Sweet Monkey Bread Magic: A Fun Pull-Apart Recipe

When Sunday mornings call for something special, this delectable monkey bread delight recipe delivers pure comfort straight from the oven.

Warm, gooey, and irresistibly sweet, the dish promises a decadent breakfast treat that melts in your mouth.

Golden caramelized edges peek through layers of soft, pillowy dough that pull apart with delightful ease.

Each bite whispers hints of cinnamon and brown sugar, creating a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

The aroma alone will draw everyone to the kitchen, eager to sink their teeth into this irresistible morning sensation.

Crafted with simple ingredients and minimal effort, this monkey bread transforms an ordinary breakfast into an extraordinary culinary experience.

Dive into this mouthwatering recipe and watch as pure deliciousness unfolds before your eyes.

How to Plate Monkey Bread Delight

• Sweet Brunch Centerpiece: Wow your breakfast guests by placing this golden, gooey monkey bread right in the middle of your dining table. Its irresistible aroma and pull-apart texture make it an instant conversation starter.
• Dessert Companion: Serve warm alongside vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream for a decadent after-dinner treat that transforms this bread into an elegant dessert experience.
• Coffee Pairing Delight: Cut chunks of this cinnamon-sugar masterpiece and enjoy alongside a steaming mug of dark roast coffee or creamy cappuccino. The sweet-and-spice combination will elevate your morning ritual to pure comfort.
• Weekend Potluck Star: Bring this monkey bread to family gatherings or weekend potlucks, and watch how quickly it disappears. Its shareable nature and crowd-pleasing flavor make it the ultimate social gathering treat.

Storing Monkey Bread Pieces

• Quick Serve Strategy: Best enjoyed warm within 2-3 hours of baking when flavors and textures are most vibrant. Share immediately with family or friends for maximum enjoyment.
• Refrigeration Technique: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, storing in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Gently reheat in the oven at 300°F for 10-15 minutes to restore softness and warmth.
• Freezer-Friendly Method: Slice the monkey bread and place individual portions in freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 4 weeks. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm slightly before serving.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare dough balls and arrange in the bundt pan the night before. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator 1 hour before baking to allow rising at room temperature, then bake as directed.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30-35 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 5-10 minutes

Calories: 290 kcal

Servings: 13

Monkey Bread Delight Ingredients List

• Unsalted Butter: Ensures effortless release of the monkey bread, preventing any sticky situations and creating a smooth pan surface.

• Warm Milk, Warm Water: Activates yeast and helps create a soft, pillowy texture with perfect moisture.
• Granulated Sugar: Feeds the yeast and adds subtle sweetness to the bread's foundation.
• Melted Butter: Contributes rich flavor and helps create a tender, moist dough.
• Instant Yeast: Provides the magical rising power that transforms simple ingredients into a fluffy masterpiece.
• All-Purpose Flour: Creates the structural backbone of the bread, offering delightful texture and structure.
• Salt: Balances flavors and strengthens the dough's gluten network.

• Brown Sugar, Ground Cinnamon: Delivers a warm, caramelized exterior with intense aromatic spice that creates irresistible layers of flavor.
• Unsalted Butter: Helps cinnamon sugar adhere to dough pieces and creates a luscious, gooey coating.

• Powdered Sugar, Milk, Vanilla Extract: Combines to create a silky, drizzle-worthy glaze that adds the perfect touch of sweetness and shine.

Monkey Bread Kitchen Gear

• Stand Mixer: Essential for kneading dough smoothly and efficiently.
• Bundt Pan: 12-cup size creates the classic monkey bread shape.
• Large Mixing Bowls: One for dough, another for cinnamon sugar coating.
• Small Bowl: Used for melting butter.
• Liquid Measuring Cup: Perfect for mixing and pouring glaze.
• Plastic Wrap: Helps dough rise by creating a warm, covered environment.
• Whisk: Blends glaze ingredients until silky smooth.
• Sharp Knife: Helps cut dough into even 64 pieces.
• Baking Spatula: Useful for transferring and coating dough balls.

Instructions for Sweet Monkey Bread

Heavenly Twisted Treat

• Bundt Pan Prep

Grab a large bundt pan and lovingly coat every nook and cranny with soft butter to ensure nothing sticks.

• Dough Magic

Combine warm liquid ingredients with yeast in a mixer, letting them dance and bubble together. Sprinkle in flour and salt, kneading until a silky smooth ball forms. Let the dough rest and grow, rising like a fluffy cloud.

• Flavor Coating

Mix warm spices with sweet granules in a shallow dish. Each dough morsel will take a luxurious butter bath before rolling in the fragrant mixture.

• Treasure Building

Tear the dough into bite-sized chunks, transforming each piece into a perfect little sphere. Dunk and coat each ball, then playfully stack them inside the pan, creating a tempting mountain of deliciousness.

• Oven Transformation

Slide the pan into a warm oven, letting heat work its magic. Watch as the balls puff and turn golden, filling your kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

• Sweet Finishing Touch

Once cooled, drizzle a silky smooth glaze over the twisted treat, creating delicate white rivers across the caramelized surface.

Tips for Gooey Monkey Bread Goodness

• Monkey Bread Magic Moments
• Pro Dough Tip: Knead the dough until it feels silky and springs back when gently pressed – this ensures a perfectly tender texture that melts in your mouth.
• Sweet Swap Surprises: Replace cinnamon sugar with pumpkin pie spice for autumn vibes, or mix in chopped pecans and a dash of maple extract for a nutty weekend brunch sensation.
• Make-Ahead Miracle: Prepare the entire recipe up to the second rise, then cover and refrigerate overnight. Pull out in the morning, let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then bake for fresh breakfast magic.
• Glaze Game Changers: Jazz up the classic vanilla glaze by adding cream cheese for richness, or sprinkle sea salt on top for a sweet-salty twist that'll make taste buds dance.
• Leftover Love: Warm individual pieces in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, or transform day-old monkey bread into a decadent bread pudding by cubing and mixing with eggs, cream, and extra spices.

Gooey Monkey Bread Delight Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 5-10 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

This soulful Monkey Bread Delight blends cinnamon-sugared dough clusters with warm caramel notes. Comforting Southern charm welcomes you to savor each gooey, pull-apart morsel of sweet happiness.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 ⅓ cups (420 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (240 ml) warm milk
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) warm water
• 1 ½ cups (330 g) brown sugar
• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• 2 ¼ tsps (7 g) instant yeast
• 1 ½ tsps salt
• 2 tbsps butter, melted
• 3 tsps ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
• 3 tbsps unsalted butter, softened
• 1 splash of vanilla extract

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preparation: Liberally grease a 12-cup bundt pan with softened butter to prevent adhesion.
2. Yeast Activation: Combine warm milk, water, sugar, melted butter, and yeast in a stand mixer. Let the mixture become frothy for 5 minutes.
3. Dough Formation: Blend flour and salt into the yeast mixture. Knead on low speed until cohesive, then increase to medium, creating a smooth, elastic dough.
4. First Rise: Transfer dough to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
5. Coating Preparation: Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in one bowl, melt butter in another, creating a dual-coating system.
6. Dough Shaping: Roll the risen dough into 64 uniform balls, ensuring consistent size and shape.
7. Coating Process: Submerge each dough ball in melted butter, then thoroughly coat with cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
8. Pan Assembly: Strategically layer the coated dough balls in the bundt pan, creating an intricate, staggered pattern.
9. Second Rise: Cover and let dough expand until puffy, approximately 45-60 minutes.
10. Baking: Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake until the bread turns deep golden-brown and appears caramelized, roughly 30-35 minutes.
11. Cooling: Rest the bread in the pan for 5 minutes, then invert onto a serving platter. Allow to cool for an additional 10 minutes.
12. Glazing: Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla into a smooth, glossy glaze. Drizzle generously over the monkey bread, allowing it to cascade through the ridges.

Notes

• Yeast Activation Tip: Ensure milk and water are lukewarm (110-115°F) to properly activate yeast without killing it.
• Dough Kneading Technique: Stop kneading when dough becomes smooth and springs back when gently pressed, indicating proper gluten development.
• Rising Environment: Place dough in a draft-free, warm spot like near a preheated oven or inside a turned-off oven with the light on for consistent rising.
• Coating Pro Tip: Roll dough balls quickly and uniformly to ensure even baking and consistent cinnamon-sugar coverage throughout the monkey bread.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 290
• Sugar: 23 g
• Sodium: 190 mg
• Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 41 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg