I think the only thing more fun than making this rich, buttery bread is eating it. Sitting there as you pluck one cinnamon-caramel-coated orb after another, you try to stop, but it’s impossible!
If that weren’t enough of a reason to start pulling out the flour and eggs, this monkey bread is drop-dead easy. So easy, in fact, you’ll want to get your kids in on the act. It’s a terrific way to rack up some family time and get the kiddos to fall in love with cooking and baking, just like you did.
Why Our Testers Loved This
Our testers can’t say enough wonderful things about Zoë’s monkey bread. Karen Zimmerman describes it as “lovely, soft, and buttery with the perfect amount of cinnamon and caramel coating.”
Kim G. shared it with her co-workers and had this to say, “It received rave reviews and was devoured quickly. Light, fluffy texture on the inside. It was perfect.”
What You’ll Need to Make This
- Honey–Use mild-flavored honey for your brioche dough. Very strong honey, such as chestnut or buckwheat will overpower the flavor of the bread.
- Kosher salt–Depending on the brand of kosher salt you’re using, you may need to adjust the amount of salt added to your dough. Crystal sizes in kosher salt can vary dramatically. So if you’re using Diamond Crystal kosher salt, use 1 tablespoon, and if you’re using Morton kosher salt, use 2 teaspoons.
- Unsalted butter–If you substitute salted butter in your brioche dough, reduce the amount of salt added by 3/4 teaspoon. If you substitute salted butter in the monkey bread recipe, don’t add the 1/4 teaspoon sea salt to the topping.
How to Make This Recipe
- Make the brioche dough. Combine the water, yeast, salt, eggs, honey, and melted butter in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer or spoon to add the flour until combined.
- Cover the dough and let it rest at room temperature for 2 hours. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill at least 3 hours, or up to 5 days.
- Butter a loaf pan. Cut a 1 1/2-pound piece of dough into 32 pieces and roll each piece into a small ball.
- Melt 4 tablespoons butter. Combine the cinnamon and sugar in a separate bowl. Working with one ball at a time, dip it in melted butter, then toss in the cinnamon sugar.
- Let the monkey bread rise. Place the dough balls in the prepared pan and let rise for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Make the topping. Melt 4 tablespoons butter, and add any remaining cinnamon sugar, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla. Pour it over the monkey bread.
- Bake the monkey bread. Cook until golden and caramelized, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before flipping and removing.
Recipe FAQs
The origin of the name “monkey bread” supposedly comes from the notion that the pull apart bread is finger food, and those indulging in the treat would tear it apart as a monkey would. (We’re not sure if that’s an insult or compliment to monkeys!)
The brioche recipe here makes quite a lot more dough than you need for the monkey bread. And that’s a good thing. Actually, it’s an excellent thing. Use the remaining brioche dough in place of the bread dough in pretty much any recipe for cinnamon rolls or sticky buns you like to make.
As noted in the recipe below, it lasts in the fridge for up to 5 days, so you have time to carefully consider all your baking options! Alternately, should you be short on flour or cutting back on carbs, the brioche recipe in the recipe below can easily be halved.
Definitely. To make pecan monkey bread, add 1 cup pecan halves to the pan after you pour in the caramel.
You can also play around with the spices that you use. Try pumpkin pie spice blend, Chinese five-spice, or a blend of your favorites, adding it to the sugar. If you use a super-intense spice, like cardamom, nutmeg, clove, allspice, or ginger, be sure to reduce it according to the intensity you want. Try starting with 1/2 teaspoon of some of those and build from there.
The monkey bread will be golden and caramelized on the outside when it’s ready, and if you have an instant read thermometer, the center of the bread should be at or above 190°F.
Helpful Tips
- To keep the dough from sticking to your hands, coat them with a little butter before rolling the balls.
- The monkey bread can also be baked in a Bundt pan or Pullman pan.
- The brioche dough can be made up to 5 days before using. The monkey bread can be assembled and risen, then refrigerated overnight, loosely covered. The next morning, top with the sauce and bake.
- Leftover monkey bread can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or. frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
More Great Sticky Bread Recipes
Write a Review
If you make this recipe, or any dish on LC, consider leaving a review, a star rating, and your best photo in the comments below. I love hearing from you.–David
Monkey Bread from Zoë François
Ingredients
For the brioche dough
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water (100°F | 38°C or below)
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 6 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 sticks (12 oz) unsalted butter, melted
- 7 cups all-purpose flour
For the monkey bread
- 1 1/2 pounds Brioche dough
- All-purpose flour, for dusting
- 1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the brioche
- In a 6-quart bowl or other large container, stir together the water, yeast, salt, eggs, honey, and melted butter.
- Using a heavy-duty stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a spoon and strong biceps, mix in the flour until combined. If you’re not using a machine, you may need to use wet hands to incorporate the last bit of flour. (The dough will be loose but will firm up when it's later chilled.)
- Loosely cover the container with a lid or plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for 2 hours.
- Refrigerate the dough until it’s thoroughly chilled, at least 3 hours, and loosely covered for up to 5 days.
Make the monkey bread
- Generously butter a 9-by-5-inch (23-by-13-cm) loaf pan, Pullman pan, or Bundt pan.
- Dust the surface of the refrigerated dough with flour and cut off a 1 1/2-pound (680-g) piece. Divide the dough into about 32 equal pieces. Roll the dough into small balls. If the dough is sticking to your hands, coat your palms with a small amount of butter.
- In a small saucepan set over low heat, melt 4 tablespoons butter. (Alternatively, you can microwave the butter in a small bowl to melt.) In a shallow bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and cinnamon.
- Working with one ball at a time, drop the dough ball into the butter and then roll it in the cinnamon sugar. Place the balls in the prepared pan.
- Let the dough rise at room temperature for about 1 hour.
- While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Adjust the oven rack to the middle position.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Add any remaining cinnamon sugar, the brown sugar, the salt, and the vanilla.
- Pour the warm brown sugar mixture over the dough balls in the pan. Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil in case the caramel bubbles over the top. Bake until the surface of the bread is golden brown and seems caramelized and set, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Let the bread cool for about 5 minutes in the pan. Place a platter or cutting board on the pan, turn it upside down, and then remove the pan. Serve warm.
Notes
- Make-ahead–The brioche dough can be made up to 5 days before using. The monkey bread can be assembled and risen, then refrigerated overnight, loosely covered. The next morning, top with the sauce and bake.
- Storage–Leftover monkey bread can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or. frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
- Monkey bread with nuts–Add toasted nuts to the monkey bread after pouring over the caramel sauce.
- Spiced monkey bread–Add your favorite warm spices, such as cloves, nutmeg, or allspice to the cinnamon sugar mixture before rolling the monkey bread balls in it.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
Wonderful and warm with cinnamon sweet goodness. The dough is lovely, soft, and buttery with the perfect amount of cinnamon and caramel coating.
I made these the night before and let them rise. I then put them in the fridge overnight and baked them the next morning. Yum!
The dough was easy to work with and formed into a ball with just a few turns, as per the directions. It rolled out nice and smoothly.
I cut it into 32 equalish pieces and placed them in a buttered Bundt pan. They had lots of room to rise and were doubled after 1 hour. They were done baking after 40 minutes and were a nice golden caramel colour.
This monkey bread recipe took me back to being a kid! I can’t even remember the last time I had this. So good! I used the brioche recipe and a Bundt pan (I only remember Monkey Bread being in that shape so I figured I would go with that).
I’m thinking that the next time I make this I might try adding some of the spices suggested as that sounds delicious.
I let the brioche dough sit overnight and made Monkey Bread in the morning. For the rise, it was a little less than double in size but it rose a lot once it went into the oven.
Of all the brioche doughs I have made over the years, this one is now my favorite. It was easy to mix up in the stand mixer and, though it was a bit sticky to work with, a little bit of butter on the hands, as mentioned in the recipe, worked beautifully. The brioche was soft and feather-light with a velvety, rich flavor.
As if that weren’t enough, the warm caramelized cinnamon sugar that coated it was literally the icing on this lovely bread or cake.
I made the monkey bread to share with coworkers on Christmas Eve as a treat for those of us that were in the office that day. It received rave reviews and was devoured quickly. Light, fluffy texture on the inside. It was perfect.
Would I use the same brioche dough if I wanted to make it a savory Monkey Bread?
You could use the same dough to make a savory bread, Denise. I have made cheese rolls, spice rolls, and other varieties with this dough. I find the honey in the dough goes nicely with many different combinations. If you try it, please let us know how it turns out.