Cast Iron Monkey Bread

Cast Iron Monkey Bread made with Cinnamon Rolls, icing glaze and pecan pieces, an easy oven baked monkey bread done in just about 20 minutes!

 

Nothing says homemade like waking up to cinnamon rolls in the morning.

This easy breakfast bread, complete with extra cinnamon, sugar, and butter, make the most delicious dessert bread that can be served right beside eggs and bacon for that bit of morning sweet tooth.

Skillet Monkey Bread with Cinnamon Rolls

Just cut, dip, and toss in oven and in 30 minutes or less, you have freshly made cinnamon rolls that you can pull apart or scoop out as the perfect side dish. 

• 16 oz can of cinnamon rolls ( I use Annie’s) 
• 1/2 cup pecan pieces
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• reserved glaze from cinnamon rolls OR maple syrup
• 1/2 cup melted butter

RELATED RECIPES: Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole, Caramel Monkey Bread in Bundt Pan, Cinnamon Sugar Butter, Cinnamon Snails, Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding, Candied Walnuts

Most skillet or bunt pan monkey breads simply use turn cinnamon roll bites to create a pull apart bread. And that IS a delicious, and quite easy, way to create monkey bread.

But this version takes store bought cinnamon rolls (my favorite brand for this is Annie’s or Cinnabon version) and creates the ultimate sugary, cinnamon bite by adding a few extras. 

How to make Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

To get started, first preheat your oven to 350 degrees and prep your cast iron pan by spraying with non-stick cooking spray. If you do not have a cast iron skillet, you can use any 10 inch skillet that can be safely put in the oven. 

Open and separate cinnamon rolls and cut into quarters. I recommend doing this on a cutting board with non stick cooking spray to eliminate any rolls sticking. 

Melt 1/2 cup butter in a bowl. 

Mix sugar and cinnamon to create a cinnamon sugar mixture (plate or bowl is fine).  

Dip quartered cinnamon roll into butter and then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture and add to cast iron skillet. 

Repeat until all pieces of roll is sugar coated. 

Now spread half a cup of pecan pieces on top of cinnamon rolls in skillet. 

Place in oven for 20-25 minutes. 

Remove from oven and spread icing glaze (that came with the cinnamon rolls) on top.

If you do not use the glaze, you can instead top with maple syrup. 

Any time you are baking a bread dessert, its helpful to let it sit 5-10 minutes before serving, as it solidifies the dough and helps it not fall part when you scoop.

Also if you are going to pull apart the bread and eat with your fingers, its best to let it cool. 

That being said, my family usually cannot wait and uses a spoon to scoop out the pecan monkey bread onto a plate and eat with a fork. 

 

Monkey Bread Additives

You can easily add lots of delicious things to breakfast monkey bread and here are a few ideas. 

• Pecan Pieces – this is what I use, as directed in the recipe
• Coconut flakes – before going into the oven
• Walnuts – pieces of walnuts before going into the oven
• Diced apples – cut in small tiny pieces so they cook through while in the oven
• Canned pie fruit – can be added before going into the oven
• Chocolate Chips – add after monkey bread comes out of the oven but before its cooled so they melt
• Icing – try the icing the rolls came with, homemade lemon or powdered sugar glaze, pancake syrups of any kind
• Colored Sugar – add after out of the oven on top of glaze