Fall in Love With This 5-Ingredient Shortcut Monkey Bread Recipe (2024)

Monkey bread is one of those desserts that always brings a smile to my face. It was my favorite dessert they would serve at summer camp when I was younger. And you could smell the warm, cinnamon-sugar dough from outside the cafeteria hours before. This sweet, sticky and incredibly fun treat to eat is perfect for a crowd—but you don’t need any special ingredients to whip it up at home. I have the best shortcut recipe (and a few tricks) that will have you pulling apart a warm, gooey dessert in one hour. Here’s how to make shortcut monkey bread.

What is monkey bread?

Monkey bread is a pull-apart bread made with a sweet dough covered with cinnamon and sugar. The dough is then baked into a bundt pan and infused with a melted butter glaze. Here’s the fun part: once baked, you pull apart the bread into bite-sized pieces, revealing the gooey, cinnamon-sugar filling inside.

Also known as aranygaluska, or “Hungarian coffee cake,” monkey bread is believed to have originated in Hungary in the 1880s. Hungarian immigrants brought the dessert to the United States, where it became popular in the 1950s when Hungarian and Hungarian Jewish bakeries began selling it. The name most likely comes from the way the pastry is eaten (with their fingers, like monkeys).

Tips for making the best monkey bread

While I can’t say that my monkey bread turned out the same as my childhood memory, I managed to get pretty close. Here are a few tips for making the best monkey bread:

1. Make sure your dough is rich

A rich, buttery dough will make for a more flavorful and softer monkey bread. Think donut-like texture instead of pizza. I recommend using canned biscuit or crescent dough like Pillsbury. If you buy frozen dough, make sure it’s thawed completely before using.

2. Use a bundt pan

Using a bundt pan will allow for a better pull-apart experience. However, if you don’t own one, you can bake monkey bread in any loaf pan or regular sized baking dish. And before adding anything, make sure you grease your pan—or else it might fall apart.

3. Don’t be afraid of cinnamon and sugar

You can be generous with these ingredients. Make sure each monkey bread “ball” is completely coated. The more you use, the sweeter and more delicious the final bite will be.

4. Always serve warm

I believe you should always serve monkey bread warm. Let it set in the pan for about five minutes before flipping onto a plate.

Easy shortcut monkey bread recipe

This recipe from Eating on a Dime only uses five ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Plus, you can make the night before to enjoy as a sweet breakfast. If you want, mix powdered sugar with water for a quick glaze topping.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans buttermilk biscuits, 10 count
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 Tbs. cinnamon
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup melted butter

Directions:

• Total time: 1 hour
• Yield: 10 servings

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 10″ bundt pan with a non stick cooking spray.
2. Remove the biscuits from the packaging and cut each into four equal pieces. Then, place them into a large zip lock bag. Add the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Do not remove the air from the bag.Seal and shake to coat the biscuits with the cinnamon and sugar. Then, place into the bundt pan.
3. Place the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Whisk together and bring to a boil. Then, pour the mixture over the biscuits in the bundt pan.
4. Bake for 35 minutes, or golden brown and the center is no longer doughy. Remove and let the pan set for five to 10 minutes before carefully inverting on a plate to serve.

Make ahead and storage notes

You can make shortcut monkey bread ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to two days. To reheat, warm the monkey bread in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Monkey bread will keep for up to five days. To reheat, simply warm for 20 to 30 seconds in the microwave.

More bundt pan desserts:

Easy Butter Cake Recipe Bakes Up Deliciously Golden — Ready for the Oven in 20 Minutes

This One-Bowl Chocolate Pound Cake Recipe Is a Dessert Lover’s Dream: So Rich + Easy

This Aperol Spritz Cake Recipe Turns the Classic co*cktail Into a Delicious Dessert