This Cinnamon Sugar Monkey Bread recipe is a heartwarming treat passed down from grandma’s kitchen, embodying the love and tradition of family baking. It’s not just a recipe; it’s a cherished memory, a reminder of cozy afternoons spent in the warmth of grandma’s kitchen, filled with the sweet aroma of cinnamon and sugar. This delightful bread starts with simple ingredients, including refrigerated biscuit dough, which is transformed into something magical with the addition of a homemade cinnamon-sugar coating.
Grandma always emphasized the joy of adding optional ingredients like chopped walnuts and raisins, which not only add texture but also a hint of nostalgia to each bite. The process of cutting the dough, coating it in cinnamon sugar, and layering it in the pan is a playful and enjoyable experience, reminiscent of the times grandma would let you help in the kitchen, making you feel like an essential part of the baking process.
The final touch, a rich sauce made from melted butter and brown sugar, is poured over the top, creating a sticky, sweet glaze that perfectly complements the spiced dough. Baked to a golden brown perfection, this monkey bread is a testament to the simple yet profound joy of homemade baking. It’s a recipe that warms the heart as much as it delights the palate, a true legacy of grandma’s love and culinary prowess.
Table of contents
Monkey Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 packages (12 ounces each) refrigerated biscuit dough
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- ½ cup raisins (optional)
- ½ cup butter or margarine
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
Directions
- Preparation: Begin by assembling all the ingredients. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Thoroughly grease a 9- or 10-inch tube or Bundt pan.
- Coating the Biscuits: In a plastic bag, combine the white sugar and cinnamon. Cut the biscuits into quarters and place 6 to 8 pieces in the bag. Shake the bag well to evenly coat the biscuit pieces with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Layering the Ingredients: Place the sugar-coated biscuit pieces into the greased pan. If you choose to include walnuts and raisins, sprinkle them between the layers of biscuit pieces.
- Making the Sauce: Melt the butter and brown sugar together in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for 1 minute. Pour this hot sauce over the biscuits in the pan, ensuring even coverage.
- Baking: Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until the monkey bread is a beautiful golden brown.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, invert it onto a plate for serving. This warm, pull-apart monkey bread is a delightful treat, perfect for sharing.
Enjoy this Cinnamon Sugar Monkey Bread, a sweet and easy-to-make dessert that’s sure to be a hit with its soft, cinnamon-sugar coated biscuit pieces and deliciously sticky sauce.
Monkey Bread Recipe FAQS
How do you store monkey bread?
Monkey bread is best enjoyed fresh, but it can be stored to maintain its deliciousness. To store monkey bread, let it cool completely after baking. Then, place it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. You can keep it at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate it for up to a week. To reheat, simply warm it in the oven or microwave until it’s heated through and the buttery sugar becomes gooey again.
Can you use a different pan for monkey bread?
While a Bundt pan is traditionally used for monkey bread due to its shape and even baking, you can use other pans. A tube pan is a great alternative. If you don’t have either, you can use a regular round cake pan or even a loaf pan, though the shape and baking time might vary slightly. The key is to ensure that the pan can accommodate the dough’s expansion as it rises and bakes.
What happens if you add more sugar to bread?
Increasing the sugar content in bread affects both its flavor and texture. More sugar will make the bread sweeter, which might be desirable in recipes like monkey bread. However, too much sugar can also affect the yeast’s ability to rise properly, potentially leading to denser bread. Additionally, excessive sugar can cause the bread to brown more quickly while baking, which might require adjusting the baking time or temperature to avoid over-browning or burning.
What is monkey bread made of?
Monkey bread is a sweet, sticky, and soft bread made from small pieces of dough (often biscuit dough) that are rolled in butter and then in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. These coated dough pieces are layered in a pan, typically a Bundt pan, and baked. The top of the monkey bread is often drizzled with a mixture of melted butter and brown sugar, creating a delicious caramelized glaze when baked. Optional ingredients like nuts or raisins can be added for extra flavor and texture. Monkey bread is known for its characteristic pull-apart style, making it a fun and communal treat.