Gooey Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

Key Ingredients for Your Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Creating this spectacular monkey bread requires a few simple ingredients, most of which you likely already have on hand or can easily find at any grocery store. The beauty of this recipe lies in how these common items come together to create something truly extraordinary.

• Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls with Icing: The star of the show! You’ll need two 16.3-ounce cans. While any brand will work, we highly recommend Pillsbury Grands Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls for their superior size and classic, rich flavor that truly elevates this dish. Remember to set aside the individual icing packets—they’re essential for the grand finale!
• Ground Cinnamon: This aromatic spice is crucial for both the sugar coating and enhancing the overall cinnamon flavor. Feel free to use your favorite brand; a high-quality cinnamon will make a noticeable difference. For an extra layer of warmth, a tiny pinch of ground cardamom could be a delicious addition.
• Granulated Sugar: Used in combination with cinnamon to create that delightful, sparkling coating for the dough pieces. It provides a sweet crunch and helps to build the flavor profile.
• Light Brown Sugar: The foundation of our luscious caramel sauce. Light brown sugar offers a tender sweetness with subtle molasses notes, contributing to the sauce’s rich, deep flavor. Dark brown sugar can also be used for a more intense molasses taste.
• Unsalted Butter: Essential for both the caramel sauce and ensuring a moist, tender monkey bread. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the dish. If you only have salted butter, simply omit the added salt in the caramel sauce.
• Heavy Cream: This is what gives the caramel sauce its luxurious, velvety texture and rich consistency. Do not substitute with milk or half-and-half, as the higher fat content of heavy cream is necessary for the proper caramelization and richness.
• Salt: A small amount of salt in the caramel sauce is vital for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors. It prevents the sauce from being overly cloying and adds depth.
• Vanilla Extract: Stirred in at the end, vanilla extract adds a wonderful aromatic complexity to the caramel sauce, rounding out its flavors beautifully. Use pure vanilla extract for the best results.

How to Make Monkey Bread with Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls: A Simple Guide

Creating this delightful cinnamon roll monkey bread is a straightforward process, broken down into easy-to-follow steps. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can achieve such a decadent result with minimal fuss.

1. Prepare Your Cinnamon Rolls: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 10-12 cup bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray, making sure to coat all the nooks and crannies thoroughly to prevent sticking. Open both cans of refrigerated cinnamon rolls and carefully separate the individual rolls. Be sure to set aside the icing packets that come with the rolls—you’ll need these later! Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, cut each cinnamon roll into four evenly sized pieces.
2. Roll in Cinnamon Sugar: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon, whisking them together until well blended. This mixture will give our monkey bread its classic spiced flavor. Take a handful of the cut cinnamon roll pieces at a time and add them to the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Toss gently to ensure each piece of dough is thoroughly coated. Once coated, transfer these pieces to a separate large bowl. Continue this process until all the cinnamon roll pieces have been generously covered in the sweet spice mixture.
3. Craft the Irresistible Caramel: Now, let’s make that luscious caramel sauce. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is fully melted, stir in the light brown sugar, heavy cream, and a pinch of salt. Bring this mixture to a rapid boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling and stirring vigorously for exactly 1 minute. This ensures the caramel reaches the perfect consistency. Immediately remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Toss the Caramel with the Dough: Allow the rich butter-caramel mixture to cool for just a minute or two – it should still be warm and pourable, but not scorching hot. Carefully pour the slightly cooled caramel sauce over the cinnamon-sugar-coated cinnamon roll pieces in the large bowl. Using a rubber spatula or a large spoon, gently toss the dough pieces until they are all evenly coated with the glorious caramel. Once coated, transfer these sticky, sweet pieces into your prepared bundt pan, arranging them as evenly as possible around the pan.
5. Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the bundt pan into your preheated 350°F (175°C) oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top edges of the monkey bread are beautifully golden brown and the dough is cooked through and springs back when gently pressed. Baking times can vary slightly depending on your oven, so keep an eye on it!
6. Serve and Savor: Once baked, carefully remove the pan from the oven. Let it rest on a wire rack for 10 minutes. This crucial resting period allows the caramel to set slightly and prevents the monkey bread from sticking when inverted. After 10 minutes, place a large plate or serving platter upside down over the bundt pan and, holding both firmly, quickly flip the pan over to release the monkey bread onto the plate. Finally, take the reserved icing packets, warm them slightly if desired (a quick microwave for 10 seconds works wonders), and generously drizzle the icing over the warm monkey bread. Serve immediately and enjoy every gooey, pull-apart bite!

Frequently Asked Questions About Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Storing, Reheating, and Freezing Your Delicious Monkey Bread

Proper storage ensures you can enjoy your cinnamon roll monkey bread for days after baking. Here’s how to keep it fresh and delicious:

• Room Temperature: For short-term storage, cinnamon roll monkey bread will maintain its deliciousness for about 2 days at room temperature. The key is to store it in a completely airtight container to prevent it from drying out. When you’re ready to enjoy leftovers, we recommend rewarming individual portions in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or placing the entire monkey bread in a 300°F (150°C) oven for a few minutes until it’s warm and gooey again.
• Refrigerator: If you need to store it for a bit longer, the refrigerator is a great option. Wrapped well in plastic wrap or placed in an airtight container, it will stay fresh for approximately 2-3 days. Keep in mind that refrigeration can make the dough a bit firmer. To restore its softness and gooeyness, reheat it in a low 300°F (150°C) oven for about 10-15 minutes, or warm individual slices in the microwave until heated through.
• Freezer: We generally do not recommend freezing baked Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread. While technically possible, the texture and quality tend to suffer significantly upon thawing. The sugars from the cinnamon rolls and the caramel sauce can become very soggy and wet after freezing, leading to a less appealing, mushy consistency. It simply won’t be nearly as delicious post-freezer as it was fresh from the oven. For the best experience, enjoy this treat fresh or within a few days of baking.

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

3. Open and separate the cans of cinnamon rolls, setting aside the icing. Cut each cinnamon roll into four pieces, then roll a handful of pieces into the cinnamon sugar mixture at a time, making sure to cover all the dough. Transfer to a separate large bowl and continue until all of the cinnamon roll pieces are covered.

4. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, cream, and salt and bring the mixture to a boil. Continue stirring and cooking at a rapid boil for 1 minute, then remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

5. Let the butter mixture cool slightly, then pour over the cinnamon sugar coated cinnamon roll pieces in the bowl and gently toss to coat. Once they are evenly coated, add them to your prepared bundt pan so that they fill the pan evenly all the way around.

6. Bake in your preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the dough is cooked through.

7. Remove the pan from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes before inverting it to a large plate or serving platter. Use the reserved icing to drizzle over the monkey bread and serve warm. Enjoy!

Notes

Storing leftovers: Cover cinnamon rolls and store for up to 2 days at room temperature, or up to 3 days in the fridge.

Reheating: Reheat cinnamon rolls in the microwave, or a preheated 300 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes.

Nutrition

Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.

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