Now, you might be tempted to break out a couple of cans of cinnamon rolls for this recipe, which you totally can in a pinch, but let me say that making it from scratch is worth the effort. When you taste any bread made from scratch and kneaded with care in someone’s kitchen, you can taste the love. Treating yourself and your friends to homemade cinnamon roll monkey bread is a great gift for everyone. Plus, it’s easier than you think. In fact, I’d like to take a moment to bust the longstanding myth that making your own bread is hard. It’s not! Even beginning bakers can make a beautiful loaf of bread. All you have to do is follow a few basic instructions in this recipe. So let’s start by covering a couple of bread basics. Warm tap water works perfectly. After just a few minutes, you’ll notice the mixture bubbling and frothing. That means it’s doing its job, and your bread is going to be nice and airy. 🙌 Not only is this dough yeasted, but it’s also enriched. That means it’s got extra ingredients like milk, eggs, and sugar that make it softer and richer. See! You’re becoming a bread expert already! 😉
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
Make the Dough
Activate Yeast – In a small bowl, add the water and yeast. Let it sit until it dissolves for about 3-5 minutes. Warm the Liquids – Add the sugar, milk, and butter to a large microwave-safe mixing bowl. Microwave them for about 30 seconds. Melt Butter – Then, take the bowl out of the microwave and stir the ingredients until the butter has completely melted. Mix – Next, add the yeast mixture, egg, and vanilla extract, and mix thoroughly. Add Dry Ingredients – Add the salt and flour, one cup at a time. Mix everything together using your clean hands. You can expect the dough to be pretty sticky here. Knead – Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for a minute or two more. Form the dough into a ball shape, and then place it in the large mixing bowl, covered loosely with a clean cloth. Rise – Let your dough rise in a warm, draft-free area for 1½-2 hours or until doubled.
Assemble
Make Cinnamon Sugar – While the dough rises, make cinnamon sugar by combining sugars, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside until ready to use. Prep Bundt Pan – Then, spray a Bundt pan with baking spray and set aside. Roll out the Dough – Punch the risen dough down. Next, lightly flour a hard surface and roll the dough out into a rectangle about an inch thick. Butter It – Generously brush it with melted butter and then sprinkle it with half of the cinnamon sugar, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges of the dough. Add Sugar – Pat the sugar mixture down gently into the surface to help it stick to the dough. Roll It – Then, starting with the end nearest you, roll the dough up tightly around the filling (like a jelly roll), finishing the roll with the seam side down. Pinch the seam to seal it so it doesn’t break apart when making the monkey bread dough balls. Slice the roll into 4 equal pieces, then slice each piece into 4 equal pieces for a total of 16 cinnamon rolls. Cut – Next, cut each cinnamon roll into quarters and roll them on the counter to form a small ball. Roll each ball in the other half cinnamon sugar mixture until it’s well coated.
Final Stretch
Fill the Bundt Pan – Place the sugar-coated dough balls in the prepared Bundt pan. Rise – When all the dough balls are in the Bundt pan, cover them with a clean cloth and let them rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. Melt More Butter – Add the remaining cinnamon sugar to the melted butter, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Pour this sugar-butter mixture over the risen cinnamon roll dough in the bundt pan. Bake – Finally, bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the dough is set in the center and golden. Rest – Let the monkey bread rest for about 5 minutes before flipping the bundt pan over onto a serving platter. Glaze – Whip cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and 2-3 tablespoons of milk until it’s very creamy. Add milk as necessary to reach your desired drizzle consistency. Serve – Pour the cream cheese glaze on the cinnamon roll monkey bread and serve warm.
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
You can make this dough the day before baking if you’d like. Assemble the dough in the bundt pan and seal it with plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge. Before baking it the next day, take it out of the refrigerator for an hour or two to let it proof again.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve cinnamon roll monkey bread after cooling and drizzling. I like to place it on a big serving platter where everyone can rip off plenty of bread from wherever they are seated. Store leftovers in an airtight container. If you opt to douse it with the cream cheese drizzle (as you should 😜), keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you skip the drizzle, you can keep it out at room temperature for a day or two.
What Goes With Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
As a breakfast item, I love to serve this bread with a side of something savory. It pairs great with egg muffins, bacon, or even a serving of sausage egg casserole. If you serve it as an afternoon treat or a dessert, pair it with all the best hot drinks. I love it with a plain cup of coffee or a chai tea latte. Even a hot cup of ginger tea tastes amazing with this bread.
More Beautiful Bread Recipes to Try
Conclusion
Get ready to knock the socks off of your friends and family with this irresistible, indulgent dessert-slash-breakfast bread! And remember to give me a follow on Facebook and Instagram for more crowd-pleasing recipes that are totally easy to make. 😁
Watch How to Make It
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