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Warm, gooey, sweet and cozy. These are just some of the feels that spring to mind when I think about this super easy Gingerbread Monkey Bread recipe.
Using refrigerated cans of biscuits (Pillsbury Grands are the best!) makes this an easy, family-friendly treat to make and to enjoy.
Nothing says holiday comfort like this pull apart bread, perfect for those snuggly mornings. This is the best monkey bread recipe for the holiday season!
Ingredients for GINGERBREAD Grands MONKEY BREAD
Homemade monkey bread is a great recipe that brings the whole family together, so we keep it very simple with the list of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Pillsbury Grands Biscuits. It’s become confusing at the supermarket these days with all of the different canned biscuits! In terms of Pillsbury Grands, you’ve got your choice of Buttermilk, Honey Butter, Flaky Layers, Southern Recipe and more.What you want to grab for this Gingerbread Monkey Bread using Grands Biscuits is the Original style. If you can’t find the Original, get the Flaky Layers but make sure it’s the Original style of Flaky Layers.
Confusing, I know. The point is to not get Buttermilk or anything with added butter flavor. The recipe will not come out right with those kind of biscuits. - Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar
- White Sugar
- Homemade gingerbread spice. See below for the details.
WHAT’S IN THE HOMEMADE GINGERBREAD SPICE
You’ll find so many uses for this homemade gingerbread spice long after you use it in this Gingerbread Monkey Bread. Here’s what you’ll need:
I’ll provide the exact measurements in the recipe card below. Just whisk it all together and it’s ready to go!
Any leftover gingerbread spice can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container.
HOW TO MAKE GINGERBREAD grands MONKEY BREAD
Everyone in the house is going to want to get in on making this fun holiday pull apart bread! And the great part is that everyone can have a job:
- First, have someone cut each Grands biscuit into small pieces. Then, roll the pieces into ball shapes.
- Have the next person roll the biscuit pieces in the gingerbread spice mixture and place them into a bundt pan.
- If you have an extra person, have them whisk the brown sugar and butter together on the stove until the sugar melts. Pour it over the biscuits.
- Now you’re ready to bake!
HOW TO SERVE THIS easy monkey bread recipe
Be sure to cool this Gingerbread Monkey Bread before you turn it out of the bundt pan.
After the Gingerbread Monkey Bread cools and you invert it onto a serving plate, drizzle it with the easy vanilla glaze. It’s just that final somethin’ somethin’ that makes it extra special.
It’s best served slightly warm or at room temperature.
VARIATIONS ON THIS EASY MONKEY BREAD MUFFIN RECIPE
There are so many fun twists on the traditional cinnamon-sugar monkey bread that there could be a new monkey bread for every occasion! Here are some delicious recipes to try:
- Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread. Take the decadence factor over the top by using refrigerated cinnamon rolls instead of biscuit dough. Drizzle the cream cheese icing that comes with the cinnamon roll dough over the top for more heavenly goodness.
- Sticky Bun Monkey Bread. Make my Sticky Bun Monkey Bread recipe with plump raisins and either pecans or walnuts. The sweetness of the raisins and the texture of the nuts make every bite an adventure!
- Chocolate Lover’s Monkey Bread. Every kid’s favorite, this version incorporates mini chocolate chips into the layers of biscuit dough. Finish the cooled monkey bread with a drizzle of warm chocolate sauce.
- Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread. A fun treat for fall! Sprinkle diced apples into the layers of biscuit dough for a sweet treat that tastes like apple pie!
- Pumpkin Spice Monkey Bread. There’s nothing better during pumpkin season! Add premade pumpkin spice or a homemade blend of nutmeg, ginger and cloves to the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Top these muffins off with a warm drizzle of caramel sauce.
- Monkey Bread Muffins. Make a personalized version of this Gingerbread Monkey Bread by using a 12-cup muffin tin.
WHAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE A BUNDT PAN?
While a bundt pan isn’t necessarily required to make this Sticky Bun Monkey Bread, it’s traditional to use one. If you don’t have a bundt pan, try standard loaf pan, round cake pan or tube pan.
I have not tested this recipe in anything but a bundt pan, so I cannot guarantee your results. If you’re trying this recipe in another type of pan, my advice would be to half the measurements, just to be sure that all of the biscuits will cook through.
WHY IS IT CALLED MONKEY BREAD?
Monkey Bread gets its name because of the way it is eaten. You pick off the sweet little balls of dough and it resembles how a monkey looks when he is grooming his friend or mate.
If you’ve ever watched Animal Planet or visited a zoo, you know what I’m talking about. Kind of weird to name a food after this, but also kind of funny.
Make Ahead Instructions for this Gingerbread grands Monkey Bread
This gingerbread monkey bread is an easy recipe to assemble ahead of time. Arrange the gingerbread-coated biscuit pieces in a bundt pan, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it. When you’re ready to bake the monkey bread, melt the butter and brown sugar and pour it over the biscuits.
You may need to increase the baking time by 5-10 minutes to account for the colder biscuits if they’re right out of the fridge.
When you make this Gingerbread Monkey Bread recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!
FOR MORE CHRISTMAS MORNING RECIPES, TRY THESE:
- Sticky Bun Monkey Bread
- Overnight Everything Bagel & Smoked Salmon Casserole
- Cinnamon Raisin Breakfast Bake
FOR MORE GINGERBREAD RECIPES, TRY THESE:
- Gingerbread Cookies with Vanilla Bean Frosting
- Caramel Gingerbread Trifle with Bourbon Cream
- Gingerbread Cakes with Lemon-Ginger Frosting
Gingerbread Monkey Bread using Grands Biscuits
Ingredients
- 3 tubes large biscuit dough (not buttermilk) recommend Pillsbury Grands
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 Tbsp. ground ginger
- 3/4 tsp. ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 Tbsp. milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a bundt pan thoroughly with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and cloves in a medium bowl. (Alternatively, place the mixture into a large plastic food-storage bag.)
- Cut each biscuit into quarters and roll each piece into a ball. Coat the dough balls in the gingerbread spice and arrange in the bundt pan. (Alternatively, place the biscuit pieces into the plastic food bag, seal and shake gently to coat.)
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low to medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar. Whisk until the sugar dissolves. Pour melted butter evenly over the biscuit dough.
- Bake for 1 hour, until top is golden brown. Cool completely before inverting onto a serving dish.
- Before serving, make the vanilla glaze: Whisk sugar, milk and vanilla together in a small bowl. Drizzle over the monkey bread.
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