• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Table Full Of Joy

Delicious food for everyone!

  • Smoked Recipes
  • Summer Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • About & Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Smoked Recipes
  • Summer Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • About & Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread is a delicious, sweet, treat that everyone will love! Made with store-bought canned buttermilk biscuit dough this buttery, brown sugar covered, morsels make every bite just as good as the last!

    cinnamon pull apart bread close up oftop
    Every bite is so delicious!
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Also known as Monkey Bread, this recipe has been made for decades in my family! Growing up my mom would make this for Thanksgiving Morning, Christmas Morning, New Years, Easter, and even a birthday or two!

    Why this recipe is the best:

    Easy to make: With only a few ingredients you can make this in no time. You can even prep this the night before then pop it in the oven to bake the next day!

    Store-bought biscuit dough: I love using store bought mixes and premade items to help make my time in the kitchen easier, whether its easy sticky buns, Easter bunny cinnamon rolls, or doctored cake mixes and frozen pie crusts. This recipe similarly uses pre-made canned biscuit dough! The hardest part is just opening the cans!

    cinnamon pull apart bread slice on plate
    Such a wonderful treat for breakfast!

    What you need for cinnamon pull apart?

    cinnamon pull apart bread ingredients
    You only need a few ingredients!
    • Brown Sugar: I tend to use dark for the extra molasses flavor, but light will work fine too.
    • Butter
    • Cinnamon
    • Buttermilk Canned Biscuits- you can use the grand buttermilk biscuits or regular size
    • Chopped Walnuts (optional)
    • Bundt Pan- 10 inch/12 cup size bundt pan
    • Non-Stick Cooking Spray

    This dish is also frequently known as monkey bread or monkey brains, but I grew up with it called Cinnamon Pull Apart. They are all the same delicious recipe though!

    How to make cinnamon pull apart bread?

    • Preheat oven and spray your bundt pan thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray.
    • Cut each biscuit into quarters.
    • Microwave your butter, sugar, and cinnamon, until fully melted.
    biscuit cut in 4 pieces
    Cut biscuits in quarters.
    melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon mixed together
    Melt butter and sugar with cinnamon.
    • Layer the bundt pan with walnuts (if using), ¼ cup of butter brown sugar mixture, 16 pieces of cut grand biscuit pieces and then repeat, ending with remaining walnuts and butter mixture. If using regular sized biscuits it will be 40 pieces per layer.
    • Bake until golden brown and cooked throughout.
    cinnamon pull apart before baking
    Layer the ingredients.
    cooked cinnamon pull apart before flipping
    Bake.
    • Once cooked remove from oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes, then flip onto a large plate.
    cinnamon pull apart on plate with serving spoon next to it
    This is so easy to make!

    Pro Tip: Spray the bundt pan thoroughly (more than you’d think!) with non-stick cooking spray. This will help it come out smoothly after baking.

    What to serve with cinnamon pull apart?

    A cold glass of orange juice and some hot bacon is my go too. But serve this along with some egg burritos and coffee sounds delicious too!

    Brand of Biscuits?

    I’ve used both name brand Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits and cheap non-name brand and they both taste great!

    Should I coat the dough with sugar first?

    This is optional. The times I've tried it I find it doesn't really add anything that is crucial to the taste or flavor.

    biscuit pieces in ziploc bag covered in brown sugar
    close up of biscuit pieces in zip loc bag

    We’ve been making this monkey bread recipe for years without coating each piece and it always comes out tasty.

    How do I know when the cinnamon pull apart is done?

    Typically, the top (which will be the bottom once you flip it) will be golden brown and it will take 30-40 minutes to bake. Since living at altitude, I’ve come to just check the internal temperature of everything since baking times can vary so much up here.

    If you have a food thermometer (I use this one often!) check to make sure the internal temperature is 190°F.  The biscuit pieces will be cooked through at that temperature!

    Pro Tip: Sometimes if the oven temp is a little wacky the top of the pull apart (later to be the bottom) will start to get a little too dark before it is finished baking. If that start to happen place a sheet of foil over the dish to help stop that from burning.

    cinnamon pull apart bread close up of side
    Everyone will want seconds!

    Cinnamon Pull Apart Fell Apart?

    If your cinnamon pull apart falls apart after flipping, this is typically because the pan wasn’t greased well enough or it wasn't baked all the way through.

    Variations of Cinnamon Pull Apart:

    Chocolate, Caramel, Butterscotch: Add a few chocolate, caramel, or butterscotch chips in with the layers of nuts, butter mixture, and dough for variety!

    Cream Cheese Frosting: Mix together some cream cheese, powdered sugar, and a little milk then drizzling over this pull apart is a delicious addition!

    Cinnamon Rolls: Cut up cinnamon rolls instead of biscuit dough for an extra sweet pull apart!

    Coffee: Although this monkey bread pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee, you can also add in instant coffee or espresso powder into the butter mixture for some subtle coffee flavor- yum!

    piece of cinnamon pull apart on fork
    Using the grands biscuits gives you big bites!

    No bundt pan? No problem!

    If you don’t have a bundt pan you can make this recipe in a baking dish or loaf pan, just make sure to adjust the baking time.

    Depending on the dish it might need a little longer or a little less time baking and keep in mind the size of the pan needs to be big enough to hold all the pieces and then double in size once its baked!

    cinnamon pull apart bread on plate
    This makes special occasions that much more special!
    How to store Cinnamon Pull Apart?

    This dish is best served and eaten warm, the same day you bake it, but if you have leftovers, store in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

    How to reheat leftover cinnamon pull apart?

    Simply microwave a slice for 15-20 second intervals until it’s heated through.

    Can you make monkey bread ahead of time?

    Yes! The day before you can prep the entire dish, all the way through layering the all the dough into the pan with the butter mixture. Then cover and refrigerate.

    The next morning, bake the pull apart in a preheated oven until cooked through. You might have to add a few minutes of baking time but it will come out just as delicious!

    Whether you are making this for a fun breakfast or a delicious dessert, this cinnamon pull apart bread will become a new family favorite!

    If you like this recipe check out my other family favorite recipes- they include mandarin orange salad, salmon croquettes, fried spaghetti, and the best tri tip!

    cinnamon pull apart bread pinterest image
    Don't forget to pin this recipe!

    Want more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

    cinnamon pull apart bread featured image

    Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread

    Author: Lisa
    Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread is a delicious, sweet, treat that everyone will love! Made with store-bought canned biscuit dough this buttery, brown sugar covered, morsels make every bite just as good as the last!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Dessert
    Servings 12

    Equipment

    • Bundt Pan- 12 cups/10 inch in diameter

    Ingredients
      

    • 1.5 cup dark brown sugar
    • ¾ cup butter
    • 2 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 2 Cans Grand Buttermilk Biscuits 16 oz with 8 biscuits in each (or four 7.5 oz cans with 10 biscuits in each regular sized buttermilk biscuits)
    • ¾ cup walnuts chopped (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray (like Pam). Make sure to spray thoroughly so monkey bread doesn’t stick.
    • Cut each grand biscuit into quarters, giving you 32 pieces to a can. If using 7.5 oz cans cut each biscuit into quarters too, giving you 40 pieces to a can.
      2 Cans Grand Buttermilk Biscuits
      biscuit cut in 4 pieces
    • Optional: While cutting you can to toss the cut biscuit pieces into a bag with some extra brown sugar. This step is optional and I recommend it only if you have the time.
      biscuit pieces in ziploc bag covered in brown sugar
    • In a microwave safe measuring cup, add butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat heating until melted. Stir mixture until combined- you might need to restir if it separates. *
      1.5 cup dark brown sugar, ¾ cup butter, 2 teaspoon cinnamon
      melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon mixed together
    • If using walnuts spread ¼ cup along the bottom of the bundt pan. Pour ~¼ cup of the butter sugar mixture along the bottom of the pan.
      ¾ cup walnuts
    • Layer 16 of the grand biscuit pieces into the bundt pan (or 40 of the regular sized biscuit pieces) . Then drizzle with ¼ cup of the sugar butter mixture (stirring to redistribute brown sugar if needed), and another ¼ cup of chopped walnuts (if using nuts).
      cinnamon pull apart before baking
    • Repeat two more times using all the cut biscuits, walnuts (if using), and cinnamon butter sugar mixture.
    • Bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes. * The top of the pull apart will be golden brown and if you have a thermometer, check to make sure the internal temperature is 195-200°F at minimum. If the top (which will be the bottom once you flip it) is getting too dark just cover it with foil and continue baking.
      cooked cinnamon pull apart before flipping
    • Remove from oven and allow to rest for 2-5 minutes. Then cover with a large plate and carefully flip and enjoy!
      cinnamon pull apart on plate with serving spoon next to it

    Notes

    Tips and Tricks
    • *I like to use a hand blender to really mix the sugar and butter together. (amazon affiliate link)
    • *Baking times will vary depending on the size/thickness of your pan.
    • Nutrition Info is estimated and includes walnuts.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 583kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 7gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 947mgPotassium: 275mgFiber: 2gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 359IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 81mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword Cinnamon Pull Apart, Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread, Monkey Bread
    Did you make this recipe?Tag me on Instagram at @atablefullofjoy

    More Dessert

    • pudding featured image
      Homemade Banana Pudding
    • toll house pie featured image
      Toll House Pie
    • 4th of July Cake featured images
      4th of July Cake
    • red white and blue cheesecake salad featured image
      Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Lisa

      April 20, 2023 at 6:33 pm

      5 stars
      What a great family recipe!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Here you will find easy and delicious recipes and helpful posts!

    Trending This Month

    • bad potato held in hand featured image
      How to tell if potatoes are bad?
    • marinated tri tip featured image.
      Tri Tip Marinade
    • featured image for carnitas tacos
      Pork Carnitas Street Tacos
    • slice of lemon meringue pie featured image
      Lemon Meringue Pie with Graham Cracker Crust

    Summer Recipes

    • Wagyu burger featured image
      Wagyu Burger
    • smoked ribeye featured image
      Smoked Ribeye
    • Watermelon Drink featured image
      Watermelon Drink
    • Smoked Queso featured image
      Smoked Queso

    Featured On

    AS seen on Parade, Hearthstone, Yummly, Sam's Club, Congra, Red Tricycle, Chefling App. Foodgawker, Karo

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright Information

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates!

    Contact

    • About Me and Contact Info

    As an Amazon Associate, ThermoWorks Affiliate, and a Berkey Water Filtration Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 A Table Full of Joy

    Copyright © 2023 ·ATableFullofJoy.com ·

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT