• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers & Dips
    • Bakery Recipes
    • Bars & Brownie Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Brunch & Breakfast Recipes
    • Cakes, Cupcakes & Cheesecakes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Condiments & Sauces
    • Cookies & Crackers
    • Desserts
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Grains & Legumes
    • Muffins and Quick Breads
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pies & Tarts
    • Readers' Favorite Recipes
  • Collections
    • Freezer Friendly
    • Heritage Recipes
    • Seasonal Recipes
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
    • Vintage Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • St. Patrick's Day
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
  • Basic recipes
  • About this blog
    • The author
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility statement

Vintage Kitchen Notes logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • ALL RECIPES
  • Holidays
  • Seasonal
  • Vintage
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ALL RECIPES
    • Holidays
    • Seasonal
    • Vintage
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Bread Recipes

    Published: Jan 6, 2013 · Modified: Jun 20, 2019 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliate links 50 Comments

    Caramelized Monkey Bread

    Pieces of white bread dough are dipped in butter and cinnamon sugar, creating a caramelized surface when the monkey bread bakes. It's a great breakfast and brunch recipe.

    Glazed monkey bread on a wire rack on a wooden surface, with yellow bowl in background.

    Bucket lists.

    A new year, a new recipe crossed off the list. The List. If I thought starting a food blog would shorten it, of course, I was wrong by a gazillion light years.

    The List is relentless in its urgency, each item more important than the last one, which seemed so urgent at the time.

    So, what's on your bucket list as you start the year? You might find what you need today here or just add a few dozen new ones. That's how good the list of recipes is.

    Wooden table with yellow bowl and pieces of monkey bread.

    The List has two types of recipes, the ones I need to tackle because of a certain technique I want to master and the ones that just need to be made because I've been wanting to forever, and that is a long time, according to the years I've been cooking, like this monkey bread.

    I don't think I ever saw a monkey bread pic that I didn't find amazing. Yet here I am, making it for the first time.

    This recipe is from Mel, who has an amazing blog. That woman can come up with some of the most incredible recipes. Not to mention the cutest kids. 

    Unbaked monkey bread pieces in a bundt cake pan.

    Little balls of bread are dipped first in butter and then in brown sugar with cinnamon and baked until caramelized.

    It's like the best combination ever, for breakfast, snack, movie watching, the perfect sugar/starch craving soother. Or just because you wanted to make something decadent and fun to eat.

    You probably have every ingredient in your house. You can use white sugar only, another spice or citrus zest, or a boozy glaze, which I did. 

    I added rum instead of milk because I really can't help myself. Please, please eat it while it's warm. And then lick your fingers.

    My sugar-coated balls of dough look two different colors because they were. I ran out of light brown sugar and had to go with dark brown for the last part.

    Partial view of monkey bread on a wire rack on a wooden surface.

    Mine unmolded pretty nicely, something that is achieved only if done within the first minutes after taking it out of the oven. Still, three pics later, it started to fall apart, which made it even more impossible not to start eating at once.

    After all, it was falling apart. Interesting how fast one can pop these bites and not even realize a huge chunk of monkey bread is gone.

    Caramelized Monkey Bread on a wire rack on a wooden table.

    One last thing.

    About dipping in melted butter and then in sugar. You have two hands, and it's a good decision to use one for each chore.

    So, if you don't follow my advice and end up with two hands thickly buttered and sugared, so much that you have to wash them before you realize you've done it again and again, and again, don't come here to complain. 

    Monkey bread pieces on a wooden table, yellow bowl in background.

    Here is the link to this wonderful monkey bread. 

    More Bread Recipes

    • Peanut Butter Bread
    • Apple Cinnamon Bread
    • No-Knead Baguette Recipe
    • Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Thank you for leaving a review for this recipe Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Karen Hartzell (@InTheKitchenKP) says

      January 13, 2013 at 5:16 pm

      Love this and the cinnamon and sugar in your pictures looks so delicious! Happy Sunday, Paula!

      Reply
    2. Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking says

      January 13, 2013 at 1:24 am

      my bucket list grows longer with every blog I read. and yes, monkey bread is always on my to-bake list.
      Thanks for sharing it with #bakeyourownbread

      Reply
    3. Amanda says

      January 11, 2013 at 7:16 pm

      Monkey bread has been on my list of things I want to make and this post has made that desire even stronger. Yours looks soooo good. I will have to get on it asap!

      Reply
    4. Anne @ Webicurean says

      January 10, 2013 at 7:02 pm

      wow just wow. I'm afraid if I made something like this I'd eat the whole thing! it's way too easy with all those little bites!

      Reply
    5. Lane says

      January 09, 2013 at 5:39 pm

      One of my favorite things about staying with my inlaws is MIL's monkey bread! I have never made it myself, but I have dreams about it. This looks fantastic!

      Reply
    6. Mary Hirsch says

      January 09, 2013 at 3:26 am

      I must admit it. I am crazy about monkey bread but don't make it often.........for that very reason. Yours looks so good, Paula. Did you eat the whole thing? Be honest.

      Reply
    7. Cocoa and Lavender says

      January 08, 2013 at 4:28 pm

      I have never had a monkey bread - now I want to try it! What isn't good about that combination? Hmmmm... I have to think about bucket list recipes. Probably a Gateau St. Honoré - my mother made me one for my birthday when I was a teen, and I have always wanted to try making one. What a great idea instead of a New Year's resolution - a bucket list fulfillment! ~ David

      Reply
    8. Laura Dembowski says

      January 07, 2013 at 8:51 pm

      I've always wanted to try monkey bread too! Yours looks great 🙂

      Reply
    9. Andrea_TheKitchenLioness says

      January 07, 2013 at 6:40 pm

      Paula, I have really been wanting to make a Monkey Bread for the longest times - the kids would love for me it, I am sure. And now that I have seen your terrific version and the wonderful pictures, I am encouraged to finally make one!

      Reply
    10. Sarah Reid says

      January 07, 2013 at 6:06 pm

      OMG yes please!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Person with apron and tray of scones

    Hi, I'm Paula!

    A baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe finder, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    More about me →

    Featured in:

    Several colorful logos on white canvas

    Popular recipes

    • Caramel Apple Dump Cake
    • Old Fashioned Zucchini Bundt Cake
    • Easy No Bake Lemon Dessert
    • Easy Homemade Blueberry Sauce (or topping)
    • Almond Plum Cake
    • Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

    Footer

    About

    The author
    Privacy Policy
    Amazon Associate
    Cookie Policy
    Accessibility

    Contact

    Sign Up! for emails and updates
    Contact


    Copyright © 2022 Vintage Kitchen Notes