How to Make Classic Cinnamon & Sugar Monkey Bread
1. Prep the Pan
Grease a bundt pan generously with butter or nonstick spray. Be thorough — this is a sticky situation and we want a clean release later.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cut the Dough
Open the biscuit cans and cut each biscuit into quarters. You’ll end up with small dough chunks that bake into fluffy pull-apart bites.
No perfection needed here — rustic is part of the charm.
3. Coat in Cinnamon Sugar
In a large zip-top bag or bowl, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon.
Add the dough pieces and shake or toss until every piece is fully coated. They should look like little cinnamon sugar snowballs.
This step is where the magic starts.
4. Layer in the Pan
Place the coated dough pieces into the bundt pan. If you’re adding nuts, sprinkle some between layers.
Don’t pack them too tightly — they need room to puff and expand.
5. Make the Caramel Sauce
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the brown sugar and cook until smooth and slightly thickened (about 2–3 minutes). If using vanilla, stir it in at the end.
Pour this golden mixture evenly over the dough in the pan.
Yes, it looks like a lot. That’s correct. Trust the process.
6. Bake
Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the top is deep golden brown and bubbling.
If it starts browning too quickly, loosely tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.
7. The Flip (Important Moment)
Let the monkey bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes — not longer. If it cools too much, the caramel sets and sticks.
Place a serving plate over the pan and carefully flip it upside down.
Lift the pan slowly.
If all goes well, you’ll reveal a glossy, caramel-coated masterpiece.
Take a moment. Admire it. You’ve earned that.
How to Serve It
Monkey bread is best served warm — when it’s soft, gooey, and borderline ridiculous.
People pull off pieces with their hands. No slicing. No forks required (unless things get gloriously messy).
Pair it with:
Hot coffee
Cold milk
Brunch spreads
Or absolutely nothing else
It stands on its own.
Tips for Perfect Monkey Bread
Don’t skip greasing the pan thoroughly.
Let it rest 10 minutes before flipping — no more, no less.
If you want extra gooeyness, drizzle a simple powdered sugar glaze on top after flipping.
For a crispier caramel edge, bake closer to 40 minutes.
Fun Variations
Once you master the classic, you can experiment:
Add small cubes of cream cheese between layers
Mix in mini chocolate chips
Swap half the cinnamon sugar for pumpkin spice
Add diced apples for a fall twist
But honestly? The original cinnamon and sugar version never disappoints.
Why This Recipe Endures
Monkey bread isn’t fancy. It’s not delicate. It’s joyful. It’s interactive. It’s the kind of recipe that feels nostalgic even if you’ve never had it before.
It invites people to gather around, laugh, and sneak “just one more piece.”
And somehow, there’s always room for one more.
Warm, sticky, cinnamon-swirled comfort — that’s the magic of classic monkey bread.
