Easy Monkey Bread (Christmas Morning)

Monkey bread is the ultimate Christmas morning treat: soft, pull-apart pieces of dough rolled in cinnamon sugar, baked in a bundt pan with a buttery brown sugar caramel, then flipped out into a glossy, sticky ring that everyone tears into with their fingers. This easy version uses store-bought biscuit dough, so it's on the table in under an hour, with no yeast and no kneading. Pure holiday-morning magic.

Why you'll love this monkey bread

• Gooey, sticky, cinnamon-caramel goodness.
• Just 5 main ingredients with a store-bought dough shortcut.
• Fun to make and eat together, and kids love helping roll the pieces.
• Ready in under an hour.

Ingredients (one 10-inch / 25 cm bundt pan, serves 10–12)

• 2 cans (16 oz / 450 g each) refrigerated biscuit dough (not flaky layers)
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup (150 g) light brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (60 g) chopped pecans (optional)

Optional cream cheese glaze

• 2 oz (57 g) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp milk

Instructions

1. Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 10-inch bundt pan very well. Sprinkle the pecans into the bottom, if using.
2. Cut the dough. Cut each biscuit into quarters.
3. Coat. Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a large zip-top bag. Add the dough pieces a handful at a time and shake until coated.
4. Layer. Drop the coated pieces evenly into the bundt pan.
5. Make the caramel. Melt the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan, stirring, until smooth and bubbling, about 1 minute. Stir in the vanilla.
6. Pour the caramel evenly over the dough.
7. Bake for 30–35 minutes, until deep golden and cooked through (the top pieces should feel firm, not doughy).
8. Flip. Let it rest for exactly 5 minutes, then place a large plate on top and carefully invert.
9. Glaze (optional). Whisk the cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk and drizzle over the top. Serve warm.

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Alla's tips

• Grease the pan generously, with every curve and corner, or it will stick.
• Flip after 5 minutes. Too soon and it falls apart; too late and the caramel hardens to the pan.
• Shake a few pieces at a time so every piece is fully coated.
• Use regular biscuits, not flaky layers. Flaky biscuits separate and get soggy.
• Check the middle. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil and keep baking.
• Scrape any caramel left in the pan over the top. Don't waste a drop!

Variations

• Homemade dough: use 2 lbs (900 g) of frozen dinner roll dough, thawed, cut into pieces and left to rise for 1 hour in the pan. This is great for making the night before.
• Apple monkey bread: add 1 diced apple between the layers.
• Chocolate: tuck mini chocolate chips between the pieces.
• Savoury: garlic butter, parmesan and herbs make a wonderful party version.

Storage

Best eaten warm on the day. Wrap leftovers and keep at room temperature for 1 day, or in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 15–20 seconds.

FAQ

Why is it called monkey bread? Nobody's completely sure, but the most popular theory is that you pick at it with your fingers, like monkeys!

Can I make it the night before? With canned biscuit dough, it's best assembled and baked the same morning. For an overnight version, use frozen dinner roll dough: assemble in the evening, cover and leave in the fridge overnight, then let it rise at room temperature for 1 hour before baking.

Can I use a different pan? A tube pan or a 9x13-inch pan works. Bake times may vary slightly.

Why is the inside doughy? It needed more time. Bake until the top pieces are firm and deep golden, and cover with foil if browning too fast.

Can I make it without nuts? Yes, just leave them out.

Can I use homemade biscuit dough? Yes. Any soft biscuit or yeast dough cut into small pieces works.

More Christmas morning bakes

• Cinnamon Buns (Bulochki)
• Latvian Kliņģeris (Sweet Pretzel Bread)
• The Best Easy Banana Bread
• Cranberry Orange Bread

Hugs, Alla xox

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