This Mini Monkey Bread proves that mini versions are just as delicious and only take a few simple steps. Who says that you have to make a huge batch of monkey bread and eat it all at once? If you want a simple breakfast treat, this spin on classic monkey bread doesn't disappoint.
Some of the best everyday family moments happen during the morning hours. This easy monkey bread recipe gives everyone a sweet treat without needing to make a huge batch.
Fill your coffee cups, pour some glasses of milk, and enjoy your own individual monkey breads with sweet cinnamon sugar, tender apples, and a simple vanilla glaze.
Be sure to try this Honey Banana Bread Recipe and this Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Recipe for two other sweet treats.
Ingredients
- Jumbo flaky biscuits - You'll need one can with 8 biscuits. Refrigerated biscuit dough makes this recipe so easy.
- Salted butter - Melt it before using.
- White sugar - Adds sweetness to the cinnamon sugar coating.
- Brown sugar - Gives the monkey bread a little caramel flavor.
- Cinnamon - Adds that classic warm cinnamon flavor.
- Chopped apples - You can use your favorite variety. I like the extra sweetness and texture they add.
- Powdered sugar - Used to sweeten the glaze.
- Milk - Helps thin out the glaze.
- Vanilla extract - Adds a hint of vanilla flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Mini Monkey Bread
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Add muffin liners to a muffin pan.
Step One: Cut each biscuit into smaller pieces. I use kitchen scissors because they're so much easier than a knife. Melt the butter in a small bowl, and mix the white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in another bowl.
Step Two: Dip each biscuit piece in the butter, then coat it with the cinnamon sugar. Add a few pieces to each muffin cup. Add some chopped apples, then top with more biscuit pieces. Tuck a few extra apple bits into the cracks.
Step Three: Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture and melted butter over the tops. Bake until the monkey bread is golden brown and the biscuit dough is cooked through.
Step Four: While the monkey bread is baking, mix the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to make the glaze. Let the monkey bread cool slightly, then drizzle the glaze over the tops.
Top Tip
If you don't want to make this recipe in muffin cups, you can use a mini bundt pan for a fun twist. I love mini monkey bread muffins, but mini monkey bread cakes are just as fun to eat.
Substitutions
- Unsalted butter - If you only have unsalted butter, you can use it instead. Add a small pinch of salt if you like.
- Dinner rolls - While you could technically make this with dinner roll dough, the flaky biscuits are what give these mini monkey breads their light texture. Other types of dough may need a different baking time.
Variations
- Toppings - You can always switch up the toppings. Add chocolate chips, homemade caramel sauce, or a sugar mixture without the cinnamon. You could even just dust the golden brown monkey breads with powdered sugar.
- Nuts - Add a few chopped pecans or walnuts with the apples for a little crunch.
- No apples - You can leave out the apples if you want a more traditional monkey bread recipe.
Love this recipe? Be sure to check out our Sour Cherry Scones and Cinnamon Streusel Muffins Recipe for more sweet morning treats.
Equipment
You'll need a muffin tin, muffin liners, two mixing bowls, and kitchen scissors or a knife to cut the biscuits. I also recommend using nonstick cooking spray to help prevent sticking.
Storage
Store leftover mini monkey bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you're ready to enjoy one again, pop it in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds or until warmed through.
These are best when they're fresh and warm, especially with that sweet glaze on top.
Common Questions
You sure can. Just follow the same basic steps and add everything to a greased Bundt cake pan instead of individual muffin cups. You'll need to adjust the baking time since a larger monkey bread takes longer to cook through.
Since you're using refrigerated biscuit dough, there's really no reason to do much ahead of time. If you want to save a few minutes in the morning, you can chop the apples and mix the cinnamon sugar ahead of time.
If you want to make this recipe using homemade dough, you could prepare that in advance so it's ready to cut into pieces and bake.
Pay attention to the baking time and give the monkey bread a visual check. The tops should be golden brown, but you also want to make sure the biscuit dough in the center is cooked through.
Let the muffins cool for a minute, then carefully pull apart a piece to check the middle. If the dough still looks raw, put the pan back in the oven for a few more minutes.
Just like the original monkey bread baked in a large bundt pan, you are supposed to pull these apart with your fingers and eat the little balls of dough separately. They are messy but so delicious it is worth it.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Honey Oat Bars
- Cinnamon Streusel Muffins Recipe
- Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Recipe
- 3-Ingredient Biscuit Recipe
📖 Recipe
Mini Monkey Bread
Ingredients
- 16 oz jumbo flaky biscuits (can of 8 large biscuits)
- 3 oz salted butter melted
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1.5 teaspoon cinnamon divided
- 1.5 cup chopped apples
Glaze
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 teaspoon milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 10 cups of a muffin pan with foil liners and spray with cooking spray.
- Cut each biscuit into small pieces using kitchen scissors.
- Place the melted butter in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Dip each biscuit piece in the butter, then coat it with the cinnamon sugar. Place a few pieces in each muffin cup. Add some of the chopped apples, then top with more biscuit pieces and additional apples, tucking some into the cracks.
- Sprinkle any remaining butter and cinnamon sugar over the muffins.
- Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until golden brown and the biscuit dough in the centers is cooked through.
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
- Let the mini monkey breads cool for about 10 minutes before adding the glaze. They'll still be slightly warm, so the glaze will soften and drizzle nicely without completely melting into the muffins.
Nutrition
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