Because all the prep is done the night before, I can definitely understand why Make Ahead Monkey Bread is a popular breakfast dessert for busy holiday mornings–especially Christmas (read the theory on why this is down below).
But the thing is, if I only made this gooey, fun to pull apart, sweet bread on special occasions, I would have a lot of answering to do around here.
I really wouldn’t have a good excuse either. After all, this easy homemade monkey bread recipe only has 5 ingredients. The whole thing is prepped within a few minutes the night before. Plus the recipe uses frozen rolls, so there’s no “from-scratch” yeast rising involved.
This is by far one of the easiest breakfast treats I’ve ever made. And everyone loves its warm cinnamon, buttery glaze, which drapes over flaky, delicious pieces of pull-apart bread.
I mean, who wouldn’t enjoy pulling off a piece or two of this buttery, sticky cinnamon deliciousness?
Why You’ll Love It
| Easy recipe– Simply melt the butter, sprinkle on a few ingredients, and then let it work its tasty magic overnight. Pop it in the oven the next morning and smell the deliciousness as it bakes to perfection! Uses frozen rolls– Unlike most monkey bread recipes, this one uses frozen rolls instead of refrigerated biscuit dough, making it slightly-er umm-better for you. You can also stock up on bags of frozen rolls way ahead of time! Timesaver for busy mornings– When it’s the holidays (especially Christmas), or you have guests staying over, make ahead breakfast options are not only timesavers, they make busy mornings much less stressful! |
If you are making this for Christmas, and would like to also make some other baked goods for the winter holidays, try Easy Cranberry Mini Pies, White Chocolate Cranberry Bread, Cranberry Coffee Cake Muffins, and Christmas Butter Cookies!
Make Ahead Monkey Bread Ingredients
- 1 (22-25 oz.) package frozen, Parkerhouse style rolls–Bridgford brand highly recommended due to its small size
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 box (3.5 oz.) butterscotch pudding (NOT instant)
How to Make Make Ahead Monkey Bread
Click here for a list of equipment needed for this recipe
- Bundt pan (one part style, fluted is fun if you have it)
- large, rimmed cookie sheet or jelly roll pan, lined with foil
- small spouted pot with lid or microwaveable safe dish
- pastry brush
- small mixing bowl
- mixing spoon
- measuring cup
- measuring spoon
Getting Started
***REMEMBER, THIS RECIPE LIVES UP TO ITS NAME! MAKE AHEAD MONKEY BREAD IS PREPARED THE NIGHT BEFORE YOU PLAN ON BAKING IT. IF YOU DON’T FOLLOW THIS IMPORTANT STEP, IT WILL NOT BE THE SAME!!!***
At night….
- Place the entire package of the frozen rolls into your prepared Bundt pan. Evenly distribute them throughout the pan as you layer the rolls on top of each other.
- Melt the butter and then pour it over the frozen rolls. Use a pastry brush to make sure all the rolls on top were coated with a little bit of butter.
- Mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a small mixing bowl. Then sprinkle this on top of the rolls.
- Sprinkle on the butterscotch pudding. Take time to make sure it is evenly distributed over the rolls on top.
- Place the Bundt pan on top of a foil lined, rimmed baking sheet, then watch your favorite show on Netflix and go to bed. Yup, that’s right–it’s going to sit out on the counter. It’ll be ok, you have to trust me on this. For added fun, snap a picture if you can because you will see amazing changes in the morning! SPOILER ALERT: There’s a picture right below…
The next morning…
You wake up, go in your kitchen and see…
…THIS!!!
Remember, it hasn’t baked yet, but you can clearly see the magic that happened overnight! The rolls defrosted, absorbed the butter and expanded–BIG TIME!
Now preheat your oven to 350 degrees. When it’s ready, place the Bundt pan on a cookie sheet (for a mess-free experience) into the oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
When Make Ahead Monkey Bread comes out of the oven, it should look like the picture above. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Then invert it onto a serving plate.
As a word of caution, you are going to encounter quite a bit of very warm, wonderful syrupy magic when you flip it.
After inverting, let it sit for another few minutes and enjoy!
Now, let the fun begin! Who will get the first piece in the morning at your house?
Storing Make Ahead Monkey Bread
Store in an airtight container. Do not refrigerate. Enjoy within 5 days.
Make Ahead Monkey Bread tastes really good warm, but is also delicious at room temperature. They are two different palate experiences and I suggest you try them both. If you choose to reheat it, cover loosely with foil and place in a 300 degree oven until slightly warm.
No More Monkeying Around: Monkey Bread Origin Story
Click here to read it!
No one knows for sure, though most agree that Monkey Bread has Hungarian Jewish origins.
Some say Monkey Bread gets its name because it’s so delicious and no one can wait to tear off a piece. When done so hastily, it mimics what a hungry monkey does when tearing a banana from a bunch!
Monkey Bread is quite popular in the United States and many feel that it gained traction in California back in the golden Hollywood era.
The presidential nerd in me has to tell you that Nancy Reagan partially shares the credit for that. Like her husband, she was a Hollywood actor in the 1940s and many feel that she got her famous Monkey Bread recipe while living there. Then, after moving into the White House, she served Monkey Bread to several guests on a Christmas morning. It was such a hit (as the story goes) that it led to Monkey Bread becoming a holiday breakfast sensation!
Make Ahead Monkey Bread
Description
Prep it the night before, watch your favortie Netflix show, go to bed and bake this Monkey Bread when you get up in the morning! A decadent, cinnamon buttery delight awaits! With just five ingredients and only 30 minutes of bake time, this delicious version (that uses frozen rolls) is a keeper!
Make Ahead Monkey Bread
Instructions
Make Ahead Instructions (The Night Before it Bakes)
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Grease a one piece bundt pan.
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Place the entire package of frozen rolls into the pan.
Evenly distribute them throughout the pan and layer rolls on top of each other. -
Melt butter; then pour evenly over the frozen rolls.
Use a pastry brush to make sure all the rolls on top have some butter. -
Mix cinnamon and sugar together; then sprinkle evenly over the buttered rolls.
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Sprinkle pudding over top, taking time to evenly distribute it.
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Line a large, rimmed baking sheet/jelly roll pan with foil. Sit the bundt pan (face up) on top.
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IMPORTANT: Let the bundt pan sit on the baking pan OVERNIGHT on top of your counter.
Following this step is crucial to allow the rolls to defrost and absorb the butter and other ingredients. The rolls will look much different in the morning!
Bake it the next morning.
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
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Place bundt pan and baking pan into preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
We keep the baking pan under the bundt pan as it bakes to keep the oven mess-free. -
After 30 minutes, remove from oven. Let sit 5 minutes before inverting onto serving plate. Once inverted, let sit another 5 minutes for additional cool off before serving.
Take precaution when inverting. There will be a lot of hot syrup in the bottom of the pan, which will become the glaze on top once flipped.
Storage.
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Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Do not refrigerate.
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Make Ahead Monkey Bread does not need to be heated again before eaten, but you may reheat it loosely covered for a few minutes at 300 degrees if desired.
Note
I can't stress enough how great this comes out when you follow all the instructions. Give it a try and you'll be amazed!
This recipe calls for Parkerhouse style FROZEN rolls in a 25 oz. bag. Try your best to stick to that, and don't defrost the rolls before you start preparing the Monkey Bread.
Do not use instant pudding. Only use cook and serve.
User Reviews
Made this once and plan to make it again. Thanks for the recipe.
You’re welcome! So glad you like it!