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Nothing beats the warmly spiced aroma of gooey Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread baking in the oven! It’s an easy breakfast or brunch recipe that you can prep ahead in just 10 minutes. Perfect for Christmas morning!

Fork digging into Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread on a small plate

What is Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread?

Monkey bread is a soft, sticky and sweet pastry that’s made with pieces of soft baked dough sprinkled with cinnamon. Monkey bread is often made from scratch or with store-bought Pillsbury biscuit dough and prepared in a Bundt pan.

Here, I’ve added a holiday twist by using cinnamon roll dough that’s baked in a casserole dish (making it easier to serve, in my opinion). You get chunks of pecan cinnamon roll in every bite, which are coated in ooey, gooey, caramel on the bottom and drizzled with frosting on the top. Seriously…does it get any better?

Overhead shot of cinnamon roll monkey bread casserole in a baking dish

How to make Monkey Bread without a Bundt Pan:

The monkey bread comes together in just 10 minutes, it can sit in the refrigerator overnight (or you can bake it immediately), and it will be warm from the oven 30 minutes later!

You’ll need the following ingredients:

Close up shot of cinnamon roll monkey bread in a baking dish drizzled with icing

  1. First, toss the chopped cinnamon roll dough in a combination of cinnamon and sugar.
  2. Place the dough in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and sprinkle with pecans.
  3. Next, mix together brown sugar and melted butter. Pour this butter mixture over the dough.
  4. Finally, bake the casserole at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes. Then just drizzle with the cinnamon roll icing and serve!

Close up shot of bite of monkey bread on a fork

What to serve with Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread:

There are many savory breakfast recipes that go well with this sweet bread. Here are a few options:

Plus, don’t forget the fresh fruit or Honey Lemon Fruit Salad!

Close up front shot of a serving spoon in a dish of cinnamon roll monkey bread

Cook’s Tips and Recipe Variations:

  • Turn these into Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Muffins by dividing the ingredients among 8 muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees F for just 10 minutes, and then drizzle with icing.
  • How long does Monkey Bread last? Store the Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Casserole in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
  • Can I freeze this casserole? Yes — once the casserole is baked, you can freeze the leftovers wrapped tightly for up to 2 months.
  • Use other varieties of cinnamon rolls (such as the Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls) to mix up the flavor.
  • Swap out the pecans and use walnuts in this Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Bake.
  • After drizzling with icing, add festive-colored sprinkles on top.
  • Make this Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread with Apples! Simply add 1 peeled and diced Granny Smith apple to the dough pieces when you toss them in the cinnamon and sugar. Then transfer the apples and dough to the prepared dish and proceed with the rest of the recipe instructions.
  • Prepare this Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread in the Crock Pot! Arrange the dough and the rest of the ingredients in a slow cooker, just as you would in a casserole dish. Cover and cook on HIGH for about 2 hours, but check the dough after 1 hour and after 90 minutes (since every slow cooker bakes at a slightly different temperature). The edges will brown, but the top will still be a little bit gooey. Turn off the slow cooker, uncover, and let sit for 5-10 minutes before drizzling the icing over top and serving.

More easy breakfast ideas that you might enjoy:

Fork digging into Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread on a small plate

Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

5 from 3 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings 12 people
Calories 220 kcal
With only 10 minutes prep, this Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread is an easy breakfast or brunch casserole for the holidays!

Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • Spray a large (13 x 9-inch) baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together granulated sugar and cinnamon.
  • Separate cinnamon rolls and cut each roll into quarters (reserve the icing packets for later). Add the dough to the bowl and toss in the cinnamon and sugar until each piece is lightly coated. Place in the prepared dish.
  • Sprinkle dough with pecans.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar and cooled, melted butter until sugar dissolves. Pour over the dough.
  • If prepping ahead, cover and refrigerate until ready to bake the next day. Then allow the dish to sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to come to room temperature before proceeding with baking instructions below. If you prefer, you can bake immediately after preparing.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown and dough is cooked through.
  • Allow the monkey bread to rest for 5-10 minutes, then drizzle with icing and serve. Enjoy warm!

Notes

  • Turn these into Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Muffins by dividing the ingredients among 8 muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees F for just 10 minutes, and then drizzle with icing.
  • How long does Monkey Bread last? Store the Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Casserole in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
  • Can I freeze this casserole? Yes -- once the casserole is baked, you can freeze the leftovers wrapped tightly for up to 2 months.
  • Use other varieties of cinnamon rolls (such as the Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls) to mix up the flavor.
  • Swap out the pecans and use walnuts in this Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Bake.
  • After drizzling with icing, add festive-colored sprinkles on top.
  • Make this Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread with Apples! Simply add 1 peeled and diced Granny Smith apple to the dough pieces when you toss them in the cinnamon and sugar. Then transfer the apples and dough to the prepared dish and proceed with the rest of the recipe instructions.
  • Prepare this Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread in the Crock Pot! Arrange the dough and the rest of the ingredients in a slow cooker, just as you would in a casserole dish. Cover and cook on HIGH for about 2 hours, but check the dough after 1 hour and after 90 minutes (since every slow cooker bakes at a slightly different temperature). The edges will brown, but the top will still be a little bit gooey. Turn off the slow cooker, uncover, and let sit for 5-10 minutes before drizzling the icing over top and serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/12 of the monkey breadCalories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 22gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 106mgPotassium: 46mgSugar: 22gVitamin A: 355IUCalcium: 22mgIron: 0.3mg
Keyword: cinnamon roll monkey bread, monkey bread casserole, monkey bread recipe
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Author: Blair Lonergan

This post was originally published in November, 2016. It was updated in November, 2019.

blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

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Comments

  1. Can I come to your house for Christmas? The whole morning sounds like fun and I can never resist monkey bread either!

  2. Oh to be a kid again on Christmas, it was the BEST! I still remember racing down the stairs with my brother and tearing at our presents. And then having a family breakfast afterwards. This monkey bread looks SO good, Blair! Just what I need for Christmas morning!

  3. This looks amazing! I have never had monkey bread but this looks so much easier than other monkey bread recipes I’ve seen!

  4. Sounds delicious! Do you think this could be frozen and baked later? I was thinking of freezing it after step 5 (before it’s baked), then defrosting whenever I decide to bake it. Thoughts?

  5. I make this a few times a year and play with different variations, always in a bunt pan, I just think it looks more fun!
    Is it possible to prepare this the night before? Assemble everything, cover and refrigerate until the following morning then bake as directed..?

    1. Hi, Amanda! Yep! There’s a note in the recipe about prepping the night before (see Step #6). Works like a charm! 🙂

  6. 5 stars
    This was so yummy and we will definitely make again since it is so easy. I made it the night before and it was Christmas morning breakfast! Loved the my family instead of our usual canned cinnamon rolls. Haha!