If you have a sweet tooth and a love for super simple yet irresistibly delicious treats, this Easy Monkey Bread Recipe is going to steal your heart. Made with store-bought biscuit dough, this pull-apart bread drenched in buttery cinnamon sugar and studded with crunchy walnuts comes together in a flash, making it perfect for last-minute gatherings or a cozy weekend indulgence. Whether it’s breakfast, dessert, or anytime snacking, this gooey, golden monkey bread promises to become your new go-to comfort food!

Ingredients You’ll Need

The image shows a round monkey bread made of many small golden brown dough pieces covered with a thick shiny caramel glaze and topped with a large amount of chopped walnuts, giving it a crunchy texture. The monkey bread is placed inside a black skillet on a white marbled surface, with some walnuts scattered around. There is a clear glass of milk behind the skillet and a small white plate holding some pieces of monkey bread topped with walnuts in the foreground. The background includes a gray crumpled cloth adding soft texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

These ingredients are straightforward but play crucial roles in creating the perfect texture and flavor combination. Each one adds a layer—whether it’s sweetness, richness, warmth from spices, or a delightful crunch—that makes this Easy Monkey Bread Recipe absolutely unforgettable.

2 (16-ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough: The convenient base that puffs up beautifully and pulls apart with ease.
1 cup granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps the cinnamon sugar mixture stick perfectly to each biscuit piece.
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon: Brings that warm, comforting spice that makes monkey bread so irresistible.
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter: Creates a rich, luscious sauce that coats every bite.
1 cup packed light brown sugar: Adds depth and caramel-like notes to the buttery sauce.
1 tablespoon vanilla extract: Enhances the flavors with a sweet aromatic touch.
Cooking spray: Ensures the bread releases easily from the pan after baking.
1 cup chopped walnuts: Provides a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor contrast.

How to Make Easy Monkey Bread Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Ingredients

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and position the rack in the center to ensure even baking. Grease a 10-inch Bundt pan with cooking spray, then sprinkle half a cup of the chopped walnuts evenly across the bottom. This nutty layer at the base adds wonderful texture when the bread is flipped out for serving.

Step 2: Mix the Cinnamon Sugar Coating

In a large plastic zip-top bag, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Close the bag and shake vigorously to blend them well. This simple mixture is the magic dust that turns plain biscuit dough into a melt-in-your-mouth delight with every bite.

Step 3: Coat the Biscuit Pieces

Cut each biscuit into quarters to create bite-sized chunks. Working in batches of about a dozen pieces, add them to the cinnamon sugar bag, seal it tight, and shake until all pieces are thoroughly coated. This ensures every morsel is bursting with sweet, spicy flavor when baked.

Step 4: Layer Biscuit Pieces and Walnuts in the Pan

Begin layering the coated biscuit pieces into the prepared Bundt pan, spreading about a quarter of the remaining walnuts between each layer. The layering creates beautiful texture contrasts throughout the bread, promising nutty surprises in every pull-apart section.

Step 5: Prepare the Butter Sauce and Assemble

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the light brown sugar and vanilla extract, cooking and stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth and well combined—about one minute. Drizzle this luscious sauce over the assembled biscuit pieces in the pan, then gently shake the pan to evenly distribute the gooey goodness.

Step 6: Bake Until Golden and Perfectly Cooked

Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the monkey bread is deep golden brown and no longer doughy in the center. The aroma filling your kitchen at this point will have everyone eagerly anticipating the first bite.

Step 7: Cool and Unmold with Care

Once baked, run a spatula around the edges of the pan to loosen the bread. Allow it to cool for about five minutes, then place a serving plate upside down on top of the Bundt pan and carefully flip them over. Let it sit for another minute before lifting the pan off—revealing that gorgeous, glistening monkey bread masterpiece ready to be devoured warm.

How to Serve Easy Monkey Bread Recipe

The image shows a round bundt cake on a white plate, with the cake covered in a thick caramel glaze and sprinkled generously with chopped walnuts all over the top. The cake has a shiny, glossy texture from the caramel, and the walnuts add a rough, crunchy look with their uneven small and medium pieces. The cake itself is golden brown and puffed up, the center hole clearly visible. There is a dark spoon lying on the marble surface partly under the plate, and scattered walnut pieces around it on the white marbled background. A glass of milk is visible at the top right edge. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

For an extra special touch, dust the monkey bread with powdered sugar or drizzle a light vanilla glaze made from powdered sugar and milk. Adding a sprinkle of extra chopped walnuts on top after baking adds both beauty and crunch, inviting everyone to dig in.

Side Dishes

This Easy Monkey Bread Recipe pairs wonderfully with fresh fruit like berries or sliced apples for a balanced breakfast or brunch spread. For more indulgence, serve alongside a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream when enjoying it as dessert.

Creative Ways to Present

Consider serving individual servings in mini muffin tins for bite-sized fun at parties. You can also wrap slices of the monkey bread as sweet gifts by putting them in clear cellophane bags tied with a ribbon—perfect for sharing your favorite recipe with friends and family.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover monkey bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days to keep it soft and moist. If you prefer, refrigeration is fine but will stiffen the texture slightly, so warming before serving is recommended.

Freezing

You can freeze the baked monkey bread by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to two months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating

Reheat slices in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds or warm the entire loaf in a 300-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 10 minutes to refresh its gooey, melted butter charm. Reheating truly brings back the fresh-baked experience everyone loves.

FAQs

Can I use homemade biscuit dough instead of store-bought?

Absolutely! Homemade biscuit dough works wonderfully and will lend a personal touch to this Easy Monkey Bread Recipe though the baking time might vary slightly. Just be sure your dough is chilled and easy to cut into pieces.

Is it possible to make this recipe without nuts?

Yes! If you have nut allergies or prefer a nut-free version, simply omit the walnuts altogether. The monkey bread will still be deliciously gooey and flavorful, just without the crunch.

Can I substitute cinnamon with other spices?

Definitely! Feel free to experiment with spices like pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, or nutmeg. Each will bring its own unique twist, but cinnamon is classic for that comforting, warm flavor.

How do I keep the monkey bread moist?

The buttery brown sugar sauce keeps this bread perfectly moist. Just be sure to bake it until golden but not overdone, and keep leftovers covered tightly so it doesn’t dry out.

Is this recipe suitable for breakfast or dessert?

It’s perfect for both! This Easy Monkey Bread Recipe works wonderfully as a sweet breakfast treat paired with coffee, or as a decadent dessert topped with ice cream or whipped cream for a cozy night in.

Final Thoughts

This Easy Monkey Bread Recipe is the kind of sweet, buttery dish that feels like a warm hug from the inside out. Simple ingredients combine in a delightful way to create a treat that’s sure to brighten any occasion or quiet moment. So grab that biscuit dough, get your cinnamon sugar ready, and prepare to impress your taste buds and everyone lucky enough to share it with you!

Easy Monkey Bread Recipe

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This easy monkey bread recipe is a crowd-pleasing, sweet treat made quickly with store-bought refrigerated biscuit dough. Coated in a cinnamon-sugar mixture, layered with chopped walnuts, and drenched in a buttery brown sugar vanilla sauce, it’s baked to golden perfection in a Bundt pan. Perfect for parties or cozy breakfasts, this monkey bread is deliciously gooey, sticky, and irresistibly flavorful.

Author: Martha
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
Total Time: 45-50 minutes
Yield: 10-12 servings
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Monkey Bread

2 (16-ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts (divided)
Cooking spray

Brown Sugar Sauce

1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

Prepare Oven and 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 chopped walnuts over the bottom to create a nutty base.
Mix Cinnamon Sugar: In a large plastic zip-top bag, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Seal the bag and shake well to blend the mixture evenly.
Coat Biscuit Pieces: Cut each refrigerated biscuit into quarters. Working in batches of about 12 pieces, add the biscuit pieces to the cinnamon sugar bag. Seal and shake until the biscuit pieces are well coated with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Layer Biscuit and Walnuts: Add a layer of coated biscuit pieces to the prepared Bundt pan. Sprinkle approximately one quarter of the remaining walnuts over the biscuits. Repeat layering biscuit pieces and walnuts until all are used, finishing with a biscuit layer on top.
Make Brown Sugar Butter Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the salted butter. Stir in the packed light brown sugar and vanilla extract. Continue stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth and combined, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
Pour Sauce and Bake: Evenly pour the warm brown sugar butter sauce over the layered biscuit pieces in the pan. Gently shake the pan to distribute the sauce and settle the dough. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the monkey bread is deep golden brown on top and no longer doughy in the center.
Cool and Serve: Remove the Bundt pan from the oven and run a spatula around the edges to loosen the monkey bread. Let it cool for 5 minutes. Place a serving plate upside down over the pan, then carefully flip the pan and plate together. Let sit for 1 minute, then carefully remove the pan. Serve the monkey bread warm for a gooey, delicious treat.

Notes

Use refrigerated biscuit dough for convenience and consistent results.
Chopped walnuts can be omitted or substituted with pecans for a different nutty flavor.
Make sure to coat the biscuit pieces well in cinnamon sugar for full flavor coverage.
Serving warm is best as the sauce is gooey and delicious; leftovers can be reheated gently.
To prevent sticking, ensure the Bundt pan is well greased.