Grandma’s Delicious Caramel Monkey Bread Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for an easy dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth, this one is it! Gooey and sweet, this cinnamon sugar concoction is the perfect breakfast treat or mealtime dessert.

I love how it’s super simple and quick to whip together and if you’ve been hunting for the best monkey bread recipe ever, this one is it!

I got this recipe from my grandmother years ago. She would make this special treat during sleepovers and it was always a hit. Sometimes called Monkey Rolls, it’s most often known as Monkey Bread.

What Is Monkey Bread?

I know the name is strange but ‘monkey bread’ is a fun twist on the classic caramel roll.

Monkey bread gets its name because of the method in which it is eaten… Picking off chunks of buttery, gooey dough with your fingers, not unlike a monkey grooming his buddy (which is actually a weird thing to name a food after, if you really think about it.)

But don’t let that fool you, monkey bread is one of the most delectable treats you’ll ever encounter.

Why Choose This Monkey Bread Recipe?

There are SO many reasons why this is the ultimate monkey bread recipe.

1. It’s so easy to make! This recipe is so popular because anyone can make it. I’ve even handed the job to my 10 year old who whipped it up with success. Whether you want to prepare this dish the night before so you can just pop it into the oven in the morning without work or you’re just looking for a quick dessert option, this popular recipe is a winner.
2. Monkey Bread can be made fast. The prep time to whip up this unbeatable dessert is minimal. You can have it ready for baking in just a few minutes.
3. It uses canned biscuit dough. While you definitely COULD make your own dough for this monkey bread recipe, I figure ‘why reinvent the wheel’… It truly doesn’t get any easier than popping open a couple cans of refrigerated biscuits!
4. Almost everyone loves it! With the exception of just one or two, everyone I’ve ever served this monkey bread recipe to has loved it. My grandma has been whipping it up for decades because it’s so popular. Perfectly gooey, and delightfully sweet, it’s everyone’s favorite!

Perfect For All Occasions

While many people reach for this monkey bread recipe for holidays and special occasions like Christmas morning or Easter brunch, I suggest making it more often.

It’s something I like to surprise the family with at least once a month, usually on a lazy Saturday morning. If you’re into camping, you could totally whip it up over the campfire in a Dutch oven too!

Just 5 Simple Ingredients Needed For Monkey Bread

The list of ingredients needed for this recipe is short and sweet! So much so that you may have everything you need already at home.

Ingredient List

• 32 ounces refrigerated jumbo biscuits (I use 2 of the 16 ounce cans. Any brand will do but make sure to use the regular, NOT flaky layers.)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter (Yep! That’s 2 whole sticks! You can use either salted butter or unsalted butter.)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. I prefer to use convection bake so the fan is pushing the air evenly around my oven.
2. Prepare a fluted tube pan or bundt pan by spraying with a thin layer of non-stick cooking spray or grease with a thin layer of butter.
3. Pop open the refrigerated biscuits and cut each one into 4 equal pieces. (So each can should equal 32 pieces for a total of 64.)
4. In a small bowl, combine the 1 cup granulated sugar with 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix well.
5. Dip each of the cut biscuit pieces into the cinnamon sugar mixture, making sure all sides are coated. Then place evenly into the prepared pan.
6. Make the caramel syrup. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and butter. Add the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture too. Gently heat this concoction on medium/low, stirring constantly. Bring the syrup to a bowl and then immediately remove from the stove.
7. Carefully drizzle the warm caramel over the cinnamon sugar dough balls.
8. Place the pan in the center of your preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes or till the dough is cooked through.
9. Remove from oven and let set for 5 minutes.
10. Then cover the pan with a serving platter or large plate and invert (flip the pan upside down so your monkey bread is now on the plate).
11. Enjoy! Serve immediately by pulling apart or slicing.

Monkey Bread Variations And Twists

While I’m a creature of habit and I don’t usually like to mess with perfection, there are some twists you can put on this buttery cinnamon sugar goodness to add some additional flair.

Consider trying one of the following:

• Swap out the cinnamon for apple pie or pumpkin pie seasoning.
• Add some fresh fruit to the biscuit layers.
• Drizzle the top with caramel or chocolate ice cream syrups.
• Mix in some chocolate chips as you layer the bread.
• Make it a s’more treat by layering the bread with mini marshmallows, chunks of graham crackers, and mini chocolate chips.

Full Monkey Bread Recipe & Instructions

Caramel Monkey Bread Recipe

This caramel monkey bread recipe is sweet, gooey, and almost sinfully delicious! Filled with cinnamon and sugar, both young and old adore this treat. Be warned, it's dangerously addictive!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Recipes

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Additional Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 409kcal

Ingredients

• 32 ounces canned refrigerated biscuit dough
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Prepare a fluted tube pan or bundt pan by spraying with a thin layer of non-stick cooking spray.
• Open the biscuits and cut each one into 4 equal pieces. (So each can should equal 32 pieces for a total of 64.)
• In a small bowl, combine the 1 cup granulated sugar with 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix well.
• Dip each of the cut pieces into the cinnamon sugar mixture, making sure all sides are coated. Then place into prepared pan.
• Make the caramel syrup. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and butter. Add remaining cinnamon sugar mixture too. Gently heat over medium/low, stirring constantly. Bring to a bowl and then immediately remove from the stove. Carefully drizzle the warm caramel over the cinnamon sugar dough balls.
• Place pan in the center of your preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes or till dough is cooked through.
• Remove from oven and let set for 5 minutes. Then cover the pan with a serving platter or large plate and invert (flip pan upside down so your monkey bread is now on the plate).
• Enjoy! Serve immediately by pulling apart or slicing.

Notes

• If preparing the night before, follow all the steps except baking. Instead, cover your prepped dough and refrigerate overnight. Bake as directed but add a few extra minutes.
• Cooking times will vary based on different ovens as well as your pan choice. Be sure to cook through. The tops should start to brown and crisp. You can also use a thermometer to verify the middle has reached 190 degrees F.
• If the tops appear to be done but the center is still raw, cover your monkey bread with aluminum foil to prevent scorching.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 409kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 770mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g

Related Posts

As I mentioned, Monkey Bread works well as a breakfast treat. It pairs well with this hearty sausage breakfast pizza, bite size egg muffins, and some fresh fruit.

Another easy recipe that uses refrigerator biscuit dough is this air fryer donut recipe. It’s so quick and delicious, you should definitely try it too!

Be sure to check out all of the best recipes on the internet for even more yummy inspiration.