Close up of monkey bread frosted with cream cheese frosting.

Monkey Bread

0 comments This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post.

This homemade Monkey Bread is so easy to make and is so gooey and delicious. I make this delicious bread with Rhodes rolls, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Then top it with an amazing cream cheese frosting. It will become a staple at your family’s next brunch or breakfast.

Homemade monkey bread with a chunk pulled out on a plate.

What Is Monkey Bread?

Monkey bread is a sweet, gooey bundt cake made from balls of dough covered in butter, cinnamon, and sugar, creating the perfect brown sugar and cinnamon glaze. It is then covered with the perfect amount of cream cheese frosting.

Monkey Bread Ingredients

  • Rhodes Bake and Serve Rolls– These are found in the freezer section at the grocery store.
  • Brown Sugar– Contains molasses and has a rich flavor, and it has more moisture.
  • White Sugar– Is more refined and is dryer than brown sugar.
  • Cinnamon– Is the perfect spice and when it is blended with the sugars it creates the perfect sweet taste.
  • Butter– For this recipe, it is important to use real butter, not margarine. The butter adds so much flavor.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

  • Cream cheese– Make sure it is at room temperature so you don’t get lumps.
  • Powdered Sugar– This is perfect for frosting because it doesn’t have a grainy texture.
  • Butter– I use unsalted butter, but wither works. Make sure that it is at room temperature.
  • Heavy Cream– Will help this the frosting.
  • Almond Extract– Adds the perfect flavor!

How To Make Monkey Bread

  • Preheat oven to 350ยฐ. Lightly grease a bunt pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Cut 20 Rhodes Bake and Serve Rolls in half, and layer the bottom of the bunt pan with half of the cut rolls. (Cutting the rolls is easier if let the rolls thaw a little bit.
  • Mix in a bowl the brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon.
  • Melt one stick of butter in a separate bowl in the microwave. Around 10-15 seconds at a time until fully melted.
  • Drizzle half of the butter over the first layer of rolls in the bunt pan, and sprinkle half of the cinnamon and sugar mixture over the top.
  • Layer the rest of the cut rolls over the top of the first layer. Pour the rest of the butter evenly over the last layer followed by the remaining sugar and cinnamon mixture.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and a dishtowel and let rise 30 mins to an hour.
  • Bake for 30-40 mins until the top is a golden brown.
  • Allow the bread to cool 10-15 mins before removing it from the bunt pan.
  • To remove the bread from the pan place a plate on top of the pan and flip it over.
  • Frost immediately using a piping bag or a zip-lock bag with the corner cut off.

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Whip together butter, cream cheese, and almond extract.
  • Slowly mix in powdered Sugar
  • Add in heavy cream if the frosting is to think.

Tips

  1. Let the Rhodes Bake and Serve Rolls thaw a little before cutting. They are so much easier to cut when they are a little soft.
  2. After removing the bread from the oven let it cool for 10 mins before removing it from the pan. This gives it a little time to set before transferring it.
  3. Do not overfill the bunt pan with rolls, a make sure to cook it until it a golden brown color. This will help ensure that the bread is not doughy in the middle.
  4. The easiest way to remove the bread from the bundt pan is to place a plate over the top and flip it. This will keep the bread together while transferring it from the pan to the plate.
  5. I like to frost the bread using a piping bag but if you don’t have a piping bag you can always use a Zip-loc bag with the corner cut off.
  6. Finally, I like to frost the bread while it is still warm. I love to eat it when it is gooey and warm.
Close up of monkey bread so you can see the cinnamon swirl in the middle.

Can This Be Pull Apart Bread Be Made Ahead Of Time?

Yes! I always make pull apart bread the night before and bake and frost it in the morning. It is so good when it is nice and warm! You can also bake and frost it the night before if you would like. I just love how gooey it is when its warm.

One of our family’s favorite Christmas traditions is to have a big brunch. Monkey bread is always our favorite thing served! I prepare the bread the night before and cover with 2 layers of plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. When I wake up in the morning I remove it from the refrigerator and take the plastic wrap off. I then cover it with a dishtowel and let it rise for 30-60 mins. before baking and frosting. It is so nice to have one less thing to make at the end of the day.

Close up of monkey bread frosted with cream cheese frosting.

Monkey Bread

This homemade Monkey Bread is so easy to make and is so gooey and delicious. I make this delicious bread with Rhodes rolls, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Then top it with an amazing cream cheese frosting. It will become a staple at your family's next brunch or breakfast.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Cooling Time 10 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 14

Ingredients
  

  • 20 Rolls Cut in half I let mine thaw a little so they are easier to cut.
  • ยฝ Cup Brown sugar
  • ยฝ Cup White sugar
  • ยฝ Cup Melted butter (or one stick)
  • 2 tbsp Cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting.

  • 1 stick Room temperature butter
  • 8 oz Room temperature Cream Cheese (or one brick)
  • 2 Tbsp. Heavy Cream
  • 2 Tsp. Almond extract
  • 3-4 Cups Powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350ยฐ. Lightly grease a bunt pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Cut 20 Rhodes Bake and Serve Rolls in half, and layer the bottom of the bunt pan with half of the cut rolls. (Cutting the rolls is easier if let the rolls thaw a little bit.
  • In a medium bowl mix the brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon.
  • Melt one stick of butter in a separate bowl in the microwave. Around 10-15 seconds at a time until fully melted.
  • Drizzle half of the butter over the first layer of rolls in the bunt pan, and sprinkle half of the cinnamon and sugar mixture over the top.
  • Layer the rest of the cut rolls over the top of the first layer. Pour the rest of the butter evenly over the last layer followed by the remaining sugar and cinnamon mixture.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and a dish towel and let rise 30 mins to an hour.
  • Bake for 30-40 mins until the top is a golden brown.
  • Allow the bread to cool 10-15 mins before removing it from the bunt pan.
  • To remove the bread from the pan place a plate on top of the pan and flip it over.
  • Frost immediately using a piping bag or a zip-lock bag with the corner cut off.

Cream Cheese Frosting.

  • Whip together butter, cream cheese, and almond extract.
  • Slowly mix in powdered Sugar
  • Add in heavy cream if the frosting is to think.

Notes

*Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on Modernmealmakeover.com should only be used as a general guideline.
Keyword Easy Monkey Bread, Homemade Monkey Bread, Monkey Bread
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Have you tried this recipe?

RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience. Getting feedback from you helps me and other readers too!

Also, if you share on INSTAGRAM, use the hashtag #modernmealmakeover and tag me (@modernmealmakeover) so we can stop by and give your post some love. Thank you!

More Yummy Breakfast Ideas

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Recipe Rating