Name: Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 packages refrigerated biscuit dough, such as Pillsbury Grands; Christmas sprinkles, as needed; 12 Hershey Kisses, unwrapped (any flavor); 1 cup granulated sugar; 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon; 1 cup unsalted butter; ½ cup brown sugar, packed

There’s something downright magical about pulling apart warm, gooey bread that’s bursting with festive surprises. This Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe is my go-to holiday treat, combining sweet cinnamon, melty chocolate, and a hint of crunch that makes every bite irresistible. Let me walk you through why this is such a showstopper.

The image shows a close-up of a monkey bread made of small golden-brown dough pieces stuck together in a round shape, glistening with a sticky glaze. On top and around the monkey bread, there are small red, green, and white sprinkles scattered, adding a festive touch. The monkey bread is placed on a white plate with a subtle wood pattern, and the background is a blurred white marbled texture with a hint of green and red decorations, suggesting a holiday theme. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe is perfect if you want a crowd-pleasing dessert that’s part bread, part candy, and all kinds of fun. I’ve made it for gatherings big and small, and it always steals the show with its warm, comforting flavors and festive flair.

Simple Yet Stunning: Using refrigerated biscuit dough keeps the prep quick, so you get amazing results without hours in the kitchen.
Festive Decorations: Christmas sprinkles add both color and that joyful holiday spirit to every bite.
Hidden Chocolaty Surprise: Hershey Kisses melt inside the dough balls, creating pockets of creamy chocolate that everyone adores.
Perfect Shareability: Pull-apart style means everyone can grab a piece, making it ideal for family breakfasts or holiday brunches.

A close-up view of a shiny golden-brown monkey bread loaf covered with red, green, and white sprinkles scattered on all sides and the surface it's placed on. The bread looks sticky and textured with rounded pieces tightly packed together, sitting on a white plate against a white marbled surface with blurred holiday decorations in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe serves a delicious purpose. From the buttery brown sugar glaze to the cinnamon-coated dough balls, it all works together to create that perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and melty.

Flat lay of two stacks of golden refrigerated biscuit dough rounds, a small mound of colorful Christmas sprinkles, a neat pile of unwrapped silver Hershey Kisses, a small white ceramic bowl filled with granulated sugar, another small white bowl containing ground cinnamon powder, a small white bowl with melted golden butter, a small white bowl holding packed brown sugar, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Refrigerated biscuit dough: The foundation—fluffy and easy to work with, it bakes up soft and perfectly gooey.
Christmas sprinkles: These add festive color and a fun crunch that’s just irresistible, especially for kids.
Hershey Kisses: Melt into the dough balls, delivering a surprise burst of chocolate in every bite.
Granulated sugar: Mixed with cinnamon to coat the dough balls—this gives that sweet-spicy crust.
Ground cinnamon: Essential for that warm holiday flavor that pairs perfectly with sugar and butter.
Unsalted butter: Creates the rich, luscious sauce that soaks into the bread for ultimate indulgence.
Brown sugar: Adds deep, caramel notes in the sauce, balancing sweetness with a bit of toasty richness.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best things about this Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe is how easily you can make it your own. I love swapping out the sprinkles for different seasonal colors or even adding nuts for extra crunch. You’ll find your own favorite twists develop over time!

Variation: I once tried adding chopped peppermint candies right alongside the Hershey Kisses—talk about holiday magic! It gave a lovely minty pop that everyone enjoyed.
Dairy-Free: Use a plant-based butter substitute to keep this recipe accessible for those with dietary restrictions without losing any richness.
Gluten-Free: While this recipe uses biscuit dough, you could experiment with gluten-free dough alternatives, though texture will change slightly.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Preheat Oven

I always start by generously spraying my bundt pan with non-stick spray—trust me, you don’t want this sticky, buttery goodness catching to the pan later. Then I preheat my oven to 350°F so it’s nice and ready for the dough balls.

Step 2: Cut and Fill the Dough Balls

Here’s where the fun begins! I quarter each biscuit — and a pizza cutter really speeds this up. Then I flatten each piece slightly, pop in a few sprinkles, tuck in a Hershey Kiss, and roll it all into a neat little ball. This step feels kind of like edible gift-wrapping, and it’s a joy to do!

Step 3: Coat and Layer in the Pan

Mixing sugar and cinnamon in a plastic bag makes coating these dough balls a breeze. Shake a handful in, zip it up, and toss until they’re fully coated in that sweet cinnamon goodness. Layer these into the prepared bundt pan as you go—it’s like building your own pile of Christmas cheer!

Step 4: Make the Brown Sugar Butter Sauce

On the stove, melt butter and brown sugar together until it’s smooth and shiny. Pouring this over your cinnamon-coated dough balls is pure magic—this sauce caramelizes as it bakes, soaking into every nook and cranny.

Step 5: Bake and Enjoy

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the top is a deep golden brown—that’s your cue that the magic happened. Let it cool for about 10 minutes so it’s easier to flip out. Then, putting a plate on top and flipping the pan over reveals your masterpiece. Sprinkle a few more Christmas sprinkles for good measure and dig in!

Top Tip

From making this Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe dozens of times, I’ve picked up some handy tips to keep it perfect every time. Little adjustments make a big difference—let’s get into my favorites.

Use a pizza cutter: Cutting biscuit dough quartered pieces with a pizza cutter saves so much time and keeps pieces uniform.
Don’t skip flattening the dough: Flattening before adding chocolate and sprinkles helps everything stick together better and bakes more evenly.
Keep an eye on baking time: Depending on your oven, check at 30 minutes to avoid overbaking and drying out your monkey bread.
Flip with confidence: After cooling, a gentle but firm flip onto a plate ensures the bread stays intact—trust me, it’s easier than it seems!

How to Serve Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe

Christmas Monkey Bread - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love to sprinkle a few extra Christmas sprinkles right on top after flipping the bread out of the pan—it adds that festive finishing touch and makes it look so inviting. Sometimes, I dust a little powdered sugar for a snowy effect.

Side Dishes

This monkey bread pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or creamy hot chocolate. For a holiday brunch, I serve it alongside scrambled eggs or a fresh fruit salad to balance out the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve gifted mini versions of this monkey bread wrapped in festive cellophane bags for neighbors, which everyone absolutely loved. For a holiday brunch spread, placing the monkey bread on a cake stand adds a bit of wow-factor — it really elevates the whole table.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually store leftovers covered tightly with plastic wrap at room temperature for up to two days. It stays surprisingly soft and delicious. Just warm a piece in the microwave for a few seconds before serving to bring back that gooey magic.

Freezing

I’ve frozen fully baked monkey bread wrapped in foil and stored in an airtight container for up to a month. When ready, thaw overnight in the fridge and warm in the oven at 300°F until heated through — you won’t even notice it was frozen!

Reheating

For leftovers, reheating in the oven at 325°F for 10-15 minutes gives the best texture—crispy on the outside, warm and gooey inside. Avoid microwaving too long or it gets tough.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe ahead of time?

Yes! You can assemble it the night before, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Bring it back to room temperature before baking the next day.

What’s the best way to prevent the monkey bread from sticking to the pan?

Using plenty of non-stick spray is key. Alternatively, you can lightly grease and flour the bundt pan or use a silicone bundt pan for easier removal.

Can I substitute the Hershey Kisses with something else?

Absolutely! Mini chocolate chips, caramel candies, or festive seasonal chocolates all work well. Just pick something that melts nicely to keep the gooey texture.

How long does the monkey bread keep its freshness?

Store at room temperature for up to two days with plastic wrap. For longer storage, freezing is best, as described above, and it will stay good for up to a month.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Monkey Bread Recipe has become a holiday staple in my kitchen, and I hope it will in yours too. It’s the kind of dessert that brings everyone together, warming hearts with every pull-apart bite. Give it a try, add your own touches, and watch it become your new festive favorite.