There’s something magical about a warm, gooey pull-apart treat during the holidays, and this Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe hits all the festive notes. Imagine tender biscuit bites bursting with melty chocolate kisses, cinnamon sugar, and a buttery brown sugar glaze that’s absolutely irresistible. Trust me, once you make this, it’ll be your go-to holiday centerpiece.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I have to admit, the first time I made this Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe, I was surprised at how easy it was to pull together such a festive and crowd-pleasing dessert. It’s perfect for holiday mornings or dessert tables where everyone can dig in and share the joy.
- Easy Assembly: You use store-bought biscuit dough so it cuts down on prep time significantly.
- Festive Fun: Incorporating Hershey Kisses and Christmas sprinkles gives this recipe a holiday sparkle that kids and adults both adore.
- Everyone’s Favorite Flavors: Cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, and chocolate come together in a comforting blend you can’t resist.
- Perfect for Sharing: This pull-apart bread is great for gatherings since it’s easy to serve and hard not to devour!
Ingredients & Why They Work
Let’s talk ingredients because understanding them helps you get the best possible outcome. The biscuit dough gives the bread its soft, pillowy texture, while the cinnamon sugar and butter/brown sugar sauce create that signature sticky, caramelized coating. Hershey Kisses add pockets of melty chocolate that are just pure magic with every bite.
- Refrigerated biscuit dough: Using something like Pillsbury Grands saves time and gives you a fluffy, consistent texture every time.
- Christmas sprinkles: A cheerful, festive touch that adds color and a bit of crunch – a fun way to brighten this treat.
- Hershey Kisses: These melt into little chocolate pockets inside the bread, creating a surprise in every bite; unwrapped is best so they don’t stick.
- Granulated sugar: Mixed with cinnamon, it coats the dough and gives a sweet, slightly crispy exterior.
- Ground cinnamon: The warm spice that pairs beautifully with brown sugar and chocolate – essential for that cozy holiday feel.
- Unsalted butter: Provides richness and helps meld the brown sugar into a luscious sauce without being overly salty.
- Brown sugar: Packed with moisture and deep molasses flavor, it makes the sauce sticky and irresistible.
Make It Your Way
I love taking a basic recipe and putting a little spin on it to suit my mood or occasion. This Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe is so forgiving, you can really make it your own without sacrificing that nostalgic taste everyone loves.
- Variation: One thing I tried was swapping out the Hershey Kisses for dark chocolate chunks or caramel-filled chocolates – both gave a fun twist and even deeper flavors. Don’t hesitate to experiment with peppermint-flavored Kisses for an extra festive pop!
- Dietary Swap: For a lactose-free version, use dairy-free biscuit dough and substitute vegan butter. Just make sure the chocolate you use is dairy-free too.
- Seasonal Switch: Swap out the Christmas sprinkles for pumpkin spice sprinkles or autumn tones for a fall-themed monkey bread.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
Step 1: Get Your Oven and Pan Ready
Preheat the oven to 350℉ and generously spray your bundt pan with a non-stick spray. This is key to getting your monkey bread out smoothly later without losing those delicious caramelized bits stuck to the pan. I like to do this first so everything is ready when I finish assembling.
Step 2: Cut and Fill Your Dough
Using a pizza slicer makes this fast – simply quarter each biscuit and flatten the pieces just a bit so they’re easier to wrap. Drop in a Hershey Kiss with a few Christmas sprinkles right on top, then roll the dough around it to form a ball. This little nugget of chocolate hidden inside is what makes this Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe so special – warm, gooey surprises everywhere!
Step 3: Coat the Dough Pieces
In a large zip-top bag, mix your sugar and cinnamon. Add a handful of dough balls at a time, seal the bag, and shake away until every piece is fully coated. This uniform sugary coating is going to give your bread those mouth-watering caramelized edges, so don’t rush this step.
Step 4: Layer the Bundt Pan
Transfer the coated dough balls to the prepared bundt pan, layering them evenly. The dough will rise and expand, so don’t worry if the pan looks a little crowded at first.
Step 5: Make the Sauce and Pour
In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring until glossy and smooth. Pour this over the dough in the bundt pan, letting the sweet sauce seep into every nook and cranny. This step is what makes this monkey bread sticky, decadent, and totally addictive.
Step 6: Bake Until Golden and Gooey
Bake for 30-40 minutes. You’ll want to watch for a deep golden brown on top—this is when the magic is really happening inside. After you pop it out of the oven, let it cool for about 10 minutes. Then invert it onto a serving plate. Give it a few more festive sprinkles for an extra pop before serving. Be ready for happy squeals!
Top Tip
After making this recipe a few times, I’ve realized the biggest difference-maker is how you coat the dough and prepare your pan. These tips helped me avoid any sticky mess and ensure the bread pulls apart perfectly every time.
- Use a pizza cutter: Quartering biscuits with a pizza cutter is super fast and makes the pieces uniform, so they bake evenly.
- Don’t skip the spray: The bundt pan can be tricky if not greased well; I spray then wipe a bit with butter for double protection.
- Shake dough balls in small batches: It helps get a better coating on each ball without clumping sugar everywhere.
- Cool before flipping: Give it 10 minutes so the sauce thickens; flipping too soon will make a sticky mess.
How to Serve Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
Garnishes
I like to keep it simple but festive—just a light dusting of powdered sugar or a few extra Christmas sprinkles right after flipping adds that charming holiday look and a little crunch. If you want a fancy touch, a drizzle of white chocolate or cream cheese glaze can take it to the next level.
Side Dishes
This monkey bread works beautifully alongside a mug of hot cocoa or spiced coffee. For brunch, I often pair it with scrambled eggs or a fresh fruit salad to balance the sweetness.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I’ve served it straight from the bundt pan on a wooden board surrounded by fresh pine sprigs and cranberries. Wrapping the pan in a festive ribbon before flipping also adds a charming gift-like presentation.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually cover leftovers tightly with plastic wrap or keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. The bread stays soft and delicious for up to 2 days, though honestly, it rarely lasts that long in my house!
Freezing
If you want to freeze, I recommend baking the bread fully, cooling completely, then wrapping tightly in foil and storing it in a freezer bag. It freezes well for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
To warm it back up, pop it in a 325℉ oven for about 10-15 minutes. This restores the gooey texture and helps melt any chocolate that’s firmed up. A quick zap in the microwave works in a pinch, but the oven does wonders for that fresh-baked feeling.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Homemade biscuit dough will add a personal touch and can taste even better if you have the time to make it. Just make sure your dough is slightly chilled so it’s easier to handle when cutting and wrapping the Hershey Kisses.
Feel free to experiment! Chopped chocolate bars, chocolate chips, or even caramel-filled chocolates work great. Just avoid oversized pieces that won’t melt evenly inside the dough balls.
Yes, you can! Many brands offer gluten-free biscuit dough options now. Just be sure to follow the baking time closely, as gluten-free doughs can behave differently.
Generously spraying the bundt pan with non-stick spray is crucial. Additionally, after spraying, I sometimes grease it lightly with butter or oil for extra insurance. Waiting until the bread cools before flipping it out also helps it release cleanly.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe is one of those magical holiday desserts that feels like a warm hug on a plate. I love how simple it is, how much joy it brings around the table, and how it makes mornings (or any day!) more festive. I can’t wait for you to try it and share it with the people you care about—it really delivers on that holiday cheer, bite after gooey bite.
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Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Christmas Monkey Bread is a festive and fun pull-apart bread made with bite-sized pieces of cinnamon sugar-coated biscuit dough filled with Hershey Kisses and adorned with colorful Christmas sprinkles. Baked until golden and gooey with a buttery brown sugar glaze, it's a perfect holiday treat to share with family and friends.
Ingredients
Dough and Filling
- 2 packages refrigerated biscuit dough (such as Pillsbury Grands)
- Hershey Kisses, unwrapped (any flavor) - about 24 pieces
- Christmas sprinkles - ¼ cup or as desired
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Sauce
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350℉. Generously spray a bundt pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
- Prepare biscuit dough balls: Cut each biscuit into quarters using a pizza slicer or knife. Slightly flatten each quarter, place a few Christmas sprinkles and one unwrapped Hershey Kiss in the center, then roll into a ball. Repeat with all biscuit pieces.
- Coat dough balls: In a large zip-top bag, combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Shake to mix evenly. Add a few biscuit balls at a time into the bag and shake until fully coated with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Remove coated balls and place them in the bundt pan. Continue until all balls are coated and arranged in the pan.
- Make the sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and brown sugar together, stirring occasionally until fully combined and smooth.
- Assemble and bake: Pour the melted butter and brown sugar sauce evenly over the coated biscuit dough balls in the bundt pan. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40 minutes or until the top is a deep golden brown and the bread is cooked through.
- Cool and serve: Remove the bundt pan from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Then place a plate over the pan and carefully invert the monkey bread onto the plate. Sprinkle extra Christmas sprinkles over the top for decoration. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Using a pizza slicer makes quartering the biscuits quick and easy.
- Be careful while flipping the hot bundt pan to avoid burns.
- You can substitute the Hershey Kisses with mini chocolate chips or small candies for variety.
- If you want a dairy-free version, use vegan butter in place of unsalted butter.
- Make sure to bake long enough to ensure the biscuit dough is fully cooked in the center.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
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