Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
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Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread is the ultimate indulgence, combining the ease of premade dough with the rich flavors of cinnamon, sugar, and a homemade caramel sauce.
Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this pull-apart bread is a family favorite that’s both simple to make and irresistibly delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
- Family-Friendly Fun: This is one of those recipes where kids can easily get involved. I love how they can add the rolls to the Bundt pan and drizzle the icing over the finished product. It’s a wonderful bonding experience in the kitchen.
- Simple to Make: No need to worry about yeast or complicated steps—this recipe uses store-bought cinnamon rolls, making it a breeze to whip up.
- Customizable: While I love the combination of cinnamon rolls and caramel sauce, you can easily switch things up with different icing flavors, food coloring, or even add-ins like apple pie filling for a caramel apple twist.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- White sugar: To coat the cinnamon rolls in extra sweetness.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds that warm, spicy flavor that everyone loves.
- Tube of cinnamon rolls with icing: I typically use Pillsbury or Grands, but any brand will do. If you get large ones, you may need to cut down. See images.
- Brown sugar & Butter: Essential for the homemade caramel sauce that makes this monkey bread irresistible.
How to make Monkey Bread with Cinnamon Rolls
Preheat Your Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a Bundt cake pan thoroughly to ensure the monkey bread doesn’t stick.
Prepare the Cinnamon Rolls: Cut each cinnamon roll into quarters. In a large mixing bowl, combine white sugar and ground cinnamon. Toss the mini cinnamon roll pieces in the sugar mixture until well coated.
Assemble the Monkey Bread: Layer the coated cinnamon roll pieces in the prepared Bundt pan.
Make the Caramel Sauce: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar until fully dissolved.
Pour the caramel sauce evenly over the cinnamon rolls in the pan.
Bake: Place the Bundt pan in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and cooked through.
Cool and Invert: Allow the monkey bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a serving plate.
Add the Icing: Warm the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls and drizzle it over the top of the monkey bread.
If you want to get creative, dye the icing with food coloring to match the occasion.
Tips for the Best Monkey Bread
- Use a Good Bundt Pan: A well-greased Bundt pan is key to ensuring your monkey bread releases easily.
- Extra Sugar, Extra Flavor: Don’t skimp on the sugar and cinnamon coating—it adds an extra layer of flavor that makes each bite delicious.
- Make It Your Own: You can customize the icing with different flavors or colors. For a festive touch, try adding sprinkles or dye the icing in seasonal colors. I like this wilton food dye.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of dough? While I love the convenience of using premade cinnamon rolls, you could experiment with other plain store-bought doughs, like biscuit dough or crescent dough, but you may need to adjust the baking time.
How do I store leftovers? Store any leftover monkey bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. You can also refrigerate it for up to a week. To reheat, simply warm it in the microwave for a few seconds.
Can I freeze monkey bread? Yes! Wrap the cooled monkey bread tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing. It can be frozen for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature and reheat in the oven before serving.
Variations to Try
- Caramel Apple Monkey Bread: Add a layer of apple pie filling before the caramel sauce for a fall-inspired treat.
- Pumpkin Spice Monkey Bread: Mix a bit of pumpkin spice into the sugar coating for a seasonal twist.
- Nutty Monkey Bread: Add chopped pecans or walnuts between the layers for a crunchy texture.
Monkey Bread with Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- Bundt Cake Pan
Ingredients
For the Monkey Bread:
- 32 oz. tubes of cinnamon rolls with icing (such as Pillsbury Grands, typically in 12 oz versions, so will need more than 1 tube)
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
For the Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a Bundt cake pan thoroughly to ensure the monkey bread releases easily after baking.
- Open the tubes of cinnamon rolls and set the icing container aside. Cut each cinnamon roll into quarters. In a large mixing bowl, combine the white sugar and ground cinnamon. Toss the cinnamon roll pieces in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until they are well coated.
- Place the coated mini cinnamon roll pieces evenly in the prepared Bundt pan.
- In a small saucepan, melt ½ cup (1 stick) of butter over medium heat. Stir in 1 cup of packed brown sugar until fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Pour the caramel sauce evenly over the cinnamon roll pieces in the Bundt pan.
- Place the Bundt pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the monkey bread is golden brown and cooked through. The top should be crispy, and the caramel sauce should be bubbling around the edges. Every oven is different, so always start on the lower end of the timing and adjust.
- Let the monkey bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Cooling helps monkey bread to retain its shape. When its hot, it can fall apart so cooling is important. Then, carefully invert the pan onto a serving plate. If the bread doesn't release immediately, let it sit for a few more minutes and try again.
- While the monkey bread is still warm, drizzle the reserved icing over the top. If desired, you can warm the icing slightly in the microwave for easier drizzling or dye it colors for a holiday.
Notes
Prevent Over Baking
This is one dessert (or breakfast) you do not want to over bake. The little pieces of dough bake quickly and can get hard if you cook too long. Then it turns into Monkey rocks.Pans Matter
When you use darker pans, you have to adjust the temperature by 25 degrees. In the case of these rolls, the can noted 375 and so I lowered to 350 to compensate for the type of Bundt pan. If the rolls say 350 and you use a dark pan, lower to 325. Black pans heat up faster and you can overcook easilyNutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
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