Easy and Delicious Dutch Oven Monkey Bread

Dutch Oven Monkey Bread is warm, gooey, and baked to perfection in a cinnamon, brown sugar butter sauce. A sweet cream cheese glaze is drizzled over the top of the warm biscuit pieces. Enjoy for breakfast with a cup of coffee or as an evening dessert. 

This delightful treat has become our new family favorite. I am asked at least once a week to make this Dutch oven monkey bread. I don't mind making this over and over because it's so easy and the ingredients are super simple. The recipe is also extremely foolproof ensuring it turns out perfectly every single time. There's something so addicting about this breakfast.

The outside of the monkey bread is caramelized from the sugar while the inside is soft and fluffy. It's sweet but not too sweet. The best part about this recipe is that you don't need any fancy bundt pans or cake pans to make this. You can simply use your Dutch oven for the whole thing. 

Looking for more sweet and easy breakfasts to enjoy? You must try my Cinnamon Spiced Oatmeal, 4 Ingredient Banana Bread, Blueberry Chocolate Chip Muffins, and Pumpkin Pancakes with Pancake Mix! 

Jump to:

• What Is Monkey Bread? 
• Why You'll Love This Dutch Oven Monkey Bread 
• Ingredient Notes and Substitutions 
• How to Make Dutch Oven Monkey Bread 
• Use Homemade Dough
• Benefits of Cooking In A Dutch Oven
• Tips for Making The Best Dutch Oven Monkey Bread 
• Must Try Variations for Dutch Oven Monkey Bread
• Storing and Reheating 
• More Breakfast Recipes You'll Love
• Easy and Delicious Dutch Oven Monkey Bread

What Is Monkey Bread? 

Monkey bread is a classic breakfast made with bite-sized pieces of dough, rolled in sugar and cinnamon, then layered in a baking dish. The dough pieces are then coated with melted butter and sugar, creating a caramelized, gooey texture as the bread bakes. Monkey bread is typically served by pulling apart the individual pieces, making it a fun and interactive treat for sharing.

Why You'll Love This Dutch Oven Monkey Bread 

Perfect Amount of Sweetness: Dutch oven monkey bread is known for its deliciously sweet and sticky texture, thanks to the caramelization of sugar and butter during baking. We've also decided to top the monkey bread with a delicious cream cheese glaze which takes it over the top. The biscuit dough isn't sweetened which balances the amount of sugar added in the recipe creating a perfect balance of sweetness that's not overly sweet. 

Soft and Doughy Center: The dough used in this monkey bread is flaky biscuits cut into smaller pieces. As it bakes in the Dutch oven, the dough rises, and creates a soft and pillowy center. 

Simple Preparation: Only 5 ingredients are used to make the monkey bread, most of which you probably already have on hand. It's a straightforward process that's hard to mess up. Anyone can make this in under an hour. 

Perfect for Sharing: This batch of monkey bread is enough to feed about 5-6 people making it a great choice for hosting a special breakfast, holidays, or any type of gathering. 

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions 

Canned flaky biscuits - Two pounds are used in this recipe. I know I said to use flaky biscuits but any canned biscuit dough will work just fine. We've tried it with butter biscuits, and jumbo buttermilk, and it's turned out perfect every time. While I've never tried this, I've heard of some people cutting pizza dough into small pieces to make this delicious monkey bread. If you try this let me know how it turned out and keep in mind you may need to adjust the cooking time. 

Cinnamon - To give the monkey bread that comforting and spiced flavor we all love. You can't have monkey bread without the cinnamon. 

Brown sugar - Used to be cooked down with butter and helps to give the monkey bread a delicious golden brown caramelized outer layer. Light brown sugar or dark brown sugar can be used. 

Granulated sugar - Used to coat the biscuit dough evenly. I wouldn't substitute this for another type of sugar. 

Butter - You'll need a whole stick for this recipe. We are not cutting back around here. This is where the flavor is at. 

Cream Cheese Glaze 

Cream cheese - Use a full-fat cream cheese for the best results. Make sure it's totally softened or your icing may not turn out right. 

Powdered sugar - To sweeten the glaze. 

Milk - To thin the glaze making it easy to pour over the Dutch oven monkey bread recipe. 

How to Make Dutch Oven Monkey Bread 

Make The Monkey Bread 

Step 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Step 2. On a cutting board, quarter the flaky biscuits and place in a large plastic bag. Add granulated sugar and cinnamon. Shake the bag to mix sugar and cinnamon and coat each quarter biscuit evenly. 

Step 3. Spray the Dutch oven with cooking spray to prevent sticking as the monkey bread cooks. 

Step 4. Place biscuits into the Dutch oven and set aside. 

Step 5. In a small saucepan, add butter and brown sugar. Melt butter on low and whisk the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved. 

Step 6. Pour the brown sugar butter mixture evenly over top of the biscuits. 

Step 7. Bake in a preheated oven uncovered for 45 minutes or until the biscuits are fully cooked and there’s a deep dark brown crust on the top.

Step 8. Once done, remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. 

Prepare The Glaze 

Step 9. Place the cream cheese into a small bowl and make sure it's completely softened. Using a fork, press down on the cream cheese and spread apart. 

Step 10. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and stir with a fork until completely combined. 

Step 11. Add the additional 1/4 cup powdered sugar and stir. You should now have a thick but smooth mixture. 

Step 12. Add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time and stir until fully combined and thin enough to spread over the monkey bread. 

Finish the Monkey Bread 

Step 13. Drizzle the monkey bread with the cream cheese glaze and serve warm. 

Use Homemade Dough

Love cooking from scratch and want to take this to a whole new level? Make your own homemade biscuit dough. To do so start by combining 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a mixing bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup (1 stick) of cold unsalted butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in 3/4 cup of cold milk, stirring just until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, gently knead it a few times, then roll dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Use a biscuit cutter to cut out rounds then quarter into even small pieces and follow the rest of the recipe. 

Benefits of Cooking In A Dutch Oven

Even Heat Distribution: Dutch ovens are known for their excellent heat retention and even distribution. This ensures that the monkey bread cooks uniformly, preventing hot spots and promoting consistent caramelization.

Crisp Exterior: The thick walls of a Dutch oven allow the monkey bread to develop a crispy and golden-brown exterior while keeping the inside soft and fluffy.

Retains Moisture: The design of a Dutch oven helps to retain moisture during baking. This is particularly beneficial for monkey bread, as it helps prevent the dough from drying out, resulting in a more tender and enjoyable texture.

Easy to Clean: Many Dutch ovens come with enamel coatings that make them easy to clean. This is particularly convenient when dealing with sticky, caramelized residues from monkey bread.

Tips for Making The Best Dutch Oven Monkey Bread 

Prepare the Dutch Oven: You'll definitely need to prep the Dutch oven with cooking spray or it will stick to the sides and bottom of the pan. Don't skip this step. Alternatively, you can use parchment paper liners to ensure the pull-apart bread doesn't stick. I used a 12-inch Dutch oven to prepare the monkey bread. I found this was the perfect size for baking this recipe. You can use a 10-inch Dutch oven instead. 

Evenly Size Dough Balls: For uniform cooking, ensure that the sugary dough balls are roughly the same size. This helps achieve consistent doneness throughout the monkey bread.

Test for Doneness: Use a toothpick or skewer to test the doneness of the monkey bread. It should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs, indicating that it's cooked through.

Cool Before Serving: Allow the monkey bread to cool for a few minutes before attempting to remove it from the Dutch oven. This helps prevent it from falling apart.

Serve Warm: Monkey bread is best enjoyed warm. Allow it to cool slightly, but serve it while it's still pleasantly warm for the best taste and texture.

Must Try Variations for Dutch Oven Monkey Bread

Caramel Pecan Monkey Bread: Add a layer of caramel sauce and chopped pecans between the dough pieces for a decadent and nutty twist.

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread: Incorporate diced apples and cinnamon sugar between the layers for a delightful fall-inspired treat.

Maple Bacon Monkey Bread: Mix crumbled bacon into the cinnamon sugar coating and drizzle maple syrup over the layers for a sweet and savory combination.

Pumpkin Spice Monkey Bread: Coat the dough pieces with a pumpkin spice sugar mixture for a seasonal and aromatic treat.

S'mores Monkey Bread: Incorporate layers of chocolate chips, marshmallow bits, and crushed graham crackers between the biscuit dough for a delightful camping-inspired treat.

Storing and Reheating 

To store monkey bread, first, allow it to cool a bit. Wrap the monkey bread tightly in plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container, ensuring a secure seal to prevent it from drying out. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days for optimal freshness.

When reheating, preheat your oven to around 350°F (175°C). Remove the plastic wrap or place on a baking dish and bake for about 10-15 minutes. If the top begins to brown too quickly, cover it with aluminum foil. Alternatively, you can reheat individual servings in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds with a damp paper towel over the top to prevent it from getting too dry.

More Breakfast Recipes You'll Love