Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread is one of my family’s favorite and I ‘m sure it will be yours too! Bites of cinnamon rolls baked off like a monkey bread and drizzled with a luscious cream cheese icing! You’ll forever change your mind about cinnamon rolls when you try this fuss free and easy version! Video below!

Cinnamon rolls have never been easier! These are seriously addictive, delicious, soft and absolutely festive to make and enjoy during Holidays and on special occasions. 

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

While the cinnamon rolls dough can be intimidating, I assure you this is a fool proof recipe that I’ve been using and teaching for over 12 years! And it’s quite different than most of the recipe–thanks to a secret tip of creaming the butter first. 

I experimented with this dough many years ago and it was a huge success! I hope you give it a try and make homemade cinnamon rolls each time you crave them. If you’ve tried my Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls before, you’ll know how soft and tender this dough is.

Today’s Monkey bread cinnamon roll is even easier than making homemade cinnamon rolls because you skip the entire rolling, filing, rolling back and cutting of the rolls. You actually just dip those mini rolls into melted butter ad roll them in cinnamon sugar. They TASTE just the same if not BETTER!! 

Now let’s not forget the Cream Cheese Icing –the actual icing on the cake! Seriously this makes everything taste SO MUCH better! It’s just cream cheese, vanilla, confectioner’s sugar and milk. Like how easier does it get?

So let’s make cinnamon roll monkey bread from scratch and I’m breaking down the step by step details with photos. Don’t forget to watch the video too! 

Oh and just in case you’re looking for cinnamon sugar love– try these Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. The best pancakes! Cinnamon Roll Muffins with a hidden layer of cinnamon sugar and the same icing plus Homemade Caramel Sauce as a bonus! 

If you love everything cinnamon sugar like us–give those  Pumpkin Donuts With Cinnamon Sugar a try! Not into pumpkin? Then this Baked Donut Holes with Cinnamon Sugar are ALL YOU NEED!

Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Ingredients 

• Butter : Unsalted and room temperature butter is best.
• Flour: Use regular all purpose flour.
• Sugar : Granulated white sugar.
• Salt: Kosher salt or Mediterranean sea salt is best
• Milk : I use 2% milk, however skim or 1% have worked well. And of course, full fat milk works great.
• Yeast : Instant yeast is my favorite.
• Egg : One large egg, also room temperature is better.

• Cream cheese icing 

• A bowl of melted butter
• Another bowl of cinnamon sugar — I love using brown sugar and cinnamon

How To Make Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Here’s the step by step breakdown. We’ll make the best Monkey bread dough and then we’ll take the dough and create those melt in your mouth cinnamon roll monkey bread bites, and finally, we’ll serve them!

Monkey Bread Dough:

1. You’ll start by making the dough. I love using my Ankarsrum Mixer because it’s just so heavy duty, easy to use and makes baking a breeze! I have tried (and I’m sure you have too if you bake!) many other brands–and this one is my ABSOLUTE favorite!

   

2. The first step to preparing the dough is to cream the butter and sugar–which is unusual for a dough recipe. However this trick creates soft, pillowy, melt in your mouth cinnamon rolls dough/monkey bread dough.
3. In the meantime you’ll mix the milk with the yeast in a small pitcher and wait until that foams slightly.
4. Once the butter and sugar have creamed you’ll add in the egg and the milk yeast mixture.
5. Now while the mixer is running, you’ll add in the flour, one cup at a time watching closely.
6. You want a soft dough, one that really sticks to your hand if you press it down slowly. But at the same time, if you work the dough quickly–it shouldn’t stick.

   

7. The dough is now ready to rise until at least doubled in size –which should take anywhere from 1-2 hours. this depends on how warm your kitchen is and the humidity level.

   

8. That’s seriously what you’re looking for! Smooth and well risen dough. Now it’s time to shape, roll and make cinnamon roll bites out of this soft dough!

Cinnamon Roll Bites

1. Take that perfect dough and use your hands only–no need for a rolling pin or anything fancy here! Pat down the dough into a rectangle (or square) that’s about half an inch thick. Use your hands to make sure that thickness is even across the dough.
2. Take a knife and cut the rectangle into 1 inch size squares. You’ll simply cut lines lengthwise and then crosswise. 
3. Now take each square and roll it into a ball–you’ll also end up with about an inch diameter size balls. 
4. Here’s the fun part! Drop each ball into the bowl of melted butter. 
5. Use a fork to remove the coated balls, the fork helps excess butter to drip back into the bowl.

   

6. Now drop that buttery dough into a bowl of cinnamon sugar. We love making our cinnamon sugar using light brown sugar–SO GOOD!!!

   

7. At that point you have a perfect piece of cinnamon roll monkey bread in your hand! Spray your bundt pan and start arranging the cinnamon roll bites. 

   

8. Continue with the remaining pieces until you have 3 layers of cinnamon roll monkey bread in the bundt pan. They don’t have to be perfectly stacked or arranged. Rather it’s best if you arrange them irregularly to help with even baking. 
9. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and let the dough rest during this time before baking.
    
10. Once the oven is ready, place the pan in the oven and bake until doubled in size and ready–which is about 35-45 minutes depending on the size of your monkey bread.
11. Let the cinnamon roll monkey bread cool in the pan for 10 mins before inverting it on a plate.
     
12. Drizzle a hefty amount if the Cream Cheese Icing all over the cinnamon roll monkey bread.
13. break it apart and ENJOY!

Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread TIPS and F&A:

• Use a quality stand mixer for your dough–I love my Ankarsrum Mixer.
• The homemade cinnamon rolls dough is absolutely the most tender and softest one you’ll ever make so do give it a try–the creaming of butter and sugar before proceeding is the KEY to this soft dough.
• When the dough is ready, use your hands only to flatten it into a rectangle, don’t use a rolling pin unless you can control the thickness of the dough without risking it being too thin.
• As you dip the balls into the melted butter, use a fork to remove excess butter and allow it to drip back into the bowl.
• We love making cinnamon sugar with brown sugar as it has a deeper caramel molasses like flavor which is so good combined with cinnamon.
• Don’t forget to spray your bundt pan before arranging the cinnamon roll monkey bread pieces.
• A bundt pan is essential to use.
• Make the cream cheese glaze as it’s so good!!
• See below for storing leftovers and varieties on Monkey Bread!

What does the term monkey bread mean?

It’s a type of bread made popular in California and was characterized by pieces of bread which were pulled apart and eaten as if by “monkeys” lol. 

What can you add to Monkey Bread?

You can seriously make it savory or sweet, add cheeses, veggies, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, and whatever you feel like to make different types of monkey bread. 

Can I use store bought cinnamon roll dough for this recipe?

Yes! You absolutely can, although I can’t recommend enough trying my most tender cinnamon roll dough from scratch.

How do I store Monkey bread?

Best to store leftover monkey bread, covered in the fridge. Next day, if you’d like to enjoy some, just microwave for 30-45 seconds and eat right away! Depending on your serving size, you may microwave a small plate for 15 seconds at it will be just enough so use your judgement as you know your microwave best.

4.73 from 11 votes

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Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread is one of my family's favorite and I 'm sure it will be yours too! Bites of cinnamon rolls baked off like a monkey bread and drizzled with a luscious cream cheese icing! You'll forever change your mind about cinnamon rolls when you try this fuss free and easy version!

Course baking, Breakfast, brunch, Dessert, holidays

Cuisine American, European, Scandanavian

Keyword cinnamon roll, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon rolls recipe, homemade cinnamon rolls, monkey bread, monkey bread recipe

Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Cook Time 37 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 800 kcal

Author Mahy

Ingredients

Cinnamon Roll Dough

• 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 cup warm milk mixed with 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 - 31/2 cups Flour

Cinnamon Roll Mix:

• 1 cup melted butter in a bowl
• 1 1/2 cup Light brown sugar mixed with 3 Tablespoons cinnamon in a bowl

Cream cheese glaze

Instructions

1. Prepare the dough.
2. Assemble the Ankarsrum mixer.
3. Start by mixing the yeast and warm milk in a cup and let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
   
4. In the meantime cream the butter and sugar for 3 minutes until softened.
   
5. Add in the egg and milk mixture.
6. Mix and add in the flour one cup at a time while mixing.
7. Knead the dough with the Ankarsrum machine for 6-8 minutes
   
8. The dough should feel slightly soft and sticky-not dry.
9. Place the dough in a bowl coated in oil and allow it to rise for 2 hours until tripled I size.
   
10. Flatten the dough into a rectangle about 1 inch thick and use a sharp knife to cut into strips and squares about 1 inch In size.
    
11. Roll each square into a ball.
    
12. Dip the ball into the melted butter and use a fork to remove and add it int the cinnamon sugar bowl.
    
13. Use a small spoon to roll the dough into the cinnamon sugar on all sides.
    
14. Spray a bundt pan and start arranging the cinnamon sugar dough at the bottom of the pan and layer it into three levels.
    
15. Cover the pan while the oven preheats.
    
16. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
17. Place the pan in to the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until the monkey bread is ready.
    
18. When out of the oven, remove from the pan by flipping into a plate ad drizzle the cream cheese icing.
    
19. Pull apart the monkey bread and enjoy!!
    

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Amount Per Serving

Calories 800 Calories from Fat 324

% Daily Value*

Fat 36g55%

Saturated Fat 10g63%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 3g

Monounsaturated Fat 9g

Cholesterol 80mg27%

Sodium 580mg25%

Potassium 438mg13%

Carbohydrates 150g50%

Fiber 8g33%

Sugar 51g57%

Protein 32g64%

Vitamin A 1063IU21%

Calcium 137mg14%

Iron 14mg78%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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