This Easter Brunch Monkey Bread is a fun and tasty treat! Made with sweet dough pieces rolled in cinnamon sugar, it’s baked until golden and gooey. Perfect for sharing on a festive morning!
Plus, who doesn’t love pulling apart soft, sugary bites? It’s a guaranteed hit at the brunch table! I love serving it warm with a drizzle of icing—so good, it’s hard to resist going back for more!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Biscuit/Crescent Dough: This is the star of your monkey bread! If you can’t find refrigerated biscuits, you can use homemade dough or even puff pastry. Crescent roll dough gives it a flakier texture, which is delightful!
Granulated Sugar: Regular granulated sugar does the job well. For a healthier option, try coconut sugar or a sweetener blend. Both will add a different flavor, but it’s a fun twist!
Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon gives that cozy flavor, but feel free to add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom for a warm kick. If you want to go sugar-free, there are cinnamon-flavored sugar alternatives too.
Unsalted Butter: Butter adds richness, but if you’re looking for a dairy-free option, coconut oil or vegan butter works nicely. Just make sure it’s melted before adding.
Brown Sugar: Using light brown sugar is standard, but dark brown sugar will give a deeper, molasses flavor. You can also substitute with maple syrup for a unique twist.
How Do I Melt Butter and Brown Sugar Perfectly?
This step is crucial for creating a gooey topping. Begin by measuring your butter and brown sugar into a saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously to ensure the sugar dissolves properly without burning. When you see bubbles forming, it’s ready! This should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Measure out the butter and brown sugar into the saucepan.
- Keep the heat medium; if it’s too high, the sugar might burn.
- Stir constantly until everything is melted and combined, then remove from heat.
How to Make Easter Brunch Monkey Bread
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For The Monkey Bread:
- 3 cans (16.3 oz each) refrigerated biscuit dough or crescent roll dough
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For The Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Decorations:
- Colorful Easter candy eggs (chocolate or sugar-coated)
How Much Time Will You Need?
This delicious Easter brunch monkey bread will take about 15 minutes to prepare and 35-40 minutes to bake. Allow an additional 10 minutes to cool before serving. So, in total, you will spend about 1 hour working on this festive treat!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat and Prepare the Pan:
First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While that’s heating up, generously grease a bundt pan with butter or spray it with non-stick spray to prevent the monkey bread from sticking.
2. Cut the Dough:
Open your cans of refrigerated biscuit dough or crescent roll dough. Cut them into bite-sized pieces, about 1 to 1.5 inches each. This makes it easy to pull apart later!
3. Coat the Dough in Cinnamon Sugar:
In a large zip-top bag or a bowl, mix the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon together. Toss the cut dough pieces in the mixture so that each piece gets coated nicely with that sweet cinnamon sugar combo.
4. Melt the Butter and Brown Sugar:
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and packed brown sugar together. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth and bubbling. Then, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract for that extra yummy flavor!
5. Layer in the Bundt Pan:
Now it’s time to assemble! Arrange the coated dough pieces evenly in the bundt pan. Layer them as you go to ensure every bite is deliciously sweet.
6. Add the Butter Brown Sugar Mixture:
Pour the warm butter-brown sugar mixture over the arranged dough pieces in the pan. Make sure to distribute it evenly for that gooey goodness!
7. Bake the Monkey Bread:
Pop the bundt pan into your preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the dough is cooked through. A few pieces might be slightly darker, but that’s perfectly fine—just avoid burnt edges!
8. Cool Before Serving:
Once baked, take the monkey bread out of the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. This will make it easier to turn out. After it cools, carefully invert it onto a serving plate.
9. Make the Glaze:
While the bread is cooling, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until it’s smooth and creamy. This delicious glaze will be drizzled right over your monkey bread!
10. Decorate Your Monkey Bread:
Once the bread is on the plate and slightly cooled, drizzle the glaze all over the top. Now for the fun part—decorate with colorful Easter candy eggs around the center hole for that festive touch!
11. Enjoy!:
Serve your warm Easter brunch monkey bread right away. It’s perfect for pulling apart and sharing—enjoy your delicious creation with family and friends!
Can I Use Frozen Dough Instead?
Yes, you can use frozen biscuit or crescent roll dough! Just make sure to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or let it sit at room temperature until fully softened before cutting into pieces.
How Do I Store Leftover Monkey Bread?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also refrigerate it for up to a week. To reheat, warm individual pieces in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds or in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes until warm.
Can I Make This Recipe Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough and coat it in the cinnamon sugar mixture the night before, then refrigerate it in the bundt pan. In the morning, pour the warm butter-brown sugar mixture over it and bake as directed!
What Can I Use Instead of Candy Eggs for Decoration?
If you prefer not to use candy eggs, you can decorate with crushed nuts, sprinkles, or fresh fruit like berries for a colorful, festive touch!
