Cinnamon Monkey Bread with Crescent Rolls (Pull-Apart Bread)

by Kayla Berman on June 30, 2022 12 comments

Cinnamon Monkey Bread is made with canned Pillsbury crescent rolls, cinnamon sugar, and a brown sugar butter caramel glaze! This easy 5 ingredient sweet treat breakfast or dessert recipe is perfectly sticky, ooey-gooey, and delicious. It’s bound to be a new family favorite!

Looking for more crescent roll recipes? Check out my Crescent Roll Peach Cobbler, Ham & Cheese Crescent Rolls or Cheesy Crescent Roll Garlic Knots. Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls too! They are another great recipe using pre-made dough.

Ooey-Gooey, Sticky, & Delicious Monkey Bread

One of my favorite categories of recipes are those sweet treat breakfast dessert hybrids that are served at a holiday brunch or family breakfast! You know – the cinnamon rolls, french toasts, and coffee cakes. If anything under the category is being served, there will be a hefty serving on my plate.

What can I say? I have a sweet tooth at all times of the day, even at my first meal.

That’s why it is no surprise that I am in love with cinnamon crescent roll monkey bread! It has all the delicious qualities I look for in a breakfast treat.

It’s sticky, ooey-gooey, full of warm cinnamon flavor, and covered in a buttery brown sugar glaze. Plus it is such an easy recipe. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

For more breakfast treats check out my crescent roll cinnamon rolls, french toast bake with cream cheese frosting, or cinnamon coffee cake.

Ingredients

Crescent roll monkey bread is made with only 5 simple ingredients! Pre-made refrigerated dough, cinnamon sugar, and an incredible brown sugar butter caramel.

They come together to make a simple, but scrumptious pull apart bread recipe!

Ingredient Notes

Crescent Rolls: Crescent rolls are of course the base of this easy monkey bread recipe! You’ll need 3 cans. I use and recommend Pillsbury crescent rolls, but you can use any kind you find in the grocery store.
White Sugar: The dough in this recipe is coated in white sugar. 1/2 cup is the perfect amount of sweetness!
Light Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar makes for a delicious glaze here. Add 1/2 cup.
Salted Butter: Butter is used multiple times throughout this recipe! You’ll need 1/2 cup for the caramel sauce and 2 tbsp of melted butter to top the finished bread.
Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon gives this recipe that classic warm flavor we all know and love!

Substitutions & Additions

There are not many substitutions you can make to this easy breakfast recipe as there are not too many ingredients to begin with! However, there are a few tasty additions you could make.

Crescent Rolls: Although this whole recipe revolves around crescent rolls you could use a different refrigerated dough if you would like. Perhaps a biscuit dough!

Nuts: Adding some nuts to this classic monkey bread would be such a fabulous idea! They would add some yummy flavor and a perfect texture. Try layering in some pecans or almonds with the dough balls.

Chocolate Chips: I think chocolate chips would be another great addition. Just like the nuts!

Spices: I love the classic cinnamon flavor in this recipe, but you could add some extra spices to take the flavor up a notch. Or to celebrate certain holidays! Like pumpkin pie spice during the fall or gingerbread vibes for Christmas morning.

How To Make This Recipe

This sticky bread is incredibly quick and easy to make! It comes together in much less time and with much less effort than a regular monkey bread.

All you have to do is prepare the crescent dough, coat in sugar & cinnamon spice, and add a delectable caramel sauce on top. Pop in the oven until golden brown and you’ll have the best sweet treat ready in no time!

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Set the oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Remove the crescent roll dough from the can, but do not unroll to the large rectangle. Cut the dough log into 9 even slices. Then cut each slice in half.

Step 3: Combine the white sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Coat the dough pieces thoroughly in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Tip: Toss in a large plastic bag.

a crescent dough piece being sprinkled with cinnamon sugar

Step 4: Heavily grease a bundt pan with cooking spray. Place the coated dough pieces in the pan. Dispersing them evenly. Top with any remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.

Step 5: Next add the light brown sugar and 1/2 cup of butter to a pan on the stove over medium heat. Melt and then bring to a slight simmer for 1-2 minutes. Reduce the heat and let thicken a bit.

crescent dough coated with cinnamon sugar

Step 6: Pour the brown sugar butter mixture over the dough pieces in the bundt pan. Spreading as evenly as possible. Bake for 30 minutes.

Step 7: Let cool for 5-10 minutes, then carefully flip and remove the bread from the pan. See the Expert Tips section for more help!

Step 8: Melt the remaining 2 tbsp butter. Then drizzle it over the baked monkey bread. Enjoy!

Expert Tips

When coating the dough in cinnamon sugar, use a plastic bag. Toss the dough pieces and cinnamon sugar mixture into the bag and shake until everything is coated evenly. This is quite the time saver over coating each piece individually!

Grease the bundt pan thoroughly! This will ensure your monkey bread comes out easily and nothing sticks.

Pack the dough into the pan. I think this helps stick all the pieces together!

Once the monkey bread is removed from the oven allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before removing from the pan. This will allow everything to set properly.

Flip quickly and carefully! – When you are ready to remove the bread from the pan, place a cooling rack or serving plate face down on top of the bundt pan. Flip the bundt pan and serving surface together. Then place the plate or rack down. Slowly and carefully lift to remove the pan.

I recommend to serve this recipe immediately for the best results!

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of pan can I use for monkey bread?

I recommend using a bundt pan! It is the classic option and I love the look.

But you could really bake this in any pan you would like or have on hand. The baking times might just be slightly different!

Why is monkey bread called monkey bread?

This type of recipe is called monkey bread because of the style in which it is eaten … like a monkey!

The fun method of enjoying these pull apart bread recipes by using our hands is quite similar to how monkeys behave.

How do I prevent monkey bread from falling apart?

The key to keeping your bread from falling apart is to generously grease the pan. I mean very generously!

I also recommend using cooking spray rather than melted butter.

What do I serve with this recipe?

This recipe is perfect for special occasions! Especially brunch.

I recommend enjoying with these Ham & Cheese Egg Cups and Yogurt Granola Cups!

How to best store this recipe?

Store this recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days!

Love this recipe? Check out more delicious recipes…

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If you make this crescent roll recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

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