Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread is made with cinnamon roll dough rolled in cinnamon sugar and covered in a brown sugar glaze. Once it’s baked, it’s drizzled with icing to make the perfect Christmas morning breakfast!
Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
This quick and easy cinnamon roll monkey bread had the house smelling so good – perfect for a fall or winter morning.
One of Shane’s favorite flavors is cinnamon, so when he came home from running errands, his nose was like a hound dog sniffing out the dessert.
It was warm, ooey gooey, and it had a delicious soft crunch from the caramelized brown sugar around the edges.
I bet this would be so good with some apple in it, kind of like an apple fritter, or a bit like warm apple pie filling.
I’m loving the monkey bread / pull apart bread idea lately. I just posted a Pizza Monkey Bread recipe for those of you that like something a bit more savory, and I’m looking for more fun kid friendly monkey bread ideas to share.
Even though this is technically considered a breakfast, it really feels almost like a dessert cake to me. I love eating it as-is, but you could always spread it with Nutella or drizzle it with a little caramel sauce.
Does Monkey Bread Have To Be In A Bundt Pan?
If you don’t have a Bundt pan, you could use a cast iron skillet, loaf pan, pie pan, 8 x 8 baking dish, or a muffin tin.
Cooking it in a larger dish can cause the center to cook slower than the edges, which makes it a bit denser (it will also need to bake for longer).
That’s why I’d probably opt for a muffin pan if I didn’t have a Bundt pan. Just keep an eye on it because it will cook more quickly in a muffin tin. That’s especially important with the sticky brown sugar glaze – if it’s in the oven too long, it will burn.
Ingredients
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you only need 6 ingredients to make it! It’s really just a fun way to take Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls to the next level.
Refrigerated Cinnamon Roll Dough:
This is the base of the pull apart bread. I used Pillsbury Grands, but feel free to use any brand – just make sure to match up the amount needed by weight. You might need more than two cans of another brand.
Also, be sure to pick one that comes with a cream cheese icing (if it doesn’t, you’ll need to buy that separately).
If you can’t find refrigerated cinnamon roll dough, you can use biscuit dough. It won’t have quite as much flavor, but it will still be delicious.
Sugar and Ground Cinnamon:
This is what we’re using to make the cinnamon sugar coating to roll the dough balls in. It adds tons of flavor.
Feel free to adjust the amount of cinnamon based off of your taste preference. You could also substitute the cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice for more of a fall flavor.
Butter, Light Brown Sugar, and Pure Vanilla Extract:
This is what makes the brown sugar glaze. You can use salted or unsalted butter (depending on your taste preference). I used light brown sugar, but dark brown sugar will also work. Pure vanilla extract will taste best, but you can substitute it with artificial vanilla if that’s what you have.
The glaze provides the moisture in the bread, and it helps create the delicious caramelized crunch around the edges. It also helps the bread hold together once it has cooled after baking (both because of the caramelization and because butter is solid at room temperature).
How To Make Monkey Bread With Cinnamon Roll Dough
Cut the refrigerated cinnamon roll dough into quarters, then pinch the edges together so that the layers stay together when you’re picking it apart later. (See the recipe card below for the full written instructions.)
Toss the dough balls in cinnamon sugar, then layer them in a Bundt pan greased with cooking spray.
Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract together to make the brown sugar glaze. Pour it all over the cinnamon roll dough balls in the Bundt pan.
Bake uncovered in a preheated oven until the top is golden brown and the center measures 200 F on an instant read thermometer. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
How Do You Know When Monkey Bread Is Done?
You can tell that monkey bread is finished baking when the top is golden brown, the inside is no longer doughy, and the internal temperature reads 200 F on an instant read thermometer.
How Do You Keep Monkey Bread Fresh?
It’s best to store this pull apart bread in an air tight container at room temperature. It should only be stored for a couple of days. It will taste the best if you reheat it in the microwave or oven before serving it.
Keep In Touch
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Breakfast Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out our entire breakfast recipes section! Some reader favorite baked breakfasts are:
- Crockpot French Toast Casserole
- Bisquick Banana Bread
- Impossible Quiche
- Bisquick Blueberry Muffins
- Amish Breakfast Casserole
BEST Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Recipe
Make Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread with cinnamon roll dough rolled in cinnamon sugar, covered in a brown sugar glaze, and drizzled with icing!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 (17.5 ounce) cans Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (176 C). Generously grease a 10 inch Bundt pan and set to the side.*
- In a large Ziploc bag, combine the sugar and cinnamon.
- Open the Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls. Cut each cinnamon roll into quarters. Form each quarter into a ball by pinching the sides together (so they don't fall apart)**. Once you have a few balls in the bag, shake them to coat them in the cinnamon sugar. Transfer the cinnamon sugar coated balls into the prepared Bundt pan. Repeat this step until all the balls are in the pan.
- Melt the butter in a skillet or in the microwave. Mix the brown sugar and vanilla into the melted butter, and then pour it over the cinnamon balls in the Bundt pan.
- Put the pan in the preheated oven and bake until it is golden brown and bubbly. About 30 - 35 minutes. You'll know that it's finished baking when the top is golden brown, the inside is no longer doughy, and the internal temperature reads 200 F on an instant read thermometer.
- When the cinnamon roll monkey bread is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes (or until the pan is cool enough to handle).
- Flip the pan over onto a serving plate. Warm the icing packages that came with the cans in the microwave for about 10 - 15 seconds, then drizzle it all over the monkey bread. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
*Make sure to grease all the creases in the bundt pan because the glaze sticks and will make it difficult to release.
**You definitely cannot roll these balls between your hands at all (they’ll just fall apart). Pinching the seams on the edges shut will hold them together during baking.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/10Amount Per Serving: Calories: 400Total Fat: 13.1gCarbohydrates: 66.6gFiber: 2.1gSugar: 33.3gProtein: 5.1g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
If you’re looking for other uses for cinnamon roll dough, this cinnamon roll monkey bread is a must try recipe! It’s absolutely perfect for the holidays, especially for Christmas morning.
1 thought on “Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Recipe”
I make this every Christmas morning. It’s become a tradition. I do add toasted pecans to the brown sugar mix->so good!