Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Name: Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 packages Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls with frosting; 1 cup sugar; 1 tbsp cinnamon; 1 stick butter; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 2 tbsp maple syrup

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Is it dessert or breakfast? This Easy Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread is easy to make with only 10 minutes prep and tastes amazing!

cinnamon roll monkey bread on white cake stand

I would like to take a moment to apologize if you might be on a diet or maybe trying to lose a few pounds....because this most definitely is NOT the recipe for you. I know, because I have been trying to eat cleaner lately and then I made this last week to post on the blog and it was literally painful not to eat the entire thing.

It's good y'all. Really good. And so darn easy to make too.

It's like the entire universe aligned to make this one beautiful ooey gooey Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread just to make your mouth water. My mouth is watering just writing this and remembering how delicious it was!!

The entire recipe started because I noticed on a recent grocery trip Pillsbury Grands® Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Dough in the refrigerator section, already made and it came with icing or cream cheese frosting.

I had already planned to share another Monkey Bread recipe this month but I got to thinking that I could use that dough to make a Cinnamon Roll version and oh I'm so glad I did!

Ingredients

Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Dough (along with frosting included)
cinnamon
sugar
brown sugar
butter
maple syrup

Step by step

Generously grease your bundt pan.
Divide each of the premade cinnamon rolls into two and roll each half into a ball.
Toss those dough balls into a gallon plastic bag as you make them.
When you're finished, pour 1 cup of sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon into the bag, close it and shake it up to coat the dough.
Place the coated dough balls into a greased bundt pan.
In a bowl , microwave 1 stick of butter, ½ cup brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons of maple syrup for one minute. Stir until uniform and pour over the dough mixture.
Bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes or until the inner dough is baked through and the outside is a deep golden brown.
Allow to cool five minutes before inverting onto a plate and topping with frosting.

Tips for best results

Allow the monkey bread to cool for 5 minutes before inverting but don't allow it to cool too long as the syrup will harden in the pan and make it difficult to remove.

FAQs

Does monkey bread need to be refrigerated?

If you by the Pillsbury Grands with regular icing you can store covered at room temperature. If you opt for the cream cheese frosting it will need to be stored in the refrigerator.

Can I make this ahead of time?

I'd recommend prepping the dough in the bundt pan ahead of time and waiting until you are ready to serve to add the syrup and bake. This monkey bread tastes its best fresh from the oven.

Can you freeze cinnamon roll monkey bread?

While this bread tastes best fresh and I don't recommend freezing it, you can freeze the monkey bread in a freezer safe container up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and microwave to serve warm. Be forewarned, the texture and taste will be diminished after freezing.

Variations

add chopped pecans, raisins, or chopped apples
make in a loaf pan, casserole dish, or in a muffin tin (baking time will vary)
top with caramel sauce instead of icing
top with powdered sugar
add chocolate chips
top with maple syrup and whipped cream
dip into the icing instead of adding it on top

You might also like this Baklava Monkey Bread or Apple French Toast Bake.

If you’ve tried this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!