It always surprises me to meet a person who has never heard of Monkey Bread. Never bit into the sweet yeasty dough. Never licked the sticky sugary goodness from their lips. In honor of Monday FunDay, it is time to remedy this situation.
The photograph on the left is of Monkey Bread that I made last summer. (Yes, those cups are from Ikea and yes I do sometimes take pictures my food – pictures have considerably fewer calories) The kids and I made a “loaf” last night but it was devoured before a picture could be taken. The best thing about Monkey Bread is that it is nearly impossible to goof up.
Basic Monkey Bread
- 3 (12 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough*
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup margarine
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9 or 10 inch tube pan.
- Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a plastic bag. Cut biscuits into quarters. Shake 6 to 8 biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mix. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the prepared pan. Continue until all biscuits are coated and placed in pan. If using nuts and raisins, arrange them in and among the biscuit pieces as you go along.
- In a small saucepan, melt the margarine with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over the biscuits.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Do not cut! The bread just pulls apart.
*I like to make my own dough in the bread machine using this recipe. Another option if you don’t like the taste of refrigerated biscuit dough is to purchase Rhodes frozen rolls which are equally delicious.
Monkey Bread is an excellent recipe to make with kids. My children like to hop on the counter and roll the dough pieces in the cinnamon mixture. I also let them arrange the dough in the pan. Monkey Bread is best eaten warm (after cooling for ten minutes). Forks are optional; simply pluck off your serving and devour.
Keep the monkey theme alive…
Snuggle up with the little ones in your life and read these fabulous monkey tales.
Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (Board Book)
Chimps Don’t Wear Glasses (Stories to Go!)
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, man, it’s been decades since I had monkey bread! You just took me back to, oh, let’s say early 1980, to my friend Bev’s house. She and her mom made it for us in the morning after a girls’ sleepover…so delicious….wow….okay, I’m totally making this for my kids sometime this week! Thanks for the recipe, instructions, inspiration, and fun!
(what a great bonus idea to add those books!)
(your link worked perfectly just now, by the way–it’s always a pleasure seeing you)
I have never had that recipe but my mouth is salivating at the moment. I think I have a snack idea for tonight.
yum! monkey bread
we have those same ikea cups
Ooh – I love monkey bread! I have so many good memories of making this with my mom as a kid. I will have to make it again soon
Thanks a lot Kristen, now I want to make monkey bread. Maybe I’ll wait until my great nephews & niece come over.
The power of suggestion… or just a really great photo. Hey, if my food looked as good as that, I would take pics of it too!
Loved the monkey theme idea- I’m all about themes.
Did I tell you I’m doing a Ratatouille bday party for Lindsay? Any ideas?
Never heard of it! But from the picture and the Wikipedia description, this is my kinda bread! “…sticky, gooey pastry .” What’s not to love? Thanks for the recipe.
I also use my own homemade bread dough. If it’s a last minute thing I decide to make, then I use homemade buttermilk biscuits.
The dough recipe that I linked to also makes great dinner rolls. They remind me of the yeasty steakhouse rolls that are slightly sweet.
I make monkey bread this afternoon for my crazy monkeys. Noah was a little scared to try it, because he thought I actually had made it OUT of monkeys!
The brown sugar was very scrumptious & carameliscious. I think I just invented a new word there.
Carameliscious…I like it!
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