The BEST Homemade Monkey Bread Recipe from Scratch

September 26, 2026
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One of my favorite breakfast dishes is this best monkey bread recipe! This flavorful, moist homemade monkey bread is filled with delicious cinnamon and yeast bed balls that stick together with a sugar glaze for an outrageously yummy mokey bread from scratch! This is way better that the shortcut version where you use pilsbury biscuits – this recipe has a deaper, fuller flavor with not preservatives – just real ingredients for a delicious old fashioned monkey bread!

One of my favorite breakfast dishes is this best monkey bread recipe! This flavorful, moist homemade monkey bread is filled with delicious cinnamon and yeast bed balls that stick together with a sugar glaze for an outrageously yummy mokey bread from scratch! This is way better that the shortcut version where you use pilsbury biscuits - this recipe has a deaper, fuller flavor with not preservatives - just real ingredients for a delicious old fashioned monkey bread!

best monkey bread recipe

One of our families favorite traditions for Christmas morning is our homemade monkey bread recipe. We use to make it with convenient instant biscuits in a can, but as we became more aware of all of the junk, harmful preservatives and chemicals we knew we needed to make monkey bread from scratch! So after lots of experimenting we came up with the best monkey bread recipe! You’ll love the fabulous old fashioned monkey bread recipe flavor with the beautiful pull apart breakfast bread with a sticky, sweet covering.

We have lots more best recipes to choose from! Don’t miss our dollywood cinnamon bread recipe, crescent angel rolls recipe, Grandma’s recipe for poppy seed bread, easy bread in a crockpot, and peach pecan bread recipe

All you need to whip up this amazing breakfast bread are a few simple ingredients: butter milk water granulated sugar instant yeast all-purpose flour brown sugar cinnamon confectioners’ sugar

homemade monkey bread

All you need to whip up this amazing breakfast bread are a few simple ingredients:

  • butter
  • milk
  • water
  • granulated sugar
  • instant yeast
  • all-purpose flour
  • brown sugar
  • cinnamon
  • confectioners’ sugar
in one bowl mix yeast, butter, milk, sugar

monkey bread from scratch

Start by buttering a Bundt pan with the 2 tablespoons softened butter. I suggest using a paper towel to really get inside all of those nooks and crannies. Set aside.

In a quart glass measuring cup, or small bowl, mix together the 1 cup warm milk, 1/3 cup water, 2 Tablespoons melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar, and 2 1/4 teaspoons of instant yeast.

mix dry ingredients in a seperate bowl

monkey bread recipe from scratch

In a large bowl, mix the 3 1/4 cups flour and 2 teaspoons salt together.

combine wet and dry ingredients, dough will be slightly sticky

how to make monkey bread from scratch

Now using a dough hook attachment, on low, slowly add the milk mixture. After the dough comes together, increase the speed to medium and mix until the dough is shiny and smooth, 6 to 7 minutes.

HINT: The dough should be on the sticky side; if overly wet you can add 2 Tablespoons more of flour.

Coat a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray or additional butter. Place the dough in the bowl and turn once to lightly coat the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a moist kitchen toweland let the dough rise until doubled, 1-2 hours.

homemade monkey bread recipe

Coat a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray or additional butter. Place the dough in the bowl and turn once to lightly coat the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a moist kitchen toweland let the dough rise until doubled, 1-2 hours.

brown sugar and cinnamon mixture

monkey bread recipe

Meanwhile, make the sugar coating while the dough is rising by mixing the 1 cup brown sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon together in a bowl. Place the melted butter in a second bowl or shallow pie plate. Set aside.

divide dough into balls

from scratch monkey bread

When the dough is done rising remove it from the bowl and make into 64 balls.

Hint: You can make quick balls by pressing dough into a 8-inch square and using a pizza cutter to cut into 8 rows by 8 rows.

Dip the balls, one at a time, into melted butter. Allow the excess butter to drip back into the bowl. Then roll the butter dipped dough ball in the brown sugar mixture and place in the Bundt pan. Continue dipping, coating, and putting the balls staggering the seams where the dough balls meet as you build layers in the Bundt pan.

homemade monkey bread from scratch

Dip the balls, one at a time, into melted butter. Allow the excess butter to drip back into the bowl.  Then roll the butter dipped dough ball in the brown sugar mixture and place in the Bundt pan. Continue dipping, coating, and putting the balls staggering the seams where the dough balls meet as you build layers in the Bundt pan.

When you finish with all 64 balls, cover the Bundt pan tightly with plastic wrap and let the monkey bread rise until puffy and they have risen 1-2 inches from the top of the pan, at least 1-2 hours. I put it in the fridge at this point and save just the baking for Christmas morning.

monkey bread scratch

When you finish with all 64 balls, cover the Bundt pan tightly with plastic wrap and let the monkey bread rise until puffy and they have risen 1-2 inches from the top of the pan, at least 1-2 hours. I put it in the fridge at this point and save just the baking for Christmas morning.

Set the pan on the counter to let it rise to room temperature while the oven preheats to 350 degrees F. Now unwrap the pan and bake until the top is deep brown and caramel begins to bubble around edges, about 30 to 35 minutes.

monkey bread recipe homemade

Set the pan on the counter to let it rise to room temperature while the oven preheats to 350 degrees F. Now unwrap the pan and bake until the top is deep brown and caramel begins to bubble around edges, about 30 to 35 minutes.

Cool the monkey bread in the pan for 5 minutes only (too long and it will be hard to remove!). Turn out on a platter or large plate and allow to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.

monkey bread from scratch recipe

Cool the monkey bread in the pan for 5 minutes only (too long and it will be hard to remove!). Turn out on a platter or large plate and allow to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.

While it's cooling make the glaze. Whisk the confectioners’ sugar and milk together in a small bowl until the mixture is smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the warm monkey bread; letting it run over the top and sides of the bread. Serve warm.

monkey bread recipe scratch

While it’s cooling make the glaze. Whisk the confectioners’ sugar and milk together in a small bowl until the mixture is smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the warm monkey bread; letting it run over the top and sides of the bread.

One of our families favorite traditions for Christmas morning is our homemade monkey bread recipe. We use to make it with convenient instant biscuits in a can, but as we became more aware of all of the junk, harmful preservatives and chemicals we knew we needed to make monkey bread from scratch! So after lots of experimenting we came up with the best monkey bread recipe! You'll love the fabulous old fashioned monkey bread recipe flavor with the beautiful pull apart breakfast bread with a sticky, sweet covering.

recipe for monkey bread from scratch

Serve warm.

Monkey Bread from Scratch

monkey bread homemade

Not only does this taste amazing, but it looks so lovely and pretty when serving!

Old Fashioned Monkey Bread Recipe

scratch monkey bread

Each pull apart piece of the cinnamon bread is moist and coated in cinnamon and sweet sugar with a side glaze. YUMMY!

Breakfast Recipes

how to make homemade monkey bread

You can always double the glaze and bake in a loaf pan to make it like Dollywoods pullapart cinnamon bread!

Cinnamon pull aparts

yeast monkey bread

This breakfast bread is not only perfect for holidays, but for potlucks, company, and busy weekday meals too as you can make most of it ahead!

One of my favorite breakfast dishes is this homemade monkey bread recipe! This flavorful, moist bread is filled with delicious cinnamon and yeast bed balls that stick together with a sugar glaze for an outrageously yummy mokey bread from scratch! This is way better that the shortcut version where you use pilsbury biscuits - this recipe has a deaper, fuller flavor with not preservatives - just real ingredients for a delicious old fashioned monkey bread!

The BEST Homemade Monkey Bread Recipe from Scratch

One of my favorite breakfast dishes is this homemade monkey bread recipe! This flavorful, moist bread is filled with delicious cinnamon and yeast bed balls that stick together with a sugar glaze for an outrageously yummy mokey bread from scratch! This is way better that the shortcut version where you use pilsbury biscuits – this recipe has a deaper, fuller flavor with not preservatives – just real ingredients for a delicious old fashioned monkey bread!
5 from 10 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course bread, Breakfast
Cuisine American, comfort food
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
  

Dough

  • 1/4 cup butter divided
  • 1 cup milk warmed to about 110 F
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Brown Sugar Coating

  • 1 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup butter mleted

Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons milk

Instructions
 

  • Start by buttering a Bundt pan with the 2 tablespoonssoftened butter. I suggest using a paper towel to really get inside all ofthose nooks and crannies. Set aside.
  • In a quart glass measuring cup, or small bowl, mix together the 1 cup warm milk, 1/3 cup water, 2 Tablespoons melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar, and 2 1/4 teaspoons of instant yeast.
  • In a large bowl, mix the 3 1/4 cups flour and 2 teaspoons salt together.
  • Now using a dough hook attachment, on low, slowly add the milk mixture. After the dough comes together, increase the speed to medium and mix until the dough is shiny and smooth, 6 to 7 minutes.
    HINT: The dough should be on the sticky side; if overly wet you can add 2 Tablespoons more of flour.
  • Coat a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray or additional butter. Place the dough in the bowl and turn once to lightly coat the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a moist kitchen toweland let the dough rise until doubled, 1-2 hours.
  • Meanwhile, make the sugar coating while the dough is rising by mixing the 1 cup brown sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon together in a bowl. Place the melted butter in a second bowl or shallow pie plate. Set aside.
  • When the dough is done rising remove it from the bowl and make into 64 balls.
    Hint: You can make quick balls by pressing dough into a 8-inch square and using a pizza cutter to cut into 8 rows by 8 rows.
  • Dip the balls, one at a time, into melted butter. Allow theexcess butter to drip back into the bowl. Then roll the butter dipped dough ball in the brown sugar mixture andplace in the Bundt pan. Continue dipping, coating, and putting the ballsstaggering the seams where the dough balls meet as you build layers in the Bundt pan.
  • When you finish with all 64 balls, cover the Bundt pan tightly with plastic wrap and let the monkey bread rise until puffy and they have risen 1-2 inches from the top of the pan, at least 1-2 hours. I put it in the fridge at this point and save just the baking for Christmas morning.
  • Set the pan on the counter to let it rise to room temperature while the ovenpreheats to 350 degrees F.
    Now unwrap the pan and bake until the top is deep brown and caramel begins to bubble around edges, about 30 to 35 minutes.
  • Cool the monkey bread in the pan for 5 minutes only (too long and it will be hard to remove!). Turn out on a platter or large plate and allow to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
  • While it's cooling make the glaze. Whisk the confectioners’ sugar and milk together in a small bowl until the mixture is smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the warm monkey bread; letting it run over the top and sides of the bread.
    Serve warm.
This homemade monkey bread recipe from scratch is an outrageously YUMMY pull apart cinnamon bread you can make ahead!

diy monkey bread

This homemade monkey bread recipe from scratch is an outrageously YUMMY pull apart cinnamon bread you can make ahead!

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Beth Gorden is the creative multi-tasking creator of 123 Homeschool 4 Me. As a busy homeschooling mother of six, she strives to create hands-on learning activities and worksheets that kids will love to make learning FUN! With over 20 years educating children, she has created over 1 million pages of printables to help teach kids alphabet, math, science, English grammar, history, and so much more! Beth is also the creator of 2 additional sites with even more educational activities and FREE printables - www.kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com and www.preschoolplayandlearn.com. Beth studied at the University of Northwestern where she got a double major to make her effective at teaching children while making education FUN!

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5 from 10 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




9 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was SO YUMMY! Thanks

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    I’ve always made it with the biscuits, love that I can make it now without all the preservatives. Thanks

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    Seriously, this is fantastic! Thanks

    Reply

  5. 5 stars
    My family is already begging me to make this again =)

    Reply

  6. 5 stars
    This was moist, cinnamony (yep, I made it a word), and oh-so-good! Loved the pull apart factor that made the coating so evenly distributed.

    Reply

  7. 5 stars
    Our new go-to monkey bread recipe. We will be making this again for Christmas.

    Reply

  9. 5 stars
    Great recipe, perfect just the way it is. Thanks

    Reply