This homemade monkey bread recipe is the perfect weekend activity to make with kids! Watch the homemade dough rise, dip the little dough balls in butter and cinnamon sugar, and enjoy this satisfying and rich treat pull apart style!
While sheltering-in-place our family, like many families, has had the extra time for baking. This is monkey bread recipe is wonderful family baking project that kids will love because it is pretty hands on and loaded with sugar. I looked at a handful of recipes and decided to go with the version from Sallys Baking Addiction.
Directions
The directions for this homemade monkey bread recipe takes up to a few hours in total but each step is relatively simple.
First, you make the homemade dough and let it rise for a few hours. (Use a large bowl! I should have used a bigger bowl than I did for this step, the dough gets so big!!) Then, you punch dough down and break off dough bites to roll in butter and cinnamon sugar.
Load up the bundt pan with these sugary bites, let bites rise for twenty minutes, and then pour over the brown sugar glaze. Pop in the oven and bake for about 40 minutes. Once it is out of the oven, invert onto serving platter, add a little icing, and enjoy!
This monkey bread is a ridiculously indulgent treat. I’m usually aiming to be on the healthier side of things so my kids could hardly believe that I was letting them bake and eat such a sugary treat. My five year old kept repeating, “thank you Mom! Just… thank you!!” while helping to make and eat our latest favorite guilty pleasure!
Ingredients for Monkey Bread Recipe
Milk is used in the dough, I used whole organic milk.
Yeast for the dough. You can use a packet of yeast or just measure out 2 1/4 teaspoons.
Sugar lots and lots of sugar!!
Eggs for the dough.
Salt is used in the dough but a little bit of flakey salt would be good as a finishing touch too!
All Purpose Flour can be hard to come by lately but you can’t make this recipe without it!
Brown Sugar mixed with butter makes such a delicious caramel like flavor!
Vanilla Extract adds just the right amount of vanilla flavor.
Confectioner’s Sugar to make the Icing. Honestly you don’t really need the icing, but why not!?
Cream or whole milk is used in the icing.
Monkey Bread Recipe
This homemade monkey bread recipe is the perfect weekend activity to make with kids! Kids love to watch the dough rise, dip the little dough balls in butter and cinnamon sugar, and enjoy this satisfying and rich treat pull apart style! Recipe adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction.
Ingredients
Dough Balls
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk warmed, but not boiling.
- 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast or 1 packet
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup melted butter, slightly cooled
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
Cinnamon Sugar Dip
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Brown Sugar Glaze
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 3 tablespoons cream or whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the Dough
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Using a standing electric mixer, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar using the paddle or dough hook attachment. Cover and let it sit for 5 minutes.
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Add in eggs, butter, salt, and 1 cup flour. Beat for about a minute and then scrape down sides of the bowl using a spatula. Add the remaining flour and beat for a few more minutes. Eventually the dough should bowl away from the sides of bowl in a clean way. Add extra flour if needed, about a tablespoon at a time until sides of the bowl are clean.
Knead the Dough
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Beat for two more minutes in the mixer to knead the dough.
Let Dough Rise
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Place dough in a large greased bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let it rise in a slightly warm environment for about two hours, or until doubled in size. I often let mine raise in a preheated oven of 150 F degrees. Before I put the dough in the oven I turn the oven off and if it feels too hot, I leave the door slightly open.
Assemble the Monkey Bread
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Grease your large bundt pan.
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Melt 1/2 cup butter and set aside in a bowl. In another bowl add granulated sugar, a pinch of salt, and cinnamon and mix well.
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Set the risen dough on the counter, remove the covering, and punch down the down to release the air.
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Pinch of pieces of dough and roll into balls, a little bigger than an inch in diameter. Dip each individual dough ball into the melted butter, and then the cinnamon sugar. Place sugar coated dough ball into the bundt cake and repeat with the remainder of the dough.
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Cover the bundt pan with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for about 20 minutes.
Make Brown Sugar Glaze + Bake
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Preheat the oven to 350 F.
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Make brown sugar glaze by melting 1/4 cup butter in small saucepan. Add in brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt and whisk to combine.
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Pour brown sugar glaze over the monkey bread.
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Place the bundt pan over a baking sheet, so if the monkey bread overflows at all the pan will catch the pieces. Bake monkey bread for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center pieces are baked through.
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Take out of the oven and let cool for about 5-7 minutes and then invert onto serving platter of choice.
Ice the Monkey Bread
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Whisk confectioner's sugar, cream or whole milk, and vanilla together.
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Drizzle icing over the monkey bread platter. Serve and Enjoy!
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If you make this monkey bread recipe please share on instagram using hashtag #rainbowdelicious & and tag me at @rainbowdelicious , I’d love to see what you are up to in your kitchen!
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In your directions for the dough, you mention adding butter, but there isn’t any butter listed in the ingredients for the dough.
Also, you mention taking it out of the oven and let cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, then inverting them onto a platter. Should it say cool, not cook?
These look delicious!
Thanks Jane! The dough needs 1/3 cup butter and yes, it is meant to cool, not cook for 5-7 minutes! I’ve gone ahead and edited and appreciate you reaching out.
This reminds me so much of the monkey bread my mom used to make when I was a kid. I just love how gooey it is when you pull it apart. YUM!
It reminds me of my childhood too and is so fun to make again with my kids!
Yummy! I made this for my family for breakfast and they absolutely loved it!
That makes me so happy Beth! Thanks!
Best monkey bread ever!!!!!
Thanks for your kind words Stephanie!
I love the step by step photos! I can’t wait to make this bread this weekend!
I hope you love it Capri!
This monkey bread is so gooey and delicious. My family can’t stop until we finish the whole thing. 🙂
It’s so good, and filling! A treat for sure
Wow. This monkey bread sounds so delish. I can’t wait to try this easy recipe! Thanks.
It’s so good! I hope you love it Scarlet!
Oh my goodness this looks so delicious! My daughter loves monkey bread! Can’t wait to make this!
Thanks Beth!
Such an awesome monkey bread! Thanks for the step by step pix.
Thanks Katherine!
This looks mouth watering delicious!! Thank you for such a detailed recipe!
Thanks Vicky!
Such a fun recipe! Perfect for a weekend brunch. 🙂
Thanks Carrie!
This monkey bread was perfect for my sweet cravings! And that brown sugar glaze was so delicious.
Thanks Emily!