Monkey bread
Monkey bread is a delightful baked treat featuring sweet, cinnamon-coated dough balls that pull apart easily. It's simple to make and perfect for sharing, with a gooey, buttery texture that's sure to please.
Cook time 30 min
Prep time 150 min
Ingredients:
4 cups bread flour1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp yeast
1.50 cups milk (1% fat)
1 egg
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Monkey bread is a delicious, pull-apart bread that's perfect for sharing with family and friends. It's made from sweet, doughy balls coated in cinnamon sugar and baked together in a bundt pan. The result is a treat that's gooey, buttery, and utterly irresistible. This recipe uses basic ingredients and is simple enough for even novice bakers to tackle with confidence.
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour, sugar, and yeast.
- Warm the milk (it should be lukewarm, around 110°F or 43°C) and add it to the dry mixture.
- Add the egg and mix everything together until a dough begins to form.
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- If you have a stand mixer with a dough hook, you can knead the dough on medium speed for about 5-7 minutes.
- Lightly grease a large bowl with a small amount of melted butter.
- Place the dough in the bowl, cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
- While the dough is rising, melt the remaining butter and set it aside.
- In a shallow dish, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air.
- Pinch off small pieces of dough (about the size of a walnut) and roll them into balls.
- Dip each ball into the melted butter, ensuring it's fully coated, then roll it in the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture.
- Place the coated dough balls evenly into a bundt pan, layering them as needed.
- Cover the filled bundt pan with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
- Let the dough rise again for about 30-45 minutes, or until it has almost doubled in size.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Pour the heavy whipping cream evenly over the risen dough balls in the bundt pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bread is cooked through.
- Remove the bundt pan from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes.
- Carefully invert the monkey bread onto a serving plate.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Monkey bread is a delightful, crowd-pleasing dessert or breakfast treat that delivers a perfect blend of sweetness, warmth, and buttery goodness. With its easy-to-follow steps and simple ingredients, this recipe ensures that you’ll create a dish that will have everyone asking for more. Serve it warm and enjoy the gooey, cinnamon-sugar perfection!
Monkey bread FAQ:
Bake the Monkey Bread in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes. The top should be golden brown and the bread fully cooked through.
The Monkey Bread is done when the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If it's still sticky or doughy, bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Yes, store any leftover Monkey Bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate it for up to a week or freeze for up to 2 months.
You can substitute all-purpose flour for bread flour, but the texture may be slightly different. For a chewier result, you can mix all-purpose flour with a bit of vital wheat gluten.
Yes, you can prepare the dough and assemble the Monkey Bread up to the second rise, then cover and refrigerate it overnight. Allow it to come to room temperature before baking.
Cooking Tips:
- Make sure to use warm (not hot) milk to help the yeast activate properly.
- Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place to ensure it doubles in size.
- Coat each dough ball thoroughly with the cinnamon sugar mixture for maximum flavor.
- Use a greased bundt pan to make removing the monkey bread easier after baking.
- Pour the heavy whipping cream over the dough before baking for extra moisture and richness.
- Let the baked monkey bread cool slightly in the pan before inverting it onto a serving plate to prevent it from breaking apart.
Nutrition Facts
36 ServingsCalories 110kcal
Protein 3.06g
Carbohydrates 18g
Fiber 0.53g
Sugar 6g
Fat 2.94g
More recipes
Strawberry-blueberry greek yogurt parfait with almonds
Layered Greek yogurt parfait with strawberries, blueberries, and almonds.
23 Jan 2026Chicken mayo sandwich with lettuce on whole-wheat bread
Easy chicken mayo sandwich with lettuce on whole-wheat bread.
23 Nov 2025Roasted apples with honey nut crumble
Easy roasted apples with a honey nut crumble topping.
08 Feb 2026Eggs, turkey, spinach & roasted potatoes
A hearty breakfast of turkey bacon, eggs, spinach, and roasted potatoes.
23 Dec 2025