Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

This delightful cinnamon roll monkey bread takes simple, store-bought cinnamon rolls and transforms them into an extraordinary treat that’s fun to pull apart and even more enjoyable to eat! Imagine the warmth of cinnamon, the sweetness of sugar, and a gooey glaze. You only need five ingredients, and you can bring this delicious dessert to the table in under an hour.

Each bite offers layers of soft, buttery, cinnamon-sugar goodness, topped off with a delicious icing that makes it all come together. Best of all, this recipe is incredibly easy to make—you might want to grab your piece quickly before it disappears!

Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Irresistibly Sweet Taste: The rich, caramelized flavor of brown sugar combined with cinnamon and icing makes for a decadent dessert that’s tough to resist.
Easy to Make: Using pre-packaged cinnamon rolls cuts down on prep time, giving you impressive results without the hassle.
Interactive & Fun: The experience of pulling apart the sticky, sugary pieces adds a playful element to dessert time.
Make-Ahead: Prepare the dish the night before and bake in the morning for a leisurely brunch or breakfast.

Ingredients

Granulated Sugar: Adds a sweet crunch and sparkle to the outside.
Ground Cinnamon: Infuses the bread with a warm and inviting flavor.
Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls: Convenient and fluffy rolls that remove the need for scratch-made dough.
Brown Sugar: Creates a rich, delicious sauce when mixed with butter.
Butter: Melts beautifully, lending a gooey, caramelized texture.

How to Make Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Making this monkey bread is a breeze! Just follow these 9 simple steps:

1. Prep

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan to ensure the bread releases easily once it’s baked.

2. Combine

In a large resealable plastic bag, mix together the granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Shake the bag well to combine the ingredients.

3. Cut and Coat

Separate the cinnamon rolls into 16 individual rolls and cut each roll into four equal pieces. Working in batches, place the pieces into the bag, seal it, and shake until coated. This method ensures that each piece gets an even coating of cinnamon sugar.

4. Assemble

Arrange the cinnamon-sugar-coated pieces in the prepared Bundt pan in an even layer.

5. Make the Sauce

In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and the remaining teaspoon of cinnamon until smooth. Pour this sweet mixture evenly over the dough pieces in the Bundt pan.

6. Bake

Place the Bundt pan into the oven and bake for 28-32 minutes. The monkey bread is ready when it turns golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

7. Cool and Invert

Let the monkey bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. After that, carefully turn it upside down onto a serving plate to remove it from the Bundt pan.

8. Add the Icing

Warm the icing packets that came with the cinnamon rolls in the microwave for a few seconds. Drizzle the icing generously over the warm monkey bread, letting it soak into those delicious layers.

9. Serve

Serve the monkey bread warm and enjoy the fun of pulling apart the pieces for a delightful treat!

A wooden plate of cinnamon roll monkey bread with icing.

Tips for the Best Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

This delicious monkey bread is hard to get wrong, but these tips will help you elevate it to perfection:

Cut perfectly sized pieces: Cut each cinnamon roll into quarters—it provides the perfect cooking texture and time.
Watch the cooling time: Don’t let the bread cool for longer than 10 minutes in the pan to avoid hardening of the caramel.
Make it pretty: Drizzle icing in a zigzag pattern while the bread is warm but not hot to prevent total melting.
Get ahead of the game: Prepare the first five steps the night before, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Bake fresh in the morning, adding about 5-7 minutes to the baking time if cold.
Try tasty variations: Add in chopped nuts, raisins, or apple pieces for fun twists, or swap some brown sugar with maple syrup for a different flavor!

How to Store

Here’s how to keep your leftover monkey bread fresh so you can enjoy it later!

To Store:

Place any leftover monkey bread in an airtight container, or tightly wrap it in plastic. It can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, maintaining its freshness and texture.

To Freeze:

If you have more than you can eat, let the monkey bread cool completely. Then, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

To Reheat:

For individual portions, pop them into the microwave for about 20-30 seconds. If you want to reheat larger portions, preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) and warm it for 5-10 minutes until it’s warmed through.