Name: Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 tablespoons butter for greasing; 2 16 oz. packages refrigerated biscuit dough (Pillsbury Grand's Buttermilk Biscuits - do NOT use flaky layers); 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon cardamom; 1 cup chopped pecans (optional); 16 tablespoons unsalted butter (or salted butter and omit added salt); 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

There’s something irresistibly comforting about a sticky, sweet, pull-apart treat like this. This Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe is one of my go-to recipes when I want something cozy, nostalgic, and ridiculously easy to make with just a few simple ingredients that come together beautifully every time.

A white plate holds a thick ring of monkey bread made of many soft, sticky, golden brown dough balls clumped together, each coated in a shiny, dark caramel sauce with small bits of chopped pecans scattered generously over the top. The dough pieces show a lightly spongy texture inside where some have been pulled apart. The plate sits on a white marbled surface, and some pecan bits and smaller dough balls are scattered around the main ring. 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 Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I can’t tell you how many times this easy monkey bread has saved a brunch or dessert emergency in my kitchen. It’s soft, gooey, bursting with warm cinnamon, and so simple you’ll feel like a baking rockstar without breaking a sweat.

Super Simple to Make: Uses refrigerated biscuit dough to cut out all the fuss of yeast doughs, making it quick and approachable for any level.
Perfect Pull-Apart Texture: Rolling biscuit quarters into balls means you get those fluffy, tender bits that come apart easily—pure joy!
Flavor-Packed Layers: Cinnamon, cardamom, and buttery caramel sauce soak every bite with gooey sweetness and a bit of spice.
Fun & Family Friendly: Everyone loves pulling the bread apart with their fingers, making it a great crowd-pleaser at any gathering.

A round, bundt-shaped cake with a deep brown color is shown on a white plate, placed on a white marbled surface. The cake has many thick layers stacked close together with a sticky, shiny brown glaze covering the whole top and sides. On top, there are many pieces of chopped pecans spread evenly, adding texture and a contrasting light brown color. The glaze looks smooth and thick, dripping slightly over the edges of the cake. The center hole of the bundt cake is clearly visible, showing the cake’s curved shape. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe plays a role in building that comforting, sweet, and tender texture we all crave. I always recommend using the exact biscuit type and spices to get that perfect balance. Plus, the little trick with the pecans adds a smoky crunch that lifts the whole experience.

Flat lay of two stacks of fluffy pale buttermilk biscuit dough rounds, a small mound of golden granulated sugar, a small heap of warm brown ground cinnamon powder, a tiny pile of light green whole cardamom pods, a small cluster of shelled chopped pecans, a pat of creamy pale yellow unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with light golden melted butter, a small white ceramic bowl holding packed light brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of fine white salt, and a small white ceramic bowl containing clear vanilla extract liquid, 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: Pillsbury Grand’s Buttermilk Biscuits work best—avoid flaky layers as they don’t hold up well.
Granulated sugar: For that initial sweet crust coating on the dough balls.
Ground cinnamon: The star spice that gives this recipe its signature flavor.
Cardamom: A subtle warm spice twist that elevates the cinnamon nicely.
Chopped pecans (optional): Adds crunch and texture between layers, but feel free to skip or swap with walnuts.
Butter: Both for greasing the pan and creating the luscious caramel sauce—unsalted gives you better control of salt level.
Light brown sugar: Gives the caramel a rich molasses flavor and great color.
Salt: Just a pinch to balance the sweetness.
Vanilla extract: Adds depth and warmth to the caramel sauce for a fuller flavor.

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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 Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe is how you can easily make it your own. I usually mix things up depending on the occasion, and you should too—experimenting is half the fun!

Variation: I’ve swapped pecans for chopped apples or even raisins for an autumn twist that feels just as cozy.
Dietary tweak: Use a dairy-free butter and make sure your biscuit dough is vegan-friendly to accommodate dietary needs.
Sweetness level: Sometimes I cut back a bit on brown sugar if I want a less gooey version, and the bread still shines wonderfully.
Spice swaps: Try adding nutmeg or a pinch of cloves for a holiday-season vibe that really sings.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe

Step 1: Get Your Pan Ready

I always start by preheating my oven to 350°F and greasing a 12-cup Bundt pan with softened butter using a pastry brush or a crumpled piece of wax paper if I’m in a pinch. This step is super important—the caramel sauce can stick badly if the pan isn’t well coated, so don’t be shy about covering every nook and cranny. I also sprinkle about half a cup of pecans at the bottom to add a little crunch right where the bread will caramelize.

Step 2: Prepare the Biscuit Dough Balls

Cut each biscuit into four quarters—I find a pizza cutter works best for speed and clean cuts. Then I like to roll each quarter into a little ball. This tip came from trial and error, and honestly, the rolling makes the texture fluffier and the pieces look way prettier inside the bread.

Step 3: Coat and Layer with Love

Mix granulated sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom in a large freezer bag. In batches of about a dozen, I add the biscuit balls to the bag and shake gently to coat them evenly. Then I line the coated balls in the Bundt pan, sprinkling pecans between the layers and staggering the balls so they don’t sit directly on top of each other—this helps them bake evenly and makes pulling it apart so satisfying.

Step 4: Whip Up That Caramel Sauce

In a small saucepan, I combine half a cup of the leftover cinnamon-sugar mix with brown sugar, butter, and salt. I melt it over medium heat, stirring, and once it reaches a boil, I take it off the heat right away. Then I stir in vanilla extract until everything is perfectly smooth and glossy. The aroma fills the kitchen and gets everyone excited.

Step 5: Pour & Bake

Pour the caramel sauce evenly over the dough balls in the Bundt pan. I like to tilt and gently shake the pan so the sauce wraps around all the nooks and crannies and even sinks to the bottom for that perfect caramel layer. Bake at 350°F for about 30-35 minutes until golden and cooked through. I always use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the internal temp reaches around 190°F to 200°F—that means perfectly baked and gooey inside.

Step 6: Cool, Invert, and Enjoy!

After baking, let it cool for about 10 minutes to firm up a bit otherwise it can be sticky to handle. Then invert the Bundt pan onto a plate—this part always feels like a mini triumph! If there’s any caramel left in the pan, I brush it all over the top to keep it glossy and luscious. Serve warm and watch everyone dig in with sticky fingers and happy smiles.

Top Tip

Having made this Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe countless times, I can say a few small tricks make a big difference in your final result. Here are my personal favorites to help you nail it and impress just like I do for friends and family.

Choose the Right Biscuits: The 'fluffy' Pillsbury Grand’s Buttermilk Biscuits hold together better and puff nicely—don’t use the flaky layered type or your bread might fall apart.
Roll the Dough Balls: It creates more surface area for cinnamon sugar coating and gives a prettier pull-apart texture.
Grease Every Inch: The caramel sauce is sticky and will cling stubbornly to ungreased spots—cover the Bundt pan liberally to avoid mess and headaches.
Don’t Overbake: Check around 30 mins; overcooked bread can dry out, but underbaking leaves dough gooey inside. Use a thermometer if you have one.

How to Serve Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe

cinnamon monkey bread - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple and let the bread shine on its own. Sometimes I lightly dust powdered sugar over the top for a pretty finish or drizzle a thin glaze made of powdered sugar and milk. On holiday mornings, a sprinkle of toasted pecans on top adds just the right crunch.

Side Dishes

This monkey bread pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or chai tea. I also like to balance the sweetness with fresh fruit salad or a bowl of tangy Greek yogurt on the side if serving for brunch.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I’ve turned monkey bread into mini individual Bundts using a muffin tin—so charming and easy for guests to grab. Another time, I served it with little ramekins of warm cream cheese dip—everything tastes better dipped, right?

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover monkey bread keeps well at room temperature covered loosely with foil or plastic wrap for up to two days, but I usually transfer it to airtight containers once cool. The bread stays soft and gooey, just less warm.

Freezing

I’ve frozen individual biscuit balls before coating and layering them in the pan for a make-ahead option—just thaw and proceed with the caramel sauce and bake. Alternatively, the fully baked bread freezes well wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil; thaw overnight before reheating.

Reheating

Reheat slices or portions in the oven at 300°F for 10–15 minutes to regain that fresh-baked warmth and gooeyness. Microwave works in a pinch but can make the crust a little soggy—oven is worth the wait!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use homemade biscuit dough instead of refrigerated?

Absolutely! Homemade biscuit dough can work beautifully if you want to make everything from scratch. Just make sure your dough is chilled and easy to cut into quarters. The key is to replicate that fluffy, slightly sturdy biscuit texture for the best pull-apart effect.

What’s the best pan to use for monkey bread?

A 12-cup Bundt pan is ideal because its shape helps the caramel sauce pool and the dough cook evenly. The deep fluted sides create those delightful layers and nooks every monkey bread needs. Make sure it’s very well greased for easy release.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

This recipe relies on biscuit dough that contains gluten for structure and texture, so you’d need to use a high-quality gluten-free biscuit or bread dough alternative. Some readers have had success with gluten-free biscuit doughs, but results may vary, especially in the gooey pull-apart consistency.

How do I prevent the monkey bread from sticking to the pan?

Greasing the Bundt pan thoroughly is key — use plenty of softened butter and get into those nooks and crevices with a pastry brush or wax paper. Some people also lightly dust the pan with flour or sugar after buttering. Be patient letting it cool about 10 minutes before inverting to avoid breakage.

Final Thoughts

This Easy Cinnamon Monkey Bread Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s the perfect mix of nostalgic comfort and effortless baking magic. Whether it’s for a weekend brunch, a special occasion, or a cozy night in, you’ll love how quickly it comes together and how universally adored it is by everyone who tries it. Give it a go and watch it disappear fast—you’ll want to make it again and again!