This easy Monkey Bread is a nostalgic, pull-apart treat made with just five ingredients — biscuit dough, butter, cinnamon, and sugar — creating a gooey, caramelized crust and fluffy center. It’s perfect for brunch, dessert, or a fun family baking project. Originally a favorite with kids during nanny days, this recipe has stood the test of time and is still a beloved Saturday morning tradition.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 cans of biscuit dough (e.g., Immaculate Organic or Pillsbury Biscuits)

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• ⅛ cup ground cinnamon

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• ¾ cup butter (or ½ cup for a lighter version)

Optional Glaze:

• ¼ cup powdered sugar

• 1 tbsp milk

Directions

1. Prepare the Dough: Break biscuits into small, bite-sized pieces (about 3 tbsp each) and roll into balls.

2. Grease the Pan: Thoroughly butter a loaf or bundt pan. Cooking spray is an alternative.

3. Coat the Dough: Mix cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. Roll each dough ball in the mixture to coat evenly.

4. Assemble:

   • Place one layer of dough balls in the pan.

   • Sprinkle ⅛ cup of brown sugar on top.

   • Add a second layer and sprinkle the remaining brown sugar.

5. Add Butter & Bake:

   • Melt the butter and pour over the dough.

   • Sprinkle any leftover cinnamon-sugar mixture.

   • Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes (check biscuit instructions for timing).

   • The top should be golden and the inside fully cooked.

6. Glaze (Optional): Mix powdered sugar and milk, then drizzle over the baked bread.

7. Cool & Serve: Let cool slightly before inverting the pan to release the bread.

Nutrients (per serving – approximate)

• Calories: 292 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 22g

• Protein: 1g

• Fat: 23g

• Saturated Fat: 15g

• Cholesterol: 61mg

• Sodium: 206mg

• Potassium: 19mg

• Sugar: 22g

• Vitamin A: 709 IU

• Calcium: 17mg

• Iron: 1mg

Monkey Bread is one of those irresistible comfort foods that immediately transports you back to simpler times. Whether served warm for brunch or shared around a table during family gatherings, this gooey, caramelized pull-apart bread brings joy to any occasion. Made with minimal ingredients — typically store-bought biscuit dough, butter, cinnamon, sugar, and brown sugar — it’s a no-fuss dessert or breakfast treat that delivers maximum flavor with very little effort.

This specific version, which uses only five main ingredients, is particularly beloved for its simplicity and nostalgia. Originating from the creator’s nanny days, this easy Monkey Bread quickly became a favorite with the kids and turned into a Saturday morning tradition that has endured over the years. The soft, doughy center, paired with a sweet, sticky crust, creates a satisfying contrast in texture and taste that keeps everyone coming back for more.

The Allure of Monkey Bread

What makes Monkey Bread so universally loved? For starters, it’s incredibly interactive and fun to make. Unlike traditional breads that require precise kneading and rising times, this dish is meant to be rustic. You tear, dip, roll, stack, and bake — and there’s something uniquely joyful about pulling apart the finished loaf with your fingers and sharing it.

Additionally, Monkey Bread is extremely versatile. You can enjoy it plain with its sugary, buttery coating or elevate it further with a simple glaze. For special occasions or seasonal spins, you can add chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or even apples and raisins. However, the classic cinnamon-sugar version continues to be a crowd-pleaser and a staple in many households.

Why This Version Stands Out

There are plenty of Monkey Bread recipes out there, but this one keeps it refreshingly simple. By using canned biscuit dough, the prep time is significantly reduced without compromising on taste. The balance of brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon ensures a rich, caramel-like coating that bakes into a golden crust, while the inside remains pillowy soft.

Another standout feature is the use of melted butter poured over the layered dough balls, allowing the cinnamon sugar to seep into every crevice. This results in a beautifully gooey base and crispy, caramelized edges — exactly what you want in every bite of Monkey Bread.

This recipe also gives you the option to customize the richness by adjusting the butter amount — ¾ cup for a deeply indulgent treat or ½ cup for a slightly lighter version that still delivers that classic flavor.

Perfect for All Occasions

Although Monkey Bread is often associated with breakfast or brunch, it transitions seamlessly into dessert territory. Its rich and sweet profile makes it a great ending to a family meal, especially when served warm with ice cream or whipped cream on the side.

It’s also ideal for holidays and special gatherings. Think Christmas morning, Easter brunch, birthday breakfasts, baby showers, or a cozy weekend in. Because it’s made in a bundt or loaf pan and meant to be torn apart by hand, it’s inherently communal and perfect for sharing.

And let’s not forget the fun of baking this recipe with kids. It’s tactile, it’s messy (in a good way), and it’s a wonderful way to introduce young ones to the kitchen. They can roll the dough, coat it in cinnamon sugar, and watch it transform in the oven into something magical.

Tips for the Best Monkey Bread

To ensure the best possible result, a few simple tips can elevate your Monkey Bread from good to unforgettable:

• Grease your pan generously: Whether you’re using a bundt pan or a loaf pan, make sure to coat it thoroughly with butter or cooking spray. This ensures that the caramelized edges won’t stick and that the loaf releases cleanly when inverted.

• Layer the dough properly: For even baking and flavor distribution, be sure to alternate layers of dough and brown sugar as you assemble the bread.

• Don’t skip the cooling time: Once baked, allow the bread to cool slightly before inverting it. This helps the syrupy bottom firm up just enough to stay together without falling apart.

• Use high-quality butter: Since butter is a key flavor component, using a good quality, unsalted butter will enhance the overall richness of the dish.

• Experiment with the glaze: While optional, the powdered sugar and milk glaze adds a smooth, sweet finish. You can also flavor the glaze with vanilla extract, maple syrup, or citrus zest for extra flair.

Health and Nutritional Overview

Although Monkey Bread isn’t exactly health food, its nutritional profile isn’t overly indulgent when enjoyed in moderation. Each serving provides around 292 calories, with most of the energy coming from fats and sugars. With a few tweaks, like reducing the butter amount or using lower-sugar biscuit dough, it can be made slightly lighter while still maintaining its crave-worthy quality.

Since it contains relatively low sodium and cholesterol compared to more processed desserts, it’s a treat you can feel okay about enjoying once in a while. If you’re serving it to children, the finger-friendly format also helps with portion control, allowing everyone to enjoy a piece or two without overdoing it.

A Nostalgic Tradition in Every Bite

There’s something undeniably comforting about Monkey Bread, especially for those who grew up with it. It evokes memories of lazy weekends, cozy family mornings, and the warmth of home kitchens filled with sweet, cinnamon-spiced aromas. For the creator of this particular recipe, it represents more than just a dish — it’s a tradition born during nannying days, cherished by the children they cared for, and carried forward as a weekend staple.

It’s also a testament to the beauty of simple baking — that you don’t need a long list of ingredients or fancy tools to make something memorable. All it takes is a few pantry staples and a bit of love.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Whether you’re a first-time baker or a seasoned home cook, this recipe is approachable and practically foolproof. It’s designed to be made with kids, shared with family, and served with joy. You’ll love how quickly it comes together, how satisfyingly sticky it is to pull apart, and how each bite balances buttery richness with a warm spice.

Even better, it’s completely adaptable. Want to add chopped pecans or walnuts? Go for it. Prefer to drizzle a maple glaze or top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream? You absolutely can. This is the kind of recipe that grows with your family — changing slightly every time, yet always delivering comfort.

Conclusion

This easy Monkey Bread recipe is a heartwarming classic that brings people together, one sticky, cinnamon-sugar-coated bite at a time. Its simplicity, speed, and unbeatable flavor make it the perfect go-to for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. Beyond its deliciousness, it carries the charm of nostalgia and the joy of shared moments — whether that’s a quiet Saturday morning or a festive family gathering.

With just five main ingredients and a few steps, you get a treat that looks impressive, tastes heavenly, and fills your home with the aroma of warmth and sweetness. It’s no wonder this recipe has stood the test of time — it’s not just a dish, it’s a tradition.