Homemade Monkey Bread Recipe

If you love ooey-gooey, caramel-coated bites of pillowy-soft dough, this Homemade Monkey Bread is going to become your most requested treat. Every decadent piece pulls apart so satisfyingly, bursting with cinnamon-sugar flavor and a drizzle of sweet vanilla icing. It’s playful, festive, and impossible to resist — perfect for breakfast, brunches, or just about any gathering where you want to spark pure joy.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Everything in this Homemade Monkey Bread recipe is there for a reason, from the rich, pillowy dough to that unforgettable cinnamon-sugar coating. Let’s take a quick look at these all-star ingredients and why each one matters for flavor, texture, or that signature gooeyness.

• Whole milk: Warms and enriches the dough, making every bite extra soft and decadent.
• Platinum Yeast (or active dry yeast): Gives lift and structure so your bread bakes up fluffy and light.
• Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness to both the dough and coating, plus boosts yeast activity for a stronger rise.
• Eggs: Bind everything together, enhance texture, and help with the beautiful golden color.
• Unsalted butter: Provides richness in the dough and, when melted, makes for that glorious sticky, buttery finish inside and out.
• Salt: Balances out all the sweetness and brings out underlying flavors.
• All-purpose flour: Your trusty base — keeps the bread perfectly soft but sturdy enough to hold all the gooey cinnamon sugar and butter.
• Brown sugar: Melts into the butter for that signature caramel-like sauce you’ll crave.
• Ground cinnamon: The unmistakable, cozy aroma you expect — it perfumes every bite!
• Pure vanilla extract: Adds warmth and depth to both the coating and the vanilla glaze.
• Confectioners’ sugar: For the smooth, dreamy icing that’s drizzled on top.

Variations

This recipe is wonderfully forgiving and totally open to a little creative flair! Whether you want to tweak the flavors or make it fit your dietary needs, Homemade Monkey Bread transforms deliciously with a few easy changes.

• Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts between dough layers before baking for a toasty, crunchy surprise.
• Chocolate Lover’s Version: Toss in mini chocolate chips between the coated dough balls for melty, chocolatey bites throughout.
• Cream Cheese Swirl: Add dollops of sweetened cream cheese between some dough balls for a tangy, gooey twist.
• Dairy-Free Twist: Substitute the milk and butter with your favorite non-dairy alternatives — the results are still dreamy and rich!

How to Make Homemade Monkey Bread

Step 1: Make the Dough

Start by whisking together warm milk, yeast, and sugar in your stand mixer’s bowl — this gets the magic of yeast rolling so the dough becomes beautifully fluffy. After a quick five-minute “wake-up” for the yeast, add the eggs, melted butter, salt, and a cup of flour. Mix, scrape down the bowl, then add the rest of your flour until that soft, sticky dough starts to pull away from the sides. No mixer? No stress! A sturdy wooden spoon and determination work wonders here.

Step 2: Knead Until Dreamy

Now it’s time to knead, either in your mixer for 5 to 7 minutes or by hand on a lightly floured surface. The goal: a dough that’s smooth, slightly tacky, and holds its shape. Do the windowpane test for fun — if you can stretch a bit thin enough to see light through it without it tearing, you’ve nailed it! The dough should bounce back slowly when poked with your finger.

Step 3: Let It Rise

Lightly grease a large bowl, plop in your dough, give it a quick turn to coat, and cover it up. Let the dough rest in a warm spot for 1 to 2 hours until it doubles in size — you’ll actually see the magic happen as it puffs up!

Step 4: Prepare the Coating and Shape the Dough Balls

While the dough is rising, grease your Bundt pan generously and melt the first half of your butter. In another bowl, mix the cinnamon and granulated sugar. Once your dough is ready, punch it down, then pull off small pieces and roll them into little balls — aim for about 40-45, so keep them modest in size. Dip each dough ball into butter and then roll in cinnamon sugar until coated, layering them right into the pan. Cover and let your soon-to-be monkey bread rest while you preheat the oven.

Step 5: Top Off and Bake

Melt the remaining butter, swirl in the brown sugar and vanilla, and pour that luscious caramel over the arranged dough balls. Bake at 350°F on a lower oven rack for 35-45 minutes. The bread turns golden and your house will smell like absolute heaven! Let it cool for about 10 minutes, then invert onto a plate — get ready for a dramatic (and delicious) moment!

Step 6: Drizzle with Icing and Serve

Whisk together confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla for a silky glaze. Drizzle it liberally over warm monkey bread. Slice into generous servings or let everyone dig in and pull pieces off — after all, that hands-on sharing is the true spirit of Homemade Monkey Bread!

How to Serve Homemade Monkey Bread

Garnishes

A drizzle of vanilla glaze is classic, but you can also scatter toasted nuts, a sprinkle of extra cinnamon-sugar, or even a pinch of flaky sea salt on top for sparkle and flair. For special occasions, a dusting of powdered sugar right before serving feels festive and photogenic!

Side Dishes

Pair Homemade Monkey Bread with savory breakfast favorites like scrambled eggs, bacon, or a bright fruit salad for a well-rounded brunch spread. It’s also dreamy alongside a big mug of coffee or a glass of cold milk for the ultimate comfort food moment.

Creative Ways to Present

Flip it out of the Bundt pan onto a cake stand and let guests “pull apart” their own pieces for a hands-on party treat. For something extra-cute, try making individual mini monkey breads using a muffin tin — they’re perfect for grab-and-go brunches or parties, and everyone gets their own personal pull-apart!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Homemade Monkey Bread stays fresh, soft, and sticky when wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to a day, or for 3-4 days if kept in the refrigerator. If refrigerating, let it come to room temperature or give it a quick warm-up before serving for maximum gooeyness.

Freezing

Monkey bread is freezer-friendly! Freeze the shaped, uncoated dough balls after the first rise — simply thaw, dunk in butter and cinnamon-sugar, and bake as directed. Baked monkey bread also freezes well: wrap it tightly, freeze for up to 2 months, then reheat with a little foil to revive that fluffy texture and sticky richness.

Reheating

For best results, gently reheat slices or individual chunks in the microwave for about 20–30 seconds, or cover the whole loaf with foil and warm in a 300°F oven until gooey again. You want it cozy and sticky, just like when it first came out of the oven!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Few things bring as much delight to a table as a warm, sticky loaf of Homemade Monkey Bread. If you’ve never tried it made from scratch, now’s your moment to wow everyone with something cozy, playful, and absolutely irresistible. Give it a try—you’ll fall in love with every gooey, cinnamon-swirled bite!

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