Name: Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 16 oz. packages refrigerated biscuit dough (use Pillsbury Grand's Buttermilk Biscuits, not the flaky ones); 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon cardamom; 1 cup chopped pecans (optional); 1 1/2 tablespoons butter for greasing the pan; 16 tablespoons unsalted butter (or salted, omit salt); 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Warm, gooey, and packed with cinnamon goodness, this Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. It’s that nostalgic, pull-apart treat that fills your kitchen with irresistible aromas and brings smiles all around the table.

A white plate holds a thick ring of monkey bread made of many soft, sticky, golden brown dough balls clumped together, each coated in a shiny, dark caramel sauce with small bits of chopped pecans scattered generously over the top. The dough pieces show a lightly spongy texture inside where some have been pulled apart. The plate sits on a white marbled surface, and some pecan bits and smaller dough balls are scattered around the main ring. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This monkey bread has snagged a permanent spot in my brunch rotation because it’s simple to make yet exudes that homemade magic you’d expect from a bakery. Plus, it’s impossible not to enjoy pulling it apart and sharing each sticky, sweet bite.

Simple Ingredients: You’ll mostly use pantry staples and refrigerated biscuit dough, making prep a breeze even on busy mornings.
Easy Assembly: No complicated kneading or rising – just cutting, coating, layering, and baking.
Flavor Packed: The secret spices of cinnamon and cardamom with vanilla-infused caramel sauce create irresistible layers of taste.
Shareable & Fun: Gather around, grab a piece, and enjoy that classic pull-apart experience everyone loves.

A round, bundt-shaped cake with a deep brown color is shown on a white plate, placed on a white marbled surface. The cake has many thick layers stacked close together with a sticky, shiny brown glaze covering the whole top and sides. On top, there are many pieces of chopped pecans spread evenly, adding texture and a contrasting light brown color. The glaze looks smooth and thick, dripping slightly over the edges of the cake. The center hole of the bundt cake is clearly visible, showing the cake’s curved shape. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe plays a role in creating a soft, sweet, and spiced pull-apart bread that’s both fun and flavorful. Let’s look closer at some of them so you know why they shine.

Flat lay of two stacks of fluffy pale buttermilk biscuit dough rounds, a small mound of golden granulated sugar, a small heap of warm brown ground cinnamon powder, a tiny pile of light green whole cardamom pods, a small cluster of shelled chopped pecans, a pat of creamy pale yellow unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with light golden melted butter, a small white ceramic bowl holding packed light brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of fine white salt, and a small white ceramic bowl containing clear vanilla extract liquid, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Refrigerated biscuit dough: This is your shortcut to fluffy, soft dough without the fuss of mixing and rising. I recommend Pillsbury Grand’s Buttermilk Biscuits but steer clear of the flaky layers type—they don’t hold up as nicely.
Granulated sugar: Used for coating the dough balls, it creates that delightful crunchy cinnamon-sugar crust.
Ground cinnamon and cardamom: Cinnamon is classic here, but a pinch of cardamom adds a warming depth that makes the flavor uniquely yours.
Chopped pecans: Optional, but I love the crunch and nuttiness they bring; they really brighten up the texture.
Butter and brown sugar: These melt together in the caramel-like sauce, giving monkey bread that sticky, luscious sweetness that everyone craves.
Vanilla extract: Just a splash wakes up the brown sugar sauce with a subtle richness that ties everything together.
Salt: Balances all the sweet flavors so the monkey bread never feels cloying.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This recipe is a great canvas to customize. I often swap pecans for walnuts or add a handful of raisins for a little surprise sweetness. Don’t be shy about making this monkey bread truly yours—it’s meant to be fun!

Variation: For a dairy-free option, try substituting the butter with coconut oil and use a dairy-free biscuit dough brand. It’s a twist that still yields gooey layers and tons of flavor.
Spice it up: Adding a pinch of nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice can lend a lovely seasonal note that’s perfect for fall mornings.
Add mix-ins: Mini chocolate chips or dried cranberries stirred in with the dough balls add a surprise burst of flavor.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe

Step 1: Grease Your Pan Thoroughly

First things first: preheat your oven to 350°F and get that Bundt pan ready. I like brushing softened butter into every nook—don’t skimp here! If you don’t have a pastry brush, a crumpled piece of parchment paper works just fine. This helps prevent your caramel from sticking like you wouldn’t believe. For an extra treat, sprinkle chopped pecans evenly on the bottom before layering the dough.

Step 2: Prep the Biscuit Dough Balls

Grab your biscuit dough and cut each biscuit into fourths. Trust me, using a pizza wheel for this makes your life easier and cleaner! Rolling each quarter into a little ball isn’t mandatory, but it really gives your monkey bread an attractive fluffy texture that everyone notices. Plus, it makes coating them in cinnamon sugar a breeze.

Step 3: Coat the Dough with Cinnamon Sugar

In a large freezer bag, whisk together granulated sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom. Add about a dozen dough balls at a time and shake until they’re all beautifully covered in that spiced sugar mixture. Don’t toss the leftover cinnamon sugar— you’ll use some of it later for the caramel sauce.

Step 4: Layer and Add Pecans

Line your Bundt pan with the coated dough balls, making sure not to stack them directly on top of one another but offset them for even baking. Sprinkle pecans between layers if you’re using them— they add delightful crunch and flavor throughout the bread.

Step 5: Make the Caramel-Like Sauce

In a small saucepan, combine half a cup of the leftover cinnamon sugar, brown sugar, butter, and salt. Cook this over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it melts and boils. Pull it off the heat immediately, then stir in vanilla extract. This sauce is pure magic, draping the monkey bread in sticky sweetness.

Step 6: Drizzle and Bake

Pour the sauce evenly over your arranged dough balls in the Bundt pan. Pause occasionally to tilt the pan so the sauce reaches the bottom and every crevice gets its share of caramel goodness. Bake in the center of your preheated oven for 30–35 minutes until the biscuits register about 190°–200°F inside—warm aroma is your friendly hint, too.

Step 7: Cool and Invert

Once out of the oven, let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then carefully invert it onto a serving plate. If any sauce remains in the pan, brush or spoon it back over the top for an even shinier, saucier finish. It’s best enjoyed warm when the layers are soft and sticky.

Top Tip

Having made this many times, I’ve learned some small tricks that make all the difference in nail-biting moments—those can make or break your monkey bread experience!

Pan Greasing Is Key: Don’t rush this step. Cover every inch so your sticky caramel can’t cling stubbornly to the pan walls or corners.
Roll the Dough: Rolling dough pieces into balls isn’t just cosmetic—it helps the coating grab better, giving you that picture-perfect monkey bread pulling apart beautifully.
Watch the Caramel Carefully: When boiling your caramel sauce, remove it right as it starts bubbling vigorously to avoid burning — burnt caramel brings bitterness you don’t want.
Check Doneness with a Thermometer: An instant-read thermometer will tell you when your biscuit is perfectly baked inside without guesswork.

How to Serve Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe

cinnamon monkey bread - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love to serve this monkey bread with a light dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of warm cream cheese glaze for special occasions. The tangy glaze cuts through the sweetness perfectly and makes it look as beautiful as it tastes.

Side Dishes

Pair it with fresh fruit like berries or a bright citrus salad to balance the richness. It’s also a crowd favorite alongside a simple scrambled egg dish, making it ideal for brunches or casual breakfasts.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday mornings, I’ve served monkey bread in mini Bundt pans as individual portions—those single servings disappear fast and feel extra special for guests. You can also add edible gold dust or sprinkles for kid-friendly parties.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Any leftovers I have get loosely covered with foil and stored at room temperature for up to two days. This keeps the monkey bread soft and ready to enjoy the next morning without losing much freshness.

Freezing

I’ve frozen monkey bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. When you’re ready, thaw it overnight in the fridge and warm it in the oven until it’s tender and sticky again. Freezing is great when you want to prep ahead for holidays.

Reheating

Reheat by warming in a 325°F oven for about 10 minutes, loosely covered with foil to prevent drying out. You can also zap a piece in the microwave for a quick fix, but the oven method keeps that fresh-baked texture alive.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use homemade biscuit dough instead of refrigerated?

Absolutely! Homemade biscuit dough works wonderfully here if you have the time. Just make sure the dough is chilled and easy to cut into small pieces before coating with cinnamon sugar. The texture will be just as tender and flavorful.

Why shouldn't I use flaky biscuit dough?

Flaky biscuit dough tends to separate and isn’t sturdy enough to hold together well during the baking process, causing your monkey bread to fall apart. The fluffy style biscuit dough is more cohesive and yields that desired pull-apart quality everyone loves.

Can I make this recipe vegan or dairy-free?

Yes! Swap the butter for vegan margarine or coconut oil, and choose a non-dairy biscuit dough brand if available. The rest of the ingredients are naturally vegan, so you’ll still get a delicious monkey bread with just a little tweaking.

What’s the best way to clean my Bundt pan after baking monkey bread?

Soaking the Bundt pan in hot water shortly after baking helps loosen any stuck-on caramel and sugar. Use a non-abrasive sponge to gently clean it without scratching the surface. Greasing it thoroughly before baking also drastically reduces mess.

Final Thoughts

This Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe is a warm hug in food form. It’s about capturing those simple moments where baking feels joyful and sharing tastes even better. Whether it’s a lazy weekend morning, a holiday treat, or just because, this monkey bread never disappoints. I can’t wait for you to try it and fill your kitchen with that irresistible cinnamon-sugar scent. Trust me, once you do, it’ll become your go-to sweet comfort food too.