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Whether it’s gooey and sweet for Sunday brunch or cheesy and savoury on a weeknight supper homemade Monkey Bread may quickly replace your pan rolls and cinnamon buns once your family gives it a try.
What is Monkey Bread?
Monkey bread is a fun take on pull part bread that is typically baked in a bundt pan. It traditionally is made in a sweet variation, with cinnamon and sugar, but it can also make a great savoury bread in place of rolls or garlic bread with your favourite soup or chilli.
Regardless of how you make it, Monkey Bread is sure to quickly become a family favourite.
Variations
Sweet
- Cinnamon Sugar: This is the classic flavour with cinnamon and brown sugar mixture
- Apple Cinnamon: Mix diced apples and cinnamon into the dough layers, creating a fruity and spiced monkey bread.
- Pumpkin Spice: Add pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice to the dough for a fall-inspired monkey bread.
- S’mores Monkey Bread: Add mini marshmallows, chocolate chunks, and crushed graham crackers between the dough layers for a campfire-inspired treat.
- Cream Cheese Stuffed: Insert cubes of cream cheese into each dough ball for a delightful surprise in every bite.
Savoury
- Everything Bagel: A fun variation on the popular breakfast flavour, just roll the dough in some everything bagel spice
- Garlic and Cheese: Roll in garlic butter and a grated blend of cheddar and mozzarella
- Savory Cheese and Herb: Create a savory version by using cheese, herbs, and perhaps even garlic butter instead of sweet ingredients.
- Pizza: A fun lunch or dinner alternative, make a garlic and Italian Herb butter, and drizzle tomato sauce through the layers, you can even sprinkle in some pepperoni, cheese and other favourite toppings!
Mini Monkey Bread
As an alternative to the bundt pan a muffin tin can be used to make small individual monkey breads.
Frequently asked Questions
Why is it called Monkey Bread?
It got it’s name from how it looks similar to the Monkey Puzzle Tree.
How can you tell when it’s cooked through?
This question is so common, my husband even asked me the first time I made it. Typically it takes about 30 minutes to bake, and you will know it’s ready when it’s golden on the top. The Bundt pan is hollow in the centre allowing it to cook in the centre faster and other pans. If you are worried about whether of not your bread is ready you can always test with a digital thermometer, it is ready when the centre is 190F.
When can it be served?
When making a sweet Monkey Bread it can be a Christmas Breakfast item, a great dessert, or even brunch item in place of French toast or pancakes. When made savoury I like to serve it with soups and chillies for dipping.
Or Better yet make both! Savoury for the real and Sweet for Dessert!
Can it be made a head or frozen?
It can be made ahead and frozen. Once the baked monkey bread has cooled completely, wrap in foil and place in a ziplock bag and freeze. It can be stored in the freezer up to 3 months. To that place in the fridge the day before to allow it to slowly thaw.
Homemade Bread Dough
One time I really enjoy making monkey bread it is when I am doubling a batch of sandwich bread. I don’t always need to make 4 leave of bread, BUT 3 would be nice to give me a buffer when the week is busy. Taking that last quarter of the dough and turning into a fun tasty treat ensures that the bread will get eaten, and makes all my humans feel a little extra special that day.
Ingredients
- Active Dry Yeast
- Water
- Sugar (or Honey)
- Olive or Avocado Oil
- Salt
- All Purpose Flour
- Melted Butter
- Garlic Powder
- Cheddar and mozzarella cheeses (or whatever cheeses you have on hand.
- Cinnamon
- Brown Sugar
- Vanilla
Tools and Time line
For Lunch or Afternoon Snack
8:30am: In the bowl of a stand mixer or a mixing bowl add room temperature water, yeast and sugar. Allow the yeast to begin to bloom (about 5-10 minutes)
8:40am Once the yeast is foamy add the oil, salt and appropriate seasonings (ex. garlic for garlic bread, vanilla for cinnamon buns) and mix with the dough hook on low.
Add the flour slowly allowing it to fully incorporate before adding more. Continue this until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl, continue to knead on the dough hook until it smooth and shiny.
8:50am Transfer the dough to a floured surface, form into a ball and then place in a greased bowl covered with plastic wrap, bees wax paper or a damp towel for rise for 1 hour in a warm place.
While the dough rises, prepare the melted butter and add ins.
9:50am: Fold the dough out onto a floured surface and with a bench scraper divide the dough in quarters. Each quarter can then be divided into 8-12 small pieces.
10am: Roll the dough piece into a ball shape then roll into the melted butter, and other add ins and place in a greased bundt pan.
10:15 am: Once all the dough has been rolled and place in the pan, cover and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
11:15am: Preheat oven at 350F and bake for 25-30 minutes (the buns will be golden brown on top.)
11:50am :Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes and then turn the bread out on a cake stand or cooling rack.
12pm: Serve while still warm
For Dinner Time
2:30pm In the bowl of a stand mixer or a mixing bowl add room temperature water, yeast and sugar. Allow the yeast to begin to bloom (about 5-10 minutes)
2:40pm: Once the yeast is foamy add the oil, salt and appropriate seasonings (ex. garlic for garlic bread, vanilla for cinnamon buns) and mix with the dough hook on low.
Add the flour slowly allowing it to fully incorporate before adding more. Continue this until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl, continue to knead on the dough hook until it smooth and shiny.
2:50 pm: Transfer the dough to a floured surface, form into a ball and then place in a greased bowl covered with plastic wrap, bees wax paper or a damp towel for rise for 1 hour in a warm place.
While the dough rises, prepare the butter and add ins.
3:50pm: Fold the dough out onto a floured surface and with a bench scraper divide the dough in quarters. Each quarter can then be divided into 8-12 small pieces.
4pm: Roll the dough piece into a ball shape then roll into the melted butter, and other add ins and place in a greased bundt pan.
4:15 pm: Once all the dough has been rolled and place in the pan, cover and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
5:15 pm: Preheat oven at 350F and bake for 25-30 minutes (the buns will be golden brown on top.)
5:45 pm: Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes and then turn the bread out on a cake stand or cooling rack.
6pm: Serve while still warm
Monkey Bread Dough Recipe
Yield: 1 Loaf
Monkey Bread
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
3 hours
Total Time3 hours 50 minutes
Ingredients
- Dough:
- 1 1/2 tsp Active dry yeast
- 1 cup room temperature water
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons oil (avocado or olive)
- 2-3 cups flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder (for savoury) OR 1 tsp Vanilla (Sweet)
- Add ins:
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- Savoury
- 1 cup grated cheddar
- 1 cup grated mozzarella
- Sweet:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp Vanilla
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer or a mixing bowl add room temperature water, yeast and sugar. Allow the yeast to begin to bloom (about 5-10 minutes)
Once the yeast is foamy add the oil, salt and appropriate seasonings (ex. garlic for garlic bread, vanilla for cinnamon buns) and mix with the dough hook on low.
Add the flour slowly allowing it to fully incorporate before adding more. Continue this until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl, continue to knead on the dough hook until it smooth and shiny.
Transfer the dough to a floured surface, form into a ball and then place in a greased bowl covered with plastic wrap, bees wax paper or a damp towel for rise for 1 hour in a warm place.
While the dough rises, prepare the butter and add ins.
For the Savoury Bread melt butter and add garlic and herbs and grate cheeses.
For the Sweet Bread melt butter and add vanilla, combine the cinnamon and sugar
Fold the dough out onto a floured surface and with a bench scraper divide the dough in quarters. Each quarter can then be divided into 8-12 pieces.
Roll the dough piece into a ball shape then roll into the melted butter, and other add ins and place in a greased bundt pan.
Once all the dough has been rolled and place in the pan, cover and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
Preheat oven at 350F and bake for 25-30 minutes (the buns will be golden brown on top.)
Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes and then turn the bread out on a cake stand or cooling rack.
Serve while still warm
Other Fun Brunch Options
- Sourdough Pancakes
- 3 Make Ahead Breakfasts
