Easy Monkey Bread Muffins: Your Go-To Recipe for a Sweet, Pull-Apart Breakfast!
These irresistible monkey bread muffins offer a delightful combination of sweet, cinnamony goodness in an easy-to-make, kid-friendly format. Perfect for any occasion, these delicious pull-apart treats are especially wonderful for a cozy Christmas morning breakfast, bringing warmth and cheer to your holiday table.
It feels good to be back! After taking a short, much-needed break, I’m thrilled to dive back into sharing easy and delicious recipes with you all. Sometimes, the words just don’t flow, and stepping away for a bit is exactly what sparks new inspiration. And boy, did it work! This particular recipe for monkey bread muffins is not only incredibly simple but also bursting with flavor, making it a perfect addition to your breakfast or dessert repertoire.
Finding fresh recipe ideas to share can sometimes be a challenge. With countless culinary possibilities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or even uninspired. However, during a recent Thanksgiving grocery trip, a simple pack of buttermilk biscuits caught my eye, instantly transporting me back to my childhood kitchen. That small moment of nostalgia was all it took to inspire these delightful monkey bread muffins, transforming a classic into a convenient, individual serving.
Growing up, canned buttermilk biscuits were a constant staple in our refrigerator. Whenever my sister and I craved something sweet, but a trip to the bakery wasn’t an option, my mom had her secret weapon: homemade monkey bread. It was a magical, sticky, pull-apart delight that always hit the spot. What made it even more special was how quick it was to prepare, and how easy it was for us kids to help. I have such fond memories of standing in the kitchen, little hands covered in butter and cinnamon-sugar, laughing as we assembled this sweet treat together. Those moments in the kitchen with my mom and sister are truly cherished, and the aroma of baking monkey bread still brings a smile to my face.
When I decided to recreate this beloved childhood classic, I called my mom, hoping for a detailed recipe. Her response was classic Mom: “Yeah, it’s easy. Just cut up some biscuits, dip them in butter, roll them in brown sugar and cinnamon, and bake it.” While her instructions were perfectly accurate in their simplicity, I realized that for those new to baking, a bit more guidance might be helpful. So, channeling that same easy spirit, I’ve refined her method slightly and measured out all the ingredients to ensure you can recreate these monkey bread muffins with absolute ease and confidence. You’ll be surprised at just how straightforward it is to achieve such a delicious result!
Essential Ingredients for These Delicious Monkey Bread Muffins
One of the best things about making these pull-apart monkey bread muffins from scratch, using convenient canned biscuits, is the minimal number of ingredients required. You likely have most of these pantry staples on hand already, making this recipe a perfect choice for a spontaneous sweet craving or a last-minute breakfast idea. Here’s a breakdown of the key components that bring these flavorful muffins to life:
- Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits: The foundation of our quick and easy monkey bread! I highly recommend using a brand like Pillsbury for consistent results. These ready-to-bake biscuits save significant time and effort, allowing you to enjoy fresh monkey bread without the hassle of making dough from scratch. Each can typically contains eight biscuits, yielding a generous batch of muffins.
- Butter: Essential for both flavor and creating that signature sticky texture. I suggest using unsalted butter. This gives you complete control over the overall saltiness of your monkey bread, as the amount of salt in salted butters can vary widely between different brands. Melted butter acts as the perfect adhesive for the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Brown Sugar: This isn’t just for sweetness; it’s crucial for developing that rich, caramel-like flavor and creating the gooey, irresistible coating characteristic of monkey bread. Whether you choose light or dark brown sugar, its molasses content adds depth and moisture to the muffins.
- Cinnamon: The quintessential spice that pairs perfectly with brown sugar, infusing these muffins with a warm, comforting aroma and taste. Don’t be shy with the cinnamon; it’s what truly flavors the monkey bread and makes it so inviting.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: Also known as powdered sugar, this fine sugar is used exclusively for our simple yet delectable glaze. Its finely milled texture ensures a smooth, lump-free glaze that drizzles beautifully over the warm muffins, adding an extra layer of sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: For the best and most authentic flavor, always opt for pure vanilla extract. It enhances the sweetness and adds a subtle, aromatic depth to the glaze, elevating the overall taste profile of the monkey bread muffins.
- Milk: Any kind of milk you have on hand will work perfectly for creating the glaze. Whether it’s whole milk, skim milk, or a non-dairy alternative, the goal is to achieve a pourable consistency. You might find you need to add a touch more milk than the recipe initially calls for to reach your desired glaze thickness, so feel free to adjust as needed.
Simple Steps to Create Perfect Monkey Bread Muffins
Making these delightful monkey bread muffins is surprisingly straightforward, even for novice bakers. The key lies in a few simple steps that transform canned biscuits into a truly irresistible treat. Let’s walk through the process:
To begin, you’ll want to carefully prepare your biscuits. Open a can of homestyle buttermilk biscuits. For this recipe, I used the Pillsbury brand, which typically comes with eight biscuits per can. Each biscuit needs to be cut into six equally sized pieces. This yields a total of 48 individual dough pieces, ensuring each muffin cup gets enough dough to create that signature pull-apart texture. The smaller pieces allow for better absorption of the butter and cinnamon-sugar mixture, resulting in maximum flavor in every bite.
Once your dough pieces are ready, the real fun begins! Each little ball of biscuit dough gets a luxurious coating. First, you’ll dip each piece into the melted butter, making sure it’s thoroughly coated but not dripping excessively. A quick shake can help remove any extra butter. Immediately after, roll the buttered dough in the fragrant brown sugar and cinnamon mixture. Be generous here! The more sugar and cinnamon that adheres, the stickier and more delicious your monkey bread muffins will be. Depending on how heavily you coat each piece, you might find yourself needing a little extra sugar and cinnamon, so it’s always good to have a bit more on hand.
Finally, it’s time to assemble your muffins. Gently press four of these coated dough pieces into each cavity of a greased 12-count muffin pan. Don’t pack them too tightly; they need room to expand and puff up during baking. As they bake, the dough will rise beautifully, and the sugar mixture will melt into a luscious, sticky caramel. This process couldn’t be easier, right? The beauty of these muffins is how effortlessly they come together, promising a delicious outcome every time.
These individual monkey bread muffins, made conveniently with canned biscuits, are truly versatile. They are absolutely perfect for a special breakfast, especially memorable for a holiday like Christmas morning. Imagine waking up to the aroma of cinnamon and sugar filling your home, and enjoying these warm, gooey treats with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa. Beyond breakfast, they also make an excellent sweet treat to enjoy any time of day, perhaps as an afternoon snack or a comforting dessert.
Storage Guidelines for Your Monkey Bread Muffins
Ensuring your delicious monkey bread muffins stay fresh and enjoyable for as long as possible is easy with these simple storage instructions. Whether you’ve made a big batch or just have a few leftovers, proper storage will help maintain their wonderful flavor and texture.
Countertop Storage: For immediate enjoyment within a few days, leftover monkey bread muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature on your kitchen counter. They will remain delicious for up to three days. To enjoy them warm, a quick zap in the microwave for 10-15 seconds will bring back some of their fresh-baked gooeyness.
Freezer Storage: If you’ve made a larger batch or want to save some for later, these muffins freeze beautifully. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag or a freezer-friendly airtight storage container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months without losing much of their quality. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply thaw the muffins to room temperature, or warm them gently in the microwave or oven for a freshly baked experience. This makes them perfect for meal prep or having a sweet treat ready on demand!
Can I Easily Double This Monkey Bread Muffin Recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe is incredibly forgiving and scales up with remarkable ease. If you’re feeding a crowd, hosting a brunch, or simply want to have extra monkey bread muffins on hand, doubling the recipe is a straightforward process. Simply multiply all the ingredients listed by two. You’ll want to use two 12-count muffin tins instead of one to accommodate the increased volume of dough. This ensures all the muffins have enough space to bake properly and achieve that perfect golden-brown, gooey exterior. You could also adapt this doubled recipe to a bundt pan for a more traditional monkey bread loaf, just remember to adjust baking time accordingly (typically longer for a bundt pan) and grease the pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
Expert Baking Tips for Perfect Monkey Bread Muffins
While these monkey bread muffins are simple to make, a few extra tips can elevate your baking experience and ensure truly outstanding results. Experiment with these suggestions to customize your batch to perfection!
- Embrace Additional Toppings: Traditional monkey bread is often baked with a luscious butter and brown sugar mixture poured over the top, creating an even more decadent caramel sauce at the bottom of the pan. You can absolutely incorporate this extra step if you desire a richer, gooier outcome. Alternatively, for a truly indulgent twist, consider drizzling a homemade caramel sauce or even a store-bought version over the baked muffins. For these particular muffins, I opted for a simpler, classic glaze because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a little extra sugar? The simple glaze complements the cinnamony muffins beautifully without overwhelming them.
- Exploring Gluten-Free Options: For those with dietary restrictions, it’s highly likely you can achieve equally delicious results using gluten-free buttermilk biscuits. While I haven’t personally tested this specific variation, many readers have reported success with various gluten-free canned biscuit brands. Be sure to follow the baking instructions on your chosen gluten-free biscuit package, as baking times or temperatures might vary slightly from traditional biscuits. The core technique of dipping and rolling should remain the same.
- Amp Up the Spice Profile: Don’t hesitate to get creative with your cinnamon-sugar mixture! While cinnamon is a classic, adding other warm spices can introduce delightful new dimensions of flavor. Imagine the inviting aroma and taste of a dash of nutmeg, ground cloves, or allspice mixed in. For a festive autumn or winter treat, I bet a spoonful of homemade pumpkin pie spice blend would taste absolutely divine in this recipe, adding layers of seasonal warmth and complexity to your monkey bread muffins. Just add about half a teaspoon of your chosen additional spice to the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture before rolling.
- Ensure Even Coating: When dipping the biscuit pieces, make sure each one is thoroughly coated in both the melted butter and the cinnamon-sugar mixture. This is key to achieving that signature sweet, sticky, and flavorful exterior on every pull-apart piece. Don’t rush this step!
- Prevent Sticking: Generously spray your muffin tin with cooking spray, especially if you’re adding extra caramel or glaze to the pan before baking. This will make it much easier to remove the muffins once they’re baked and cooled slightly, preserving their perfect shape and preventing any sticky mishaps.
More Holiday Breakfast Recipes to Try!
If you loved these monkey bread muffins and are looking for more delightful ways to start your day, especially during the festive season, explore these other fantastic breakfast recipes:
- Pumpkin Scones
- The BEST French Toast
- Apple Turnovers
- Classic Buttermilk Pancakes
- Apple French Toast Casserole
Monkey Bread Muffins
Pin Recipe
SaveSaved!
Leave a Review
Ingredients
- 1 (16.3 oz.) can homestyle buttermilk biscuits (Pillsbury brand recommended for ease)
- 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
- 1 cup (200 grams) light or dark brown sugar
- 1.5 – 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For the Simple Glaze:
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) confectioner’s sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) milk (or more, as needed, for desired consistency)
Instructions
-
Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Prepare a 12-count muffin pan by thoroughly spraying each muffin cavity with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set the prepared pan aside.
-
In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Whisk them together until they are very well combined and there are no clumps of sugar.
-
Carefully open the can of homestyle buttermilk biscuits. On a clean cutting board, take each biscuit and cut it in half, then cut each half into three equal pieces. This will give you a total of 6 evenly sized pieces from each biscuit. Gently roll each individual piece of biscuit dough into a small, smooth ball.
-
Dip each small dough ball into the bowl of melted butter, ensuring it’s fully coated, then gently shake off any excess butter. Immediately after, roll each buttered piece of dough in the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture. You can be quite generous with the sugar coating here to ensure maximum stickiness and flavor. Depending on how heavily you coat each piece, you may find you need a little extra brown sugar and cinnamon; feel free to mix up more if necessary.
-
Arrange and press four pieces of the sugar-coated dough into each muffin cavity. If you have any remaining brown sugar and cinnamon mixture, you can sprinkle it evenly over the top of each muffin for an extra sweet crust.
-
Bake the muffins in the preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes, or until they are golden brown and puffed up. Once baked, carefully remove the pan from the oven. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before gently removing them to a wire rack.
-
While the monkey bread muffins are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioner’s sugar, pure vanilla extract, and milk until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Add more milk sparingly if you prefer a thinner glaze.
-
Evenly drizzle the prepared glaze over all the warm monkey bread muffins. Serve immediately and enjoy these delightful pull-apart treats!