Homemade Monkey Bread is a pull-apart loaf made from soft biscuit dough balls rolled in cinnamon sugar and baked until the whole pan turns into one sticky, caramel-glazed ring. It's the kind of recipe that turns a regular Sunday morning into something worth getting out of bed for.

All you need is canned biscuit dough, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and you'll have it on the table in under an hour. Save it for later!

Prep	Cook	Total	Servings	Difficulty
15 min	35 min	50 min	8 servings	Medium

Quick Facts

Homemade Monkey Bread with Gooey Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bites

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Pantry staples only: canned biscuits, butter, sugar, and cinnamon are likely already in your kitchen.
Hands-off baking: once it's in the pan, the oven does the heavy lifting.
Kid-approved: little hands love rolling the dough balls in cinnamon sugar.
One pan, big payoff: a single bundt pan feeds a whole breakfast table.
Great for holidays: this pull-apart bread fits right in next to a Thanksgiving brunch spread or a Christmas morning table.

Monkey Bread Ingredients

Ingredients for Homemade Monkey Bread with Gooey Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bites

Canned biscuit dough: the shortcut that makes this recipe fast; homemade biscuit dough works too if you have more time.
Granulated sugar: coats the dough balls and helps them caramelize as they bake.
Ground cinnamon: the flavor backbone; add a pinch of nutmeg if you want more warmth.
Unsalted butter: melted and mixed with brown sugar to form the sticky glaze that pools at the bottom of the pan.
Brown sugar: gives the glaze its deep, almost toffee-like color and flavor.
Chopped pecans or walnuts (optional): add crunch between the soft, sticky pieces.
Vanilla extract: rounds out the glaze with a warm background note.

If a recipe calls for Worcestershire sauce in a savory version of pull-apart bread, swap it for soy sauce with a splash of rice vinegar. You'll find exact amounts for this Homemade Monkey Bread in the recipe card below.

Ways to Change It Up

Add cream cheese: tuck a small cube of cream cheese inside each dough ball before rolling for a surprise filling.
Go savory: skip the cinnamon sugar and toss the dough balls in garlic butter and parmesan instead, similar to the pull-apart style used in our Savory Pizza Monkey Bread for Busy Mom.
Spice it up: add a pinch of cayenne to the cinnamon sugar for a sweet-heat twist.
Slow cooker version: layer the dough balls and glaze in a greased slow cooker and cook on low for about 2 hours.
Holiday pull: for a festive table, try the garlic and herb approach from our Holiday Appetizer: Cheesy Pull Apart Christmas Bread.

How to Make Monkey Bread

Cut and coat: cut each biscuit into quarters, then roll the pieces in cinnamon sugar until fully covered.
Layer the pan: arrange the sugared dough pieces in a greased bundt pan, scattering nuts between layers if using.
Make the glaze: melt butter with brown sugar and vanilla in a small saucepan until smooth and bubbling, about 2 minutes.
Pour and bake: pour the glaze evenly over the dough pieces, then bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is deep golden and the center is cooked through.
Rest before flipping: let the pan sit for 10 minutes so the caramel sets slightly before you invert it onto a plate.
Pull apart and serve: flip the pan onto a serving plate, let the glaze drip down the sides, then pull apart the warm pieces by hand.

Hella Recipe Team Tips

Don't skip the rest time: flipping too soon sends hot caramel everywhere and can collapse the loaf.
Use a bundt pan with a center hole: it helps the dough cook evenly in the middle, not just the edges.
Check for doneness: insert a toothpick near the center; it should come out mostly clean with just a few sticky crumbs.
Grease generously: butter or spray every groove of the pan so the bread releases cleanly.
Serve warm: the glaze firms up as it cools, so this bread pulls apart best within the first 20 minutes.

What to Serve With It

This sticky bread pairs well with a simple fruit salad, strong coffee, or scrambled eggs for a full brunch spread. For a holiday breakfast table, set it next to our Hoco Brunch French Toast Bake for a Pre-Game Morning or our Copycat Red Lobster Biscuits with Garlic Butter Brush for contrast between sweet and savory.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover Monkey Bread covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. To freeze, wrap cooled pieces tightly and freeze for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds, or in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes, until warmed through and sticky again.

Monkey Bread FAQ

Can I make Monkey Bread ahead of time?

Yes, assemble it in the pan the night before, cover, and refrigerate, then bake it fresh the next morning, adding a few extra minutes to the bake time.

Can I use homemade dough instead of canned biscuits?

Yes, any soft yeast roll dough works well; just cut it into small balls before coating in cinnamon sugar.

Why did my Monkey Bread turn out dry?

This usually means it baked too long or the glaze didn't reach every layer; pour it over the dough slowly so it seeps between the pieces before baking.