I absolutely love anything with cinnamon, especially in the morning. Anything cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, muffins, pancakes, waffles, and the works are my kind of weekend breakfast. Which explains why Monkey Bread is something I LOVE making!
Monkey bread is something I have been making for years and years. I can remember the first time I had monkey bread at my friend Adrian’s house in the 5th grade. Her mom made it for us in the morning after a sleepover.
Time sure flies but some recipes and favorites never cease. Monkey bread for me is that favorite. It is a quick, easy, warm, and delicious breakfast that we enjoy to this day!
Ingredients
Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls/Pillsbury Biscuits
I make this with either cinnamon rolls or biscuits. Any variety of these will work for this monkey bread. Though I will say my favorite cinnamon rolls to us are:
Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls Made With Cinnabon From Sam’s Club
I don’t know why they are different or how they are different but TRUST me they are! They even say on the packaging that they are a Sam’s Club Exclusive.
I feel like these cinnamon rolls are made with Pillsbury Crescent Rolls for the dough. Instead of, what their normal cinnamon roll dough is made of, who knows. So, if you go to Sam’s Club, you should definitely try them sometime.
Butter
I normally use salted butter since this is what I normally have in the fridge, but this can be made with either salted or unsalted butter.
Vanilla
Imitation or real vanilla will work in this recipe. It normally just depends on what I have in the cupboard when I am making them.
Brown Sugar
I normally always use light brown sugar because that is what I normally always have on hand. But there have been those occasions that I only had dark brown sugar, and it worked just as well.
Granulated Sugar
Cinnamon
Step-By-Step
Monkey Bread Instructions
Step One: Prep
The first thing I do is preheat the oven to 350º. Then I assemble all of the ingredients, two bowls, a plate, and a baking dish.
Then to start the real prep I melt the butter in the microwave while I put together the cinnamon mixture. Once the butter is melted I add the vanilla and mix them together.
Next, I cut the cinnamon rolls/biscuits into pieces. If I am using cinnamon rolls, I will normally cut them in half. But if I am using biscuits, I always cut them into fourths.
This is so they get enough of the cinnamon-sugar mixture coated onto them. Whichever way works to make these yummy Monkey Bread bites of pure cinnamon delight.
Once all of the dough is cut, it is time to assemble the Monkey Bread.
Step Two: Assemble
To assemble, I line up the plate of cut-up dough, butter mixture bowl, cinnamon mixture bowl, and the baking dish.
Then I start by rolling each piece of dough in the butter mixture, followed by the sugar mixture, and then into the baking dish. I continue through the assembly line until all of the yummy pieces are coated with buttery cinnamon goodness.
Step Three: Bake
Once all of the pieces are in the baking dish, I put the Monkey Bread into the oven for 20 minutes. While it is baking, I assemble all of the ingredients I need to make the icing.
Step Four: Icing
While the Monkey Bread is baking, I make the icing. I make a quick and easy icing to top this yummy monkey bread. This step can be skipped if you prefer. I have made it both ways, and it is delicious either way.
To make the icing, I mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk, in a small mixing bowl. I mix all the ingredients until the icing is to my desired thickness.
Step Five: Enjoy!
Once the Monkey Bread is finished baking, it’s finally time to top it with the icing and enjoy.
This Monkey Bread is so yummy that it never lasts a day non the less the morning in our house.
Monkey Bread Recipe
This easy Monkey Bread is the perfect warm and buttery, cinnamon breakfast treat.
Monkey Bread
- 1 pkg Cinnamon Rolls (or Biscuits)
- 1 cup Butter (melted)
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- ¾ cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ cup Brown sugar (light or dark brown sugar will work)
- 2 tsp Cinnamon (more to taste)
Icing
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 tbsp Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla
Monkey Bread
Preheat oven to 375°.
In a small mixing bowl, melt butter and then add vanilla.
In another small mixing bowl, mix together sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Next, cut the cinnamon rolls or biscuits into either ½'s or ¼'s, whichever you prefer.
Start assembling by rolling each piece in the butter mixture, then the cinnamon mixture, and place into a baking dish. Then repeat this process until all pieces are coated.
Bake for 20-25 mins until golden brown on top.
Icing
Mix together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to your desired thickness.
Top Monkey Bread after baking and enjoy!
This recipe is easily doubled and never lasts longer than the morning at our house.
Icing Note: I prefer to make the icing a little thicker but you can add more or less milk and powdered sugar to the thickness of your choosing.
