a stronger molasses flavor.

Ground Cinnamon

Cinnamon is the star flavor. It gives that warm, cozy “cinnamon roll” smell and taste.

Use fresh ground cinnamon for the best flavor. If your cinnamon is very old, it may taste weak.

Butter

Butter brings everything together:

• Coats the dough pieces to help the sugar stick
• Melts with the brown sugar into a delicious sticky sauce
• Adds rich flavor and softness

Use unsalted butter so you can control the salt. If using salted butter, reduce or skip added salt.

Vanilla Extract (Optional but Nice)

A little vanilla in the butter-brown sugar sauce adds a nice bakery-style flavor.

Optional Ingredients

• Chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts) – Add crunch and a nutty taste
• Raisins or dried cranberries – For a chewy, fruity surprise
• Chocolate chips – For a chocolate twist
• Icing or glaze – Drizzle on top after baking, especially if you use cinnamon roll dough with included icing

Equipment Needed

You don’t need anything fancy to make this cinnamon monkey bread.

Essential Equipment

• Bundt pan (10–12 cup) – Classic monkey bread shape with a hole in the center, helps it bake evenly
  • If you don’t have one, you can use:
    • Tube pan
    • Two loaf pans
    • 9×13 inch baking dish (bake time may change)
• Mixing bowls – At least two: one for cinnamon sugar, one for the butter and brown sugar sauce
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl – For melting butter
• Knife and cutting board or kitchen scissors – To cut the dough into smaller pieces
• Rubber spatula or spoon – For stirring and scraping

Nice-to-Have Equipment

• Cooking spray or pastry brush – To grease the pan well
• Cooling rack – For cooling the bread after baking
• Serving plate or cake stand – To invert and serve your monkey bread

Full Recipe Card (Ingredients, Instructions, Notes)

Pull Apart Monkey Bread – Ultimate Easy Cinnamon Roll Bake

Servings: 10–12
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 35–45 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the Monkey Bread:

• 3–4 cans (7.5–8 oz / 220–240 g each) refrigerated biscuit dough
  • Or 2–3 cans refrigerated cinnamon roll dough (use icing for topping)
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 2–3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

For the Caramel Butter Sauce:

• 1 cup (225 g / 2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (200 g) packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• Pinch of salt (optional, if using unsalted butter)

Optional Mix-Ins:

• ½–1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
• Chocolate chips (sprinkled between layers, not too many or it can get very sweet)

Instructions

1. Prepare the pan and oven

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Generously grease your bundt pan with butter or non-stick spray. Make sure to get into every corner and ridge to prevent sticking.

2. Mix cinnamon sugar

3. In a medium bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon until well combined.
4. Set aside.

3. Cut the dough into pieces

5. Open the cans of biscuit dough. Separate each biscuit.
6. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces (like cutting a pie into quarters). You can use a knife, bench scraper, or kitchen scissors.
7. If using cinnamon rolls, cut each roll into 4 pieces the same way.

4. Coat dough pieces in cinnamon sugar

8. Working in batches, add some dough pieces to the bowl of cinnamon sugar.
9. Toss to coat all sides evenly.
10. Place the coated pieces into the prepared bundt pan, spreading them out evenly as you go.
11. If you are using nuts or raisins, sprinkle them between layers of coated dough pieces as you fill the pan.

5. Make the caramel butter sauce

12. In a small saucepan (or microwave-safe bowl), melt the butter over low heat or in the microwave.
13. Stir in the brown sugar until it looks like a smooth, thick sauce.
14. Add vanilla extract and a pinch of salt if using, and stir again.

6. Pour sauce over dough

15. Slowly and evenly pour the warm butter-brown sugar mixture over the dough pieces in the pan.
16. Gently tap the pan on the counter a couple of times to help the sauce settle in between the pieces.

7. Bake

17. Place the pan in the preheated oven.
18. Bake for 35–45 minutes, or until:

• The top is deep golden brown
• The center pieces are cooked through (you can carefully pull apart a top piece with tongs to check if the dough inside looks baked, not raw)

If the top is browning too quickly but the inside is not done, you can cover it loosely with foil during the last 10 minutes.

8. Cool slightly and invert

19. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a cooling rack.
20. Let the monkey bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Do not leave it too long in the pan or the caramel may harden and stick.
21. Place a large plate or serving platter over the bundt pan.
22. Using oven mitts, carefully flip the pan and plate together in one quick motion.
23. Gently lift the pan off. If any pieces stick, use a spoon to place them back onto the bread.

9. Add icing (if using cinnamon rolls)

24. If you used cinnamon roll dough that came with icing:

• Warm the icing slightly (so it drizzles easily).
• Drizzle over the warm monkey bread.

25. Serve warm. Let everyone pull apart pieces and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

• Baking times vary depending on your oven and the pan used. Always check that the inside dough is cooked through.
• If using a deep bundt pan and you fill it very full, it may take closer to 45 minutes to bake.
• For extra flavor, you can add ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice to the cinnamon sugar mixture.
• If you prefer less sweetness, you can slightly reduce the brown sugar in the sauce to ¾ cup.

Tips & Variations

Monkey bread is very flexible. Here are some fun ideas to change it up.

Flavor Variations

• Sticky Pecan Monkey Bread:
  Add chopped pecans to the bottom of the pan before the dough, and more between layers.
• Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread:
  Add small chunks of peeled apple (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp) between the dough pieces. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon sugar.
• Chocolate Monkey Bread:
  Add a handful of chocolate chips between layers, or drizzle melted chocolate over the baked monkey bread.
• Orange Cinnamon Monkey Bread:
  Add 1–2 teaspoons of orange zest to the cinnamon sugar and 2 tablespoons orange juice to the butter-brown sugar sauce.

Dough Variations

• With Cinnamon Roll Dough:
  Use cinnamon roll cans instead of biscuit dough. You can still coat the pieces in extra cinnamon sugar for more flavor.
• Half-and-Half:
  Use half biscuit dough and half cinnamon roll dough for a mix of textures.

Shape Variations

• Mini Monkey Breads:
  Use a muffin tin and place a few coated dough pieces in each cup. Reduce baking time to about 15–20 minutes.
• Loaf Pan Monkey Bread:
  Use 2 greased loaf pans instead of a bundt pan. Divide dough and sauce between them. Baking time may be around 25–35 minutes.

Pro Chef Tips

These simple tips will help your monkey bread turn out extra good.

1. Grease the pan very well
   This is the number one tip. Monkey bread is sticky by nature, so a well-greased pan is key.
2. Don’t pack the dough too tightly
   It should be full, but the dough pieces need a little room to expand and let the sauce flow through.
3. Check for doneness in the center
   The outer pieces will bake faster. Gently pull apart a top piece with tongs to see if the inside pieces are cooked. If still doughy, bake a bit longer.
4. Let it cool just enough before flipping
   About 10 minutes is ideal. Too soon and the sauce may run everywhere. Too late and it may stick.
5. Use good-quality cinnamon
   Fresh, fragrant cinnamon makes a big difference in flavor.
6. Use room temperature dough if possible
   Cold dough straight from the fridge can take a bit longer to bake. Letting it sit for 10–15 minutes at room temperature (while you prep everything) helps.
7. Pre-warm the plate
   If your serving plate is very cold, the caramel can firm up quickly when inverted. A room temperature or slightly warm plate works best.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some typical monkey bread problems and how to avoid them.

1. Undercooked, Doughy Center

Why it happens:

• Oven temperature not accurate
• Pan very full or deep
• Not baking long enough

Fix / Avoid:

• Bake until the top is deep golden and the center pieces are cooked.
• Use an oven thermometer if possible to check your oven temperature.
• If needed, cover loosely with foil and bake longer.

2. Monkey Bread Sticks to the Pan

Why it happens:

• Pan not greased enough
• Sitting too long in the pan as it cools

Fix / Avoid:

• Grease every part of the pan very well – especially in a bundt pan with ridges.
• Don’t let it cool more than 10–15 minutes in the pan before inverting.

3. Too Sweet or Too Sticky

Why it happens:

• Extra sugar added
• Using sweet cinnamon roll dough AND full sugar amounts

Fix / Avoid:

• Follow the recipe amounts the first time.
• Next time, reduce brown sugar slightly if it’s too sweet for your taste.

4. Dry Monkey Bread

Why it happens:

• Overbaking
• Not enough sauce

Fix / Avoid:

• Check early and often once you reach the minimum bake time.
• Make sure you pour the full amount of butter-brown sugar sauce over the dough.

Storage & Meal Prep

Monkey bread is best warm and fresh, but you can still enjoy leftovers.

Storing Leftovers

• Let the monkey bread cool to room temperature.
• Cover tightly with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container.
• Keep at room temperature for up to 1 day, or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating

• Oven: Wrap in foil and warm at 300°F (150°C) for about 10–15 minutes until heated through.
• Microwave: Warm individual portions on a plate for 15–20 seconds. It won’t be as crisp but will still taste good.

Make-Ahead & Freezer Notes

Make-Ahead (Night Before)

You can prepare the monkey bread the night before:

1. Assemble the dough pieces in the greased pan and pour the sauce over.
2. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
3. The next morning, let the pan sit at room temperature for about 20–30 minutes while the oven preheats.
4. Bake as directed, possibly adding a few extra minutes if the dough is cold.

This is perfect for holiday mornings when you want a special breakfast without morning prep.

Freezing

You can freeze baked monkey bread:

1. Let it cool completely.
2. Wrap the whole thing (or portions) tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil.
3. Freeze for up to 1–2 months.

To reheat:

• Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm in the oven at 300°F (150°C) until heated through.

Note: The texture will be a bit softer and less crisp after freezing and reheating, but still tasty.

Serving Suggestions

Monkey bread is fun and flexible when it comes to serving.

For Breakfast or Brunch

• Serve warm on a big plate in the center of the table. Let everyone pull pieces off.
• Pair with:
  • Scrambled eggs
  • Fresh fruit salad
  • Coffee, tea, or orange juice

For Dessert

• Serve warm with:
  • Vanilla ice cream
  • Whipped cream
  • A drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce

For Parties and Holidays

• Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top for a pretty finish.
• Add a simple cream cheese glaze:
  • Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, a little milk, and vanilla.
  • Drizzle over the warm monkey bread.

For Kids

• Let them pull apart pieces with their hands (have napkins ready!).
• Serve with a glass of cold milk.

FAQs

Q: Can I use homemade dough instead of canned biscuits?
A: Yes, you can use homemade yeast dough if you like. Just roll it into small balls and follow the same coating and baking steps. The rise and bake time may change slightly.

Q: Do I have to use a bundt pan?
A: No. A bundt pan bakes evenly and looks pretty, but you can use a tube pan, loaf pans, or a 9×13 inch baking dish. Keep an eye on the baking time if you change pan sizes.

Q: My monkey bread is still doughy in the middle. What should I do?
A: Put it back in the oven and cover loosely with foil so the top doesn’t burn. Bake another 5–10 minutes and check again.

Q: Can I reduce the amount of sugar?
A: Yes, you can slightly reduce the sugar in the sauce and cinnamon mixture. Just know it will be a little less sticky and sweet.

Q: Can I add cream cheese pieces inside?
A: Yes! You can tuck small cubes of cream cheese between the dough pieces for pockets of creamy filling. Just don’t add too many or it can get very rich.

Q: How do I keep the bottom from burning?
A: Place the pan in the center of the oven and, if your oven runs hot, reduce the temperature to 340°F (170°C). You can also place a baking sheet under the pan to protect the bottom from direct heat.

Conclusion (friendly and encouraging)

You’ve now got everything you need to make pull apart monkey bread, the ultimate easy cinnamon roll bake that is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

Even though it looks special on the table, this recipe is very simple:

• Cut store-bought dough into pieces
• Roll in cinnamon sugar
• Pour over a buttery brown sugar sauce
• Bake, flip, and enjoy

You don’t need to be an expert baker to pull this off. In fact, this is a wonderful “first special recipe” if you’re just starting to bake more. And if you already bake a lot, you’ll love how fast and flexible it is.

Don’t worry if a few pieces stick to the pan or if your caramel runs a little. Monkey bread is meant to be rustic, sticky, and fun. Once people pull off a warm, gooey piece and take that first bite, they’ll forget about any tiny imperfections.

So preheat your oven, grab some biscuit dough, and fill your kitchen with the smell of cinnamon and butter. You can absolutely make this, and your family or guests are going to love it.