Granny's Monkey Bread is a sweet, gooey, sinful cinnamon sugar breakfast treat made with store-bought canned biscuit dough (in a tube) and lots of butter. This recipe is incredibly easy to make and is seriously the best monkey bread recipe ever!
Why this recipe works:
This is my most popular recipe and has been viewed more than 3 Million times! Here are just a few reasons why everyone loves this recipe.
- Easy to make ahead: This recipe can be prepared the night before so you can easily pop it in the oven in the morning. Or, because this monkey bread is so quick and easy to put together, you can simply assemble and bake the same morning you plan on devouring it.
- Canned biscuit dough: I used homemade biscuit dough in Pumpkin Spice Monkey Bread and Apple Fritter Monkey Bread recipes, but it really doesn't get much easier than making monkey bread with canned biscuits.
This is definitely a treat everyone should experience at least once. It is gooey, perfectly sweet, and everyone's favorite.
Five simple ingredients needed:
- You'll need a total of 24 ounces of biscuit dough. I use three 8-ounce tubes of buttermilk canned biscuits from Trader Joe's. Opening those pressurized cans is like torture for me, but I put on a brave face and do it anyway. For my readers outside of the US who can't find canned biscuit dough, you can make your own homemade dough or use pizza or bread dough, although it will taste a bit more dry.
- Both granulated sugar and golden brown sugar.
- One cup of butter. That's two sticks! It's worth it.
- And, of course, cinnamon. If you're familiar with my recipes, you'll know that I often substitute pumpkin pie spice for cinnamon, so feel free to do so with this recipe if you wish.
How to make this easy monkey bread recipe:
Full instructions can be found in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.
- Cut dough: The biscuit dough will need to be cut into small bite sized pieces. Clean kitchen shears work better than a knife. You'll toss these dough pieces in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon and then set them in the prepared pan.
- Dissolve sugar in butter: The syrup is made by combining ½ cup of that sugar-cinnamon mixture along with the brown sugar and butter in a saucepan. You'll bring it to a boil and then immediately remove it from the heat to help dissolve the sugars. This mixture gets drizzled over the dough in the pan.
- Bake and invert: Pop it in the oven and bake for about a half hour. When it's still warm, you'll cover the pan with a plate and invert it. Take care not to burn those fingers when fighting for the first bite!
cut biscuit dough coat in cinnamon sugar melt butter and brown sugar add cinnamon sugar pour over dough bake in oven
Cooking Tips and FAQs:
What is monkey bread?
Although there are endless variations, monkey bread is basically bite sized pieces of dough baked with other ingredients that tie all the flavors together. The most common variation is exactly what you see here, made with butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
It is believed that monkey bread got its name because it is eaten by people picking off pieces and putting them straight into their mouths. Much like you would picture how a monkey eats!
How can you tell when it's done?
It is sometimes difficult to tell when the monkey bread has cooked through. Cooking times can always vary depending on size of pan, starting temperature of dough, placement in oven, etc.
For best results, place pan in center of the oven and cook roughly 30 minutes until the top is golden brown. Most importantly, ensure the internal temperature has reached 190°F by using a digital thermometer.
Can you make it ahead of time?
Yes. You can make it ahead of time. Simply prepare the recipe as written and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake it. Keep in mind you'll either need to increase the cooking time or allow it to come closer to room temperature before baking.
This recipe really is easy enough to make the morning of, though.
What kind of pan is best?
This monkey bread recipe is best enjoyed in a Bundt pan or a fluted tube pan because of the round shape with open center. You can also use other variations of deep baking dishes. Just be sure they are at least a 12-cup capacity.
Can you double the recipe?
I get asked this question all the time. Unless you have a baking dish with a 24-cup capacity, you cannot double the recipe. You can, however, make two batches and use two separate pans.
Monkey bread variations:
My loyalty will always lie with Granny's old fashioned monkey bread because it is over flowing with buttery cinnamon-sugar goodness.
If you want to get creative, though, you can certainly add fresh fruit or pie filling, nuts, chocolate chips, caramel sauce, or even marshmallows!
It's not just for the holidays.
Everyone makes this monkey bread on Christmas morning. If it's not yet a tradition in your house, it should be. But it definitely doesn't have to be a once-a-year-treat.
Want to be a rock star parent? Next time you go camping, delight your kids when you make Monkey Bread on the campfire in the Dutch oven. Can you imagine a better treat to wake up to?
How about enjoying a batch on a vacation morning? This is one of those recipes that just becomes tradition.
Full RECIPE and VIDEO below!
Watch me re-create this gooey masterpiece.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave me a comment below to let me know what you think!
Granny's Monkey Bread Recipe
CLICK TO PLAY RECIPE VIDEO
Ingredients
- 24 ounces refrigerated biscuit dough (I used three 8-ounce packages of buttermilk biscuits - use whatever size as long as it totals around 24oz)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon (or you can use pumpkin pie spice)
- 1 cup butter (salted or unsalted)
- ½ cup golden brown sugar (packed )
Instructions
- Prepare pan: Heavily grease Bundt or fluted tube pan with butter (12-cup capacity). Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Prepare the dough: Separate biscuits and cut each one into four equal bite-sized pieces. Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in a bowl or plastic bag. Drop roll each piece of dough in the sugar-cinnamon mixture and shake around to coat. Gently arrange the cinnamon-sugar biscuit pieces into the prepared pan.
- Heat syrup: In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Add ½ cup of the remaining sugar-cinnamon mixture (discard remaining or use for another recipe). Gently heat to melt butter and bring mixture just to a boil and then immediately remove from heat. Stir until sugars have fully dissolved. Do not overcook the syrup; you simply want to help the sugar dissolve. Carefully drizzle the warm mixture over the rolled dough balls in the pan.
- Bake: Arrange pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes. Time may vary; see note below.
- Invert: Allow pan to rest for about 5 minutes, then cover with a large plate and invert. To eat, pull the desired amount off with your fingers (like a monkey would) and enjoy the gooey sweet sinful treat.
Notes
- To prepare the night before, follow all steps except the baking part. Cover and refrigerate. Bake as directed in the morning (may need a few extra minutes if its cold).
- Use the kids! Although the heating and melting of the butter should be handled by the adults, let the little ones cut the dough with kitchen scissors and dip each dough ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture!
- Cooking time may vary depending on oven and pan used. Continue cooking until tops are starting to crisp and turn golden brown. To be entirely sure that the monkey bread is fully cooked and not doughy in the center, use a thermometer to verify that the middle has reached 190°F. If the top is getting overly cooked and the center is still not at 190°F, lower the monkey bread in your oven or cover with foil to prevent over-browning.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
This recipe has been viewed over 3 million times since it was originally posted in September 2014 and has been updated with more helpful tips based on reader questions. Don't worry - the recipe hasn't changed!
Joan
Made this for Christmas Day 2019. It was fantastic- sweet, gooey, sticky! Perfect with coffee and presents. It’s been requested by everyone for this year as well!
Sarah
I am a stickler for recipe instructions and I have to say this is so easy to follow and my husband is like a kid at Christmas when he sees it baking. If I suggest adding apples, spices, or nuts he gives me a side eye and is insistent that I don’t change anything! Thanks!
Anita
I absolutely love this recipe! For the holidays, I wanted to add chai spice and fresh diced apples and pecans. Is there any way I can bake this then separate into individual mason jars and freeze until needed? Also, do the apples require cooking prior to baking? Trying to distribute covid friendly desserts this year and this is one of my all time favourite recipes!
Krissy
Hi Anita, I've only ever made this in a bundt pan so I can't answer your question about mason jars. If you want to prepare ahead of time, I would prepare it up until the point where you bake, then freeze, then fully thaw before you bake. As far as the apples, it's a matter of preference. If you use raw apples, they will cook and soften in the monkey bread, but won't be as broken down as if you used pre-cooked apples. Hope that helps!
Eve
Can you use a bread pan or even a cake pan? I don't currently own a bundt pan 🙁
Krissy
Yes! You can use either but should count on a thermometer to know when it's done.
Tracy
Yummy! One question. My center pieces were a little dry not so gooey at spots. Should I lightly stir the liquid in between some of it b4 cooking it? We ate some for breakfast and some later rewarmed up with icecream. Yum
Krissy
That should help! Glad you liked it.
Charlyn
Yummy, we used pumpkin pie spice, keeping with the Season!
Krissy
I love using pumpkin pie spice too!
Jennifer
J use pinterest because I'm just a basic cook, i like to try new things... great recipe!! Although you could add a side note when recommending a bundt pan, as mine leaked all over the inside of the oven and had a hay day panic attack with my smoke alarm.. why do they make them in two pieces anyway? Seems stupid to me... any recommendations on getting hardened sugar off the bottom of my oven? Bummer..
Krissy
Oh no! Do you think your bundt pan wasn't big enough? That's just the worst!!! As far as the sugar, I usually try to scrape off as much as possible and then go at the rest with a good oven cleaner.
Ann
Jennifer, It sounds like you maybe used an angel food cake pan, not a bundt pan. Bundt pans are not two pieces, but angel food cake pans are two pieces.
Jennifer
Hi! I’m not at all a baker, but want to add apples into this... any suggestions on how to do that/what would change? Thanks!
Krissy
Hi Jennifer, You can certainly add apples! I would peel and dice into very small pieces. Then I would just layer them in with the dough. Should cook up wonderfully!
Mari
This recipe is DELICIOUS!!!! Followed it exactly and we all loved it! Thank you so much!
Samara Hudson
I used 24 biscuits and it's overflowing the bundt pan and started a flame in my oven with the butter dropping to the bottom. Did you use 2 pans?
Krissy
Oh no! The recipe calls for 24 oz of biscuit dough. Not 24 biscuits. Depending on the size of your biscuit, that may have been way too much. I use one bundt pan to make this recipe.
Anita
Hi there!
I absolutely LOVE this recipe!
I’m planning to make this in several batches, portioning into masonjars and distributing as Xmas gifts this year. Because I need to make so much, I wanted to do everything including baking and freeze it in the jars. Can you help guide this process - would it be ok to freeze cooked monkey bread? Any re-heating required or just allowing it to thaw overnight in the jars? I should mention that I’ll also add cooked apple chunks as well.
Look forward to hearing back really appreciate if you could! Thanks!
Krissy
Oh boy. I've never made this in mason jars. I would just be sure to fully thaw before placing in a hot oven and using a thermometer to check the internal temp to make sure the dough is cooked.
Tami Bayus
You probably used jumbo biscuits. I used two cans of jumbo because she said 24 Oz.
DEBBIE
I am 63 years old & have been making this recipe for about 40 years,my family loves it ! Thisis really good & easy to make I use extra topping to put on after I've baked it,My family has actually requested this monkey bread,they ask me to make 2 each time because they fight for the last pieces...lol this is just a great treat I make for them almost anytime they ask...
Tyrone Jones
Its cool and tastes gucci, thanks granny
Narine Mutafian
Beyond perfect! The only thing I think j did wrong was cook the sauce at the end too long? It was delicious but would stick to our teeth. Any recommendations or thoughts on what I could have done? Other than that I’ve already been asked to make it and more than one! Thank you!!!
Krissy
Perhaps you had the temperature too high? Otherwise, so glad you liked it!
Kim
I made this for our monthly office meeting and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved the buttery and gooey goodness!!!
Heather
This is the only recipe i will ever use. I have made so many but this one is PERFECT!!!
Rick R
I love this recipe. My daughter asked me to make this yesterday but told her that I didn't have the biscuits and need to get them at the store. While I was prepping this yummy desert breakfast snack dish, I remembered that I had left over bacon from the day before, ( I know how did that happen) so I crumbled it up and added to the sugared up biscuits and WOW, add bacn to your next monkey bread.
Linda
I first made this for my family about 2 years ago. I then tried it with homemade yeast bread dough.I have probably made this over 100 times since. I give it as gifts, share with friends and take ti to work. Everyone says it is the best monkey bread they ever tasted. The sauce is the secret and it is the BEST!
Jesse
I got 2nd place in a work desert competition with this delicious treat. The more fresh, the better.
Jesse
We used chocolate chip canned biscuits because the store we shop was out of buttermilk and they were pretty darn good. I still prefer the buttermilk though.
Cheryl Ravert
Do you have to use butter milk biscuits
Krissy
Nope! You can use any kind of biscuit dough or even something like pizza dough.
Taylor Rutledge
Can you use Cinnamon rolls instead of biscuits?
Krissy
Yep! It will be INSANELY sweet though. -Krissy
Noel
I haven’t made this in 50 years!!! Used to make it for army wives coffees. We all loved it! Think will make it next weekend . Holiday and family will be here. Grandkids will love it! Thanks for sharing.
Linda
DO you use light or dark brown sugar? I can’t waiting to make this!!!
Krissy
light brown sugar. Enjoy! Krissy