Get ready to go bananas when you sink your teeth into this Monkey Bread.
Where were you when you discovered monkey bread? These are the moments that stick with you. Speaking of “stick” (see what I did there?), your fingers will be coated in icing sugar and cinnamon within seconds of these treats coming out of the oven. If you’ve always had a soft spot for the softness of Pillsbury’s baked goods, you’ll love this recipe for monkey bread.
Why is it called monkey bread, you ask? Well, it’s complicated. The dessert is said to have Hungarian roots as a dish called aranygaluska (“golden dumplings”). It was then brought to America by Hungarian immigrants in the 1800s, and it has been a popular dessert Stateside ever since. And it was likely Americans who bestowed upon it its new name, “monkey bread.”
The name could be because it’s a communal dish that everyone pulls apart—similar to how monkeys eat their food. It doesn’t really matter. What DOES matter is that you try this recipe immediately. Soon, you’ll be bringing it to potlucks and putting it out for your own parties. Between bites, your guests can come up with their own theories as to why it’s called monkey bread. It’s a dessert AND a conversation starter. How many baked goods can boast that?
Is This Monkey Bread Healthy?
Like most sugar-coated desserts, this is a solid “sometimes” food. Biscuit dough, sugar, butter, milk, and cream cheese are all high in the stuff we want to enjoy in moderation. But please do enjoy it for the occasional treat, because it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
Monkey Bread Is A Blank Canvas
One of the benefits of such a simple recipe is that it grants you room to play with the ingredients. Try adding some fresh fruit (berries work best) or even pie filling for a light touch. Chocolate chips, crushed nuts, and dried fruits are always a great addition to your monkey bread, too. And if you like gooey desserts, forgo the sugar coating and replace it with caramel sauce!
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Let the monkey bread come to room temperature, then place it in an airtight container. The bread can be stored on the counter for around 3 days; storing it in the fridge will accelerate it going stale, as bread tends to dry out in the fridge. That said, if you want to store it for much later, you can freeze monkey bread. First, wrap it in aluminum or plastic, then put it in an airtight container. It should keep for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
Monkey bread is delicious on its own, but feel free to play with the toppings and variations. And dips! You could whip up a homemade Salted Caramel Sauce, Strawberry Sauce, or even a Cranberry Sauce With Maple And Orange for dipping.
Ingredients
The Dough:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tbsp cinnamon powder
- pinch of salt
- 1 can biscuit dough
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
The Cream Cheese Glaze:
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese
- 1/2 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 6 muffin cups with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cut the biscuits into bite-sized pieces. Pour the melted butter into a bowl. Dip each biscuit dough piece in the melted butter then coat with cinnamon sugar.
- Fill each muffin cup with the coated biscuit pieces. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven until the biscuits are cooked.
- Transfer the monkey bread muffins to a cooling rack and let them cool down.
- Meanwhile, prepare the cream cheese glazing. Combine the ingredients for the glaze in a saucepan and melt over medium-high heat.
- Drizzle the glaze over the muffins and serve warm.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
I made this recipe for a get together. I used orange juice instead of the milk for the icing, and added a drop of almond flavor to the icing. I then and added some orange zest on top. One person said it’s the best monkey bread she’s ever had! Thank you for the recipe!! Easy and tasty!
I’m so happy to hear that you and your friends enjoyed the Monkey Bread recipe and that you made it your own with orange juice and almond flavor! Adding orange zest on top was a brilliant idea!