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Gorilla Bread

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overhead shot of Bread topped with glaze and pecans
Easy, gooey, and delicious this rich and tasty gorilla bread is the best!
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Table of Contents
  1. Gorilla Bread Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How To Make This Gorilla Bread Recipe
  4. How To Serve
  5. Storage
  6. Why We Love This Recipe
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. More Recipes You’ll Love
  9. JUMP TO RECIPE

Gooey and delicious, this pull-apart gorilla bread will satisfy any sweet tooth and is the perfect special treat for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. Biscuit dough is stuffed with cream cheese before being layered with pecans and baked in a bundt pan smothered in sugar and butter.

close up shot of Bread topped with glaze and pecans

Gorilla Bread Ingredients

Gorilla Bread raw ingredients that are labeled
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Gorilla bread is a delectable treat featuring buttery biscuits enveloped in a rich caramel sauce made with brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon, giving it a warmly spiced flavor.

Cream cheese adds a creamy, tangy contrast, while chopped pecans provide a satisfying crunch and nutty undertones.

You’ll need:

  • ½ cup of salted butter
  • 1 cup of packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
  • 2 cans of refrigerated biscuits (8 count “big biscuits”)
  • 8 ounces of cream cheese
  • 1½ cups of chopped pecans

PRO TIP:

We used “big biscuits” in this recipe, but you can use other sizes of biscuit cans. If you use smaller biscuits such as 2 (10-count) packages, do not split them in half. Instead, cut the cream cheese into 20 pieces and proceed with the instructions, making 20 balls instead of the 32.  

Substitutions And Additions

NUTS: You could swap out the pecans for walnuts in this simple recipe.

TOPPINGS: You could also drizzle the top of the bread with hot fudge if you’d like.

CINNAMON: If you want to switch things up, consider substituting apple pie spice for plain cinnamon.

This aromatic blend will add a touch of apple-pie-inspired warmth and complexity to your gorilla bread without requiring any additional effort.

VANILLA EXTRACT: To add a twist, consider using almond extract or maple extract instead of vanilla.

How To Make This Gorilla Bread Recipe

Let’s walk through the easy steps for creating this irresistible pull-apart bread.

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

STEP TWO: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the butter and brown sugar for one minute, stirring after 30 seconds. Stir in the vanilla extract and set aside.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

You can make extra caramel pecan sauce to serve over the top of the gorilla bread (butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and chopped pecans). If you do so, cook the caramel sauce on the stovetop in a small saucepan until the brown sugar has dissolved completely. 

This isn’t necessary when making the sauce to add to the bundt pan because the sauce cooks (the sugar dissolved and caramelizes) while the bread is baking in the oven.

melted butter, brown sugar, and vanilla being combined in a bowl

STEP THREE: Combine white sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.

sugar and cinnamon combined in a bowl

STEP FOUR: Separate each biscuit into two pieces by gently pulling it apart along the side to make two round “biscuits” that are half the height.

STEP FIVE: Toss each biscuit in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat both sides.

pieces of biscuits coated in a bowl of cinnamon sugar

STEP SIX: Cut the cream cheese into 32 equal cubes. 

Place one cube of cream cheese (about a teaspoon) in the center of each biscuit and wrap the dough around the cream cheese to form a ball. 

Pinch the biscuit together at the seam to seal.

cream cheese wrapped inside of each ball of biscuits

STEP SEVEN: Sprinkle one-third of the chopped pecans (about a half cup) over the bottom of the bundt pan.

chopped pecans sprinkled on the bottom of a bundt pan

STEP EIGHT: Mound half of the prepared dough balls into the pan. Sprinkle generously with the cinnamon-sugar mixture (I used about two tablespoons).

biscuit balls placed into the bundt pan

STEP NINE: Sprinkle another half cup of the nuts over the cinnamon sugar layer and pour half of the melted butter mixture over the top.

STEP TEN: Repeat by layering the other half of the filled biscuits, then another layer of cinnamon sugar, pecans, and the remaining butter mixture.

bundt pan layered with biscuit, chopped pecans, and glaze

STEP ELEVEN: Press the last layer of biscuits down into the pan a little bit to form a flat top.

STEP TWELVE: Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the gorilla bread is deep golden brown and the biscuits are cooked through.

To make sure it is cooked through, look for even cooking across the biscuits and no raw dough; press the bottom of the dough, and it should bounce back.

PRO TIP:

If the gorilla bread is getting too dark while cooking long enough to cook the biscuits in the center all the way through, cover the top with aluminum foil.

bread after being baked in a bundt pan

STEP THIRTEEN: Remove from oven and allow to cool for five minutes before inverting onto a large dinner or serving plate.

PRO TIP:

Use a spatula to loosen the sides of the bread from the pan before turning it over onto the serving platter.

How To Serve

This gooey gorilla bread is a fantastic treat to serve as an after-school snack.

If you are looking for a larger, more indulgent dessert, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side and a spoonful of whipped cream on top.

Two more delicious recipes to satisfy your cravings are our strawberry rhubarb cake and peanut butter monkey bread.

Storage

Whether you’re planning to enjoy it over a few days or save some for later, here’s what you need to know:

MAKE AHEAD: Gorilla bread is best when enjoyed fresh out of the oven, but you can make it a day ahead to save time.

Once your gorilla bread has cooled completely, tightly wrap it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep it from drying out.

Store it at room temperature until you’re ready to serve. To freshen it up, pop it in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about ten minutes to restore that warm, gooey goodness.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days. Reheat in the microwave.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze gorilla bread for up to three months stored in an airtight container.

close up shot of Bread topped with glaze and pecans

Why We Love This Recipe

IRRESISTIBLE SWEETNESS: This gorilla bread is a delightful balance of sweet flavors, with brown sugar, cinnamon, and a caramel sauce that makes every bite a deliciously indulgent treat.

SURPRISE CREAMINESS: The hidden cream cheese inside adds a delightful creamy and tangy element that perfectly complements the sweet exterior, creating a fantastic texture and flavor contrast.

You won’t be able to get enough of this gooey, sugary treat. The cinnamon-sugar coating on the biscuits gives them a sweet and crispy exterior when they bake and the cream cheese centers come out soft and gooey. This gorilla bread is even more decadent than its classic monkey bread cousin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze gorilla bread?

This bread will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months as long as it is well wrapped and stored in an airtight container.

Can I leave the nuts out of this recipe?

This recipe would still be delicious even if you leave the pecans out of the mix.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

This is a great recipe to make ahead of time. You can prepare the recipe up to the baking stage the night before and then pop it in the oven the next morning when you are ready to serve it.

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overhead shot of Bread topped with glaze and pecans

Gorilla Bread

5 from 4 votes
Easy, gooey, and delicious this rich and tasty gorilla bread is the best!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup salted butter
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 cans refrigerated biscuits (8 count “big biscuits”)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • cups chopped pecans

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the butter and brown sugar for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds. Stir in the vanilla extract and set aside.
  • Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
  • Separate each biscuit into two pieces by gently pulling apart along the side to make two round “biscuits” that are half the height.
  • Toss each biscuit in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat both sides.
  • Cut the cream cheese into 32 pieces. Place one piece of the cream cheese (about a teaspoon) in the center of the cinnamon sugar-coated biscuit and wrap the dough around the cream cheese to form a ball. Pinch the biscuit together at the seam to seal.
  • Sprinkle ⅓ of the chopped pecans (about ½ cup) over the bottom of the greased bundt pan.
  • Mound half of the prepared biscuit balls into the pan. Sprinkle generously with the cinnamon-sugar mixture (I used about 2 tablespoons).
  • Sprinkle another ½ cup of the pecans over the cinnamon sugar layer and drizzle half of the butter/brown sugar sauce over the top.
  • Repeat by layering the other half of the filled biscuits, then another layer of cinnamon sugar, pecans, and the rest of the sauce.
  • Press the biscuits down into the pan a little bit to form a flat top.
  • Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the gorilla bread is deep brown and the biscuits are cooked through (look for even cooking across the biscuits, and no raw dough; press the bottom of the dough, it should bounce back).
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before inverting onto a large dinner or serving plate.

Video

Notes

  • We used “big biscuits” in this recipe, but you can use other sizes of biscuit cans. If you use smaller biscuits such as 2 (10-count) packages, do not split them in half. Instead, cut the cream cheese into 20 pieces and proceed with the instructions, making 20 balls instead of the 32.
  • You can make extra caramel pecan sauce to serve over the top of the gorilla bread (butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and chopped pecans). If you do so, cook the caramel sauce on the stovetop in a small saucepan until the brown sugar has dissolved completely. 
  • If the gorilla bread is getting too dark while cooking long enough to cook the biscuits in the center all the way through, cover with aluminum foil. 
  • Use a spatula to loosen the sides of the bread from the pan before turning it over onto the serving platter.

Nutrition

Calories: 628kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 859mg | Potassium: 285mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 501IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 3mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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