14 Monkey Bread Recipes That Make Christmas Morning Feel Like Being a Kid Again

In a lot of houses, Christmas morning does not really start with presents. It starts when someone flips the bundt pan and warm caramel runs down the sides of the monkey bread. Everyone reaches in with their fingers, and nobody uses a plate. Here are the sweet and savory versions worth making this season, including an overnight one so the cook can sleep in a little..

Classic from-scratch caramel monkey bread

This is the one grandma made. Soft little balls of homemade sweet dough get rolled in cinnamon sugar, stacked in a bundt pan and baked in buttery brown sugar caramel. When you flip it out, the caramel glazes every piece. It takes a little time for the dough to rise, but the smell alone is worth it. Who in your house always grabs the first piece?

You will need: 1 batch sweet yeast dough (3 1/2 cups flour, 1 packet instant yeast, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup warm milk, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 egg) or 2 tubes (16 oz each) biscuit dough, 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 3/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla.

How to make it: Make the dough, knead 5 minutes and let rise 1 hour. Pinch into 1 inch balls and roll in cinnamon sugar. Layer in a greased bundt pan. Melt butter with brown sugar and vanilla and pour over. Rise 30 minutes. Bake at 350F for 35 to 40 minutes. Rest 10 minutes and flip.

Canned biscuit shortcut monkey bread

No time for yeast dough? Refrigerated biscuits make a monkey bread that is almost as good in about half the time. Cut each biscuit into quarters, shake them in a bag of cinnamon sugar and bake with the same caramel sauce. This is the version most families make, and it is perfect for beginners and kids who want to help.

You will need: 2 tubes (16 oz each) refrigerated biscuit dough, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F and grease a bundt pan. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces and shake in a bag with sugar and cinnamon. Layer in the pan. Melt butter and brown sugar together and pour over. Bake 35 to 40 minutes until deep golden. Cool 10 minutes, then flip onto a plate.

Overnight make-ahead Christmas morning monkey bread

This is the secret to a calm Christmas morning. Assemble the monkey bread on Christmas Eve, cover the pan and let it rise slowly in the fridge overnight. In the morning, set it on the counter while the oven heats and bake. The slow rise gives the bread even more flavor, and the cook gets to drink coffee instead of kneading dough.

You will need: 1 batch sweet yeast dough (3 1/2 cups flour, 1 packet instant yeast, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup warm milk, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 egg) or 2 tubes (16 oz each) biscuit dough, 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 3/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons heavy cream.

How to make it: Prepare and shape the dough balls, roll in cinnamon sugar and layer in a greased bundt pan. Pour over melted butter, brown sugar and cream. Cover tightly and refrigerate 8 to 12 hours. In the morning, let stand 30 minutes, then bake at 350F for 40 to 45 minutes.

Caramel pecan sticky buns, pull-apart style

Pecans turn regular monkey bread into something closer to a sticky bun. Toasted nuts go in the bottom of the pan so they end up on top, coated in caramel, when you flip it. A splash of cream in the caramel keeps it soft and gooey instead of hard. It is rich, so a little slice goes a long way.

You will need: 2 tubes biscuit dough or 1 batch sweet dough, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 cup chopped pecans toasted, 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup heavy cream, pinch of salt.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F. Scatter half the pecans in a greased bundt pan. Cut dough into pieces, toss in cinnamon sugar and layer with the rest of the pecans. Simmer butter, brown sugar, cream and salt for 1 minute and pour over. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Rest 10 minutes and flip.

Apple pie monkey bread

Diced apples tucked between the dough pieces bake down into soft, cinnamon-spiced pockets that taste like apple pie filling. It is a great fall and holiday version and a good way to use up apples from the bottom of the fruit bowl. Drizzle with a quick vanilla glaze or serve warm with a scoop of ice cream for dessert.

You will need: 2 tubes biscuit dough, 2 apples peeled and diced small, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F and grease a bundt pan. Quarter the biscuits and toss with apples, sugar and cinnamon. Layer in the pan. Pour over melted butter and brown sugar. Bake 40 to 45 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, flip and drizzle with powdered sugar mixed with milk.

Eggnog glazed monkey bread

For the eggnog lovers, this holiday version uses eggnog in the dough or a thick eggnog glaze poured over the top, plus a little nutmeg in the sugar coating. It smells like the holidays from the moment it goes in the oven. Is eggnog A) a Christmas must B) only in baking C) no thank you?

You will need: 2 tubes biscuit dough, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 3 to 4 tablespoons eggnog.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F. Quarter the biscuits and toss in sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Layer in a greased bundt pan and pour over melted butter with brown sugar. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Flip after 10 minutes. Whisk powdered sugar with eggnog until thick and pour over.

Gingerbread pull-apart with cream cheese drizzle

Molasses, ginger and cinnamon in the caramel make this monkey bread taste just like a soft gingerbread cookie. It is dark, cozy and perfect with coffee on a cold morning. Top it with a cream cheese drizzle so it looks snowy. It is one of the most festive monkey bread recipes you can bring to a holiday brunch.

You will need: 2 tubes biscuit dough, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons molasses, 2 oz cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F. Quarter the biscuits and toss in sugar mixed with the spices. Layer in a greased bundt pan. Melt butter with brown sugar and molasses and pour over. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Flip after 10 minutes. Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk and drizzle on top.

Chocolate chip monkey bread

Kids will vote for this one every time. Chocolate chips scattered between the cinnamon sugar dough pieces melt into little pools of chocolate. Use mini chips so they spread evenly. Serve it warm and the chocolate is still gooey. It makes a fun treat for a holiday movie night as well as breakfast.

You will need: 2 tubes biscuit dough, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 cup mini chocolate chips, 1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F and grease a bundt pan. Quarter the biscuits and toss in sugar and cinnamon. Layer in the pan, sprinkling chocolate chips between layers. Melt butter, brown sugar and cocoa together and pour over. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Rest 10 minutes and flip.

Cream cheese stuffed monkey bread

Tuck a small cube of sweetened cream cheese inside each piece of dough before you roll it in sugar. When you pull a piece apart, there is a warm cheesecake center waiting. This is the surprise version that gets everyone talking. Pinch the dough closed tightly so the filling stays inside while it bakes.

You will need: 2 tubes biscuit dough, 8 oz cream cheese cut into 32 small cubes and tossed with 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F. Cut each biscuit in half, flatten, wrap around a cube of cream cheese and pinch closed. Roll in cinnamon sugar. Layer seam side up in a greased bundt pan. Pour over melted butter and brown sugar. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, rest 10 minutes and flip.

Cranberry orange pull-apart for the holidays

Bright orange zest and tart cranberries cut through the sweetness and make this monkey bread taste fresh and festive. The red berries look beautiful on a holiday table. Use fresh or frozen cranberries, or dried ones if that is what you have. Already made the pumpkin one? Our pumpkin monkey bread is perfect for Thanksgiving week.

You will need: 2 tubes biscuit dough, 1/2 cup sugar, zest of 2 oranges, 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, 1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons orange juice.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F. Rub orange zest into the sugar. Quarter the biscuits and toss in the orange sugar. Layer in a greased bundt pan with the cranberries. Pour over melted butter and brown sugar. Bake 40 minutes, rest 10 minutes and flip. Drizzle with powdered sugar mixed with orange juice.

Mini pull-aparts in a muffin tin

Individual monkey breads bake faster and everyone gets their own. Pile a few cinnamon sugar dough pieces into each muffin cup, drizzle with caramel and bake for about 15 minutes. They are perfect for brunch buffets, school parties and anyone who does not like sharing the corner pieces.

You will need: 1 tube biscuit dough, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 cup butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F and grease a 12 cup muffin tin. Cut each biscuit into 6 pieces and toss in cinnamon sugar. Put 4 pieces in each cup. Melt butter with brown sugar and spoon over. Bake 15 to 18 minutes until golden. Cool 5 minutes, then turn out onto a tray.

Savory garlic Parmesan monkey bread

Monkey bread does not have to be sweet. Toss the dough pieces in garlic butter, Parmesan and herbs and bake them in a bundt pan for a pull-apart bread that is perfect next to holiday ham, a pot of chili or spaghetti night. Serve it with warm marinara for dipping. Which do you prefer: A) sweet B) savory?

You will need: 2 tubes biscuit dough, 1/2 cup butter melted, 4 garlic cloves minced, 3/4 cup grated Parmesan, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, marinara for dipping.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F and grease a bundt pan. Mix butter and garlic. Quarter the biscuits, toss in the garlic butter, then in Parmesan and seasoning. Layer in the pan with mozzarella. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Rest 5 minutes, flip and sprinkle with parsley.

Pizza monkey bread for game day

This is the one teenagers ask for. Dough pieces get tossed with garlic butter, pepperoni and mozzarella and baked into a pull-apart pizza loaf. Set it in the middle of the table with a bowl of warm pizza sauce and watch it vanish during the big game. Swap in cooked sausage or veggies to change it up.

You will need: 2 tubes biscuit dough, 1/4 cup butter melted, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 cup chopped pepperoni, 2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1 cup pizza sauce.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F and grease a bundt pan. Quarter the biscuits and toss with butter, garlic powder and seasoning. Layer in the pan with pepperoni, mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until golden and cooked through. Flip and serve with warm pizza sauce.

Ham and cheese Christmas brunch pull-apart

For a savory Christmas brunch, this monkey bread is a full breakfast in one pan. Dough pieces bake with diced ham, cheddar and a little egg, so it holds together like a pull-apart breakfast casserole. It is a smart way to use leftover holiday ham. Which monkey bread is going on your Christmas table this year?

You will need: 2 tubes biscuit dough, 1 1/2 cups diced cooked ham, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, 3 eggs, 1/4 cup milk, 3 tablespoons melted butter, 2 green onions sliced, 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

How to make it: Heat the oven to 350F and grease a bundt pan. Quarter the biscuits and toss with butter. Whisk eggs, milk and pepper. Layer biscuits in the pan with ham, cheese and green onion, pouring egg over each layer. Bake 35 to 40 minutes until set and golden. Rest 10 minutes and flip.