December 2, 2022
Review RecipeCinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Recipe
This incredible, easy and delicious homemade cinnamon roll monkey bread makes a special breakfast treat.
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Two of my all-time favorite easy breakfast recipes have to be cinnamon rolls and monkey bread. So this cinnamon roll monkey bread recipe was a no-brainer for me.
With only 5 ingredients, this recipe couldn’t be easier. Using prepared large cinnamon rolls instead of Grands biscuits makes this version of traditional monkey bread so simple. Even better, if you want to add frosting, you can literally just use the premade frosting that comes with the cinnamon rolls.
If you’re looking for another great recipe idea, make sure you try our peanut butter monkey bread. It’s another fantastic take on the classic monkey bread recipe. For another great breakfast option, check out our sausage breakfast casserole.
Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread:
My whole family goes crazy when I make monkey bread. This gooey, pull-apart breakfast is definitely a favorite in our house. Perhaps, second behind banana pudding.
There was a time when I didn’t think monkey bread could get any better. But the idea to make it cinnamon roll style seemed like a genius combination of two delicious breakfast sweets (try our copycat Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, too!).
Baking the monkey bread is really easy. The way that the monkey bread gets its pull-apart texture is by cutting the dough and rolling it into balls. When you put the cinnamon roll pieces together in a pan, they bake into one another, but they don’t completely combine, which makes it easy to pull apart when enjoying.
Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Ingredients You Will Need
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 (17.5-ounce) cans of Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
- Garnish: reserved icing from both the containers of Grands Cinnamon Rolls
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
First, you’ll want to preheat the oven to 350°F so that it’s ready to go when you finish putting everything together. Spray a standard, 12-cup volume, bundt pan very well with baker’s spray. Set aside.
Next, in a medium bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Take the prepared cinnamon roll dough out of its package and cut each of the cinnamon rolls into 4 pieces and then roll each of the pieces into a ball.
Transfer the icing into a microwave-safe small bowl with a pour spout. You will use this to garnish your baked cinnamon roll monkey bread.
Roll 4-6 of the cinnamon roll balls in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and place them into the prepared bundt pan. Repeat until all the balls have been rolled in the sugar and placed into the bundt pan
After you’ve cut up all of the cinnamon rolls, coated them with the cinnamon sugar, and added them to the bundt pan, you are ready to mix the melted butter in with the remaining cinnamon and sugar.
Mix them together well. You will create a sort of caramel-looking sauce. Immediately pour this mixture over the dough balls in the bundt pan. Then, bake the bread and sauce in the bundt pan for about 30 minutes or until golden, and the dough has fully risen in the pan. When finished, let it cool for about 10 minutes.
When the monkey bread has finished baking and cooling, you will flip the bundt pan upside down on a plate to remove it from the pan. Be sure the monkey bread is still warm when flipping but not hot.
In addition, make sure when flipping that you place it onto the plate you will serve it on. It’s not easily transferred to a new plate. I like to serve my monkey bread on a platter, and I find it’s easier for people to remove a portion of monkey bread if they use a fork.
To garnish, you will drizzle the reserved icing over the top of the cinnamon roll monkey bread. Note: you may need to warm your icing for 7-10 seconds in the microwave to make it a little easier to pour over the bread.
The bread is sweet on its own, so icing isn’t completely necessary. But, if you’re like me, and you love icing… you can’t help but add it! It’s so delicious, and it comes with the prepared cinnamon rolls anyway (try our yummy crescent roll cinnamon rolls, too!) (try our yummy Gorilla Bread, too!)! You can always keep the icing on the side and dip it too.
This is a go-to recipe when we have a family breakfast planned. It’s easy and delicious and combines two of my all-time favorite breakfast items. I can’t wait for you to try it out in your home!
More Recipes You Will Love
- Chocolate Zucchini Bread
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Lasagna
- Football Cheese Ball
- No Bake Eclair Cake
- Monkey Bread Muffins
- Breakfast Bundt Cake
- Bread Pudding
- Cinnamon Roll Bread
- Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
This incredible, easy and delicious homemade cinnamon roll monkey bread makes a special breakfast treat.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8
Ingredients
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls, (17.5-ounce cans)
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
- reserved icing from both the containers of Grands Cinnamon Rolls for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a standard, 12-cup volume, bundt pan very well with baker’s spray. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Open both canisters of the Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls and remove the cinnamon rolls and the containers of icing. Transfer the icing into a microwave-safe small bowl with a pour spout. You will use this to garnish your baked cinnamon roll monkey bread.
- Cut all the individual cinnamon rolls into quarters and gently roll them into individual balls using the palm of your hand.
- Roll 4-6 of the cinnamon roll balls in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and place them into the prepared bundt pan. Repeat until all the balls have been rolled in the sugar and placed into the bundt pan.
- To the bowl of melted butter, add the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture and stir to combine.
- Pour the butter and sugar mixture evenly over all the cinnamon roll balls in the pan.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until golden and the dough has fully risen in the pan.
- Allow the cinnamon roll monkey bread to cool for 10 minutes in the pan before flipping it out onto a serving plate.
- To garnish, you will drizzle the reserved icing over the top of the cinnamon roll monkey bread. Note: you may need to warm your icing for 7-10 seconds in the microwave to make it a little easier to pour over the bread.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 550kcal
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Comments
Layne Henderson says
So easy and delicious – I love this for brunch or a special treat!
Gloria says
Nice small cinnamon rolls for a diabetic
Sharon Gosney says
Do you need to spray the bundt pan?
Layne Henderson says
You shouldn’t need to! Hope you enjoy 🙂
Hailey says
Can you prepare this the night before and cook the next morning?
Layne Henderson says
I’ve never tried doing it that way so I am not positive how it would turn out!
Amy says
This was very quick and easy to make and tasted awesome! My only problem was after cooling to a “warm” temperature – it stuck in the pan. Had to use a knife to loosen all the way around and then reshape into the shape of the pan once it was dumped out. Luckily its a pull apart dessert – so did not take from the taste. May try a cooking spray next time.
Stephanie says
Can you substitute a baking pan? SoMehow I don’t have a Bundt 😩
Layne Kangas says
I’m sure you could, I haven’t done it that way before. Good luck 🙂
JennyE says
We followed the recipe exactly, and my husband of 21 years baked it by himself. He was nervous but really wanted to try! This turned out so well, with crispy carmelized edges and fluffy insides. We all loved it and made some nice memories together.
Layne Kangas says
Yay, that’s great!
Kiersten says
Love this super easy recipe! My 4yo loves to help with rolling the dough in balls.
I had a question, though. You say to mix together the brown sugar and butter mixture with the cinnamon sugar left over, but on the actual recipe instructions you don’t. Do we mix both mixtures together and then pour in the pan?
Thank you!
Layne Kangas says
Yes I mix together and then pour over!
LR says
I had a quick question. We love rhode rolls cinnamon rolls (They are in the frozen section at Walmart) if you havent had them you take them out of the freezer to rise 4 to 6 hours. I was wondering if I could use those instead of the cinnamon rolls in the can? There are 12 in a package.
Layne Kangas says
I haven’t tried making it with those before, I would assume it would work, but I can’t say for certain. I think that the Rhode brand is a little thicker, so that might impact baking time! Enjoy 🙂
Tim says
Great recipe. Quick , easy and turned out amazing will use many more times for the family in the future.
Michelle Hallmark says
When you say big cinnamon rolls are you meaning the grands cinnamon rolls that come with 5 to a can or the regular cinnamon rolls that come with 8?
Layne Kangas says
I used the five-count but you could probably use either. I assume the eight-count comes to a similar amount once chopped up! 🙂 Enjoy!!
Marie says
how would I store this if I’m using this the next day?
Layne Kangas says
I would store in an airtight container!
Nancy Morrison says
Could you use an angel food cake pan since I don’t have a bundt pan?
Layne Kangas says
I think that should work, I haven’t tried it like that before!
Liz says
Question – do you mix the melted butter and brown sugar with the remaining sugar and cinnamon (after you’ve rolled the dough balls in it)? The description above says “After you’ve cut up all of the cinnamon rolls, coated them the cinnamon sugar and added them to the bundt pan you are ready to mix the melted butter and brown sugar in with the cinnamon and sugar.” But the recipe itself doesn’t say that. When I made the butter mixture, it didn’t seem to come together or get as dark as your picture. The butter seemed separated from the brown sugar. But maybe I didn’t let it simmer long enough. It was still a huge hit!!!
Layne Kangas says
Yes, you can mix it all together! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Jayne says
Can you halve this recipe?
Layne Kangas says
I’m sure you could!
Macae says
Can I do this in a regular bread pan?
Layne Kangas says
I honestly have never tried! It might work ok!
reba amoush says
yes
Kelly says
This is a big hit with my husband. It takes less time than the sticky buns I usually fix. We’ve also adopted the “more caramel the better” attitude, so I double the butter and brown sugar. Thank you!!
Morgan says
wow wow so good
thanks for sharing!
Nisha Webster says
This recipe was quick and easy. It had a really good taste. Next time I will add more butter so that they will be a little more moist. I will make this again
Linda Copus says
This recipe was a hit with my family!! If it’s any help I used the 8 pack cinnamon rolls and it worked just fine.
Karin Grisham says
Do I greaae the bundt pan with buttee, spray or coat with flour?
Layne Kangas says
I use nonstick cooking spray when I make it. Enjoy!
reba amoush says
Definitely grease the pan, and flour lightly
Natalie DeBartolo says
Have all the ingredients, just not the right pan. Can I make this in a loaf pan?
Layne Kangas says
I don’t know if it will turn out using another pan, I have only ever made it in a bundt pan!
reba amoush says
You can use a bread/loaf pan, or a deep cake pan, you can make them work with pretty much any pan that is fairly deep
reba amoush says
You can use a muffin pan, bread pan, Bundt pan, cake pan, etc… As long as it is deep enough to withstand your recipe. if using a muffin tin, use just enough doughballs or dough to fill the cup or pan.
Stephanie Jones says
Absolutely love this. I have made it several times.
Rene says
Do you use the 8 count (original) or 5 count (grands) package of cinnamon rolls?
Layne Kangas says
It’s the 8-count cans, you’ll use a total of 16 biscuits. Enjoy 🙂
Momma Mel says
I made this for my extended family (15 of us) when we were all staying together for my niece’s wedding. It was so easy, quick, and tasted amazing! We actually had arguments and hurt feelings because a few late-risers didn’t get some and everyone else was raving about it. Note to self– next time make 2!
Alyssa says
This isn’t the recipe I’ve had pinned and been using for months, when did it change??
Dennis Schultz says
Yummy