Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread is the ultimate Fall treat! Cinnamon roll pieces combined with apples, cinnamon, an incredible glaze, and more! Perfect to serve for breakfast on a Fall morning, or a lazy weekend brunch, this is one tasty and simple recipe!
An easy Fall monkey bread recipe
There really isn’t anything better than the smell of fresh cinnamon apple goods being baked during the Fall season, right?! This tasty pull-apart bread is soft, delicious, fluffy, and includes cinnamon roll pieces coated in brown sugar. The cinnamon apples throughout add tons of autumn flavor throughout and make this a mouthwatering anytime treat.
Anyone who likes apples and cinnamon will fall in love with this treat as its also incredibly easy to prepare. Using refrigerated biscuits, this is a recipe even the kids can help make!
What is Monkey Bread?
Monkey bread is a soft, sweet, sticky pastry served in the United States for breakfast or as a treat. It consists of pieces of soft baked dough sprinkled with cinnamon. Monkey Bread gets its name by the method in which it is eaten: picking off chunks of buttery, gooey dough with your fingers not unlike a monkey grooming his buddy. Not the most flattering thing to think about, but after one bite, you’ll forget all about that visual.
This Apple Pie Monkey Bread is a variation of the original, however instead of plain biscuits, you are going to use store-bought cinnamon rolls, and apple pie filling.
Why you’ll love this Apple Monkey Bread recipe:
- Festive- with apples, cinnamon, and nuts (if desired) throughout, this is the perfect Fall treat
- Easy- using only 5 ingredients, this monkey bread comes together in no time and even allows the kids to get involved and help
- Flavorful- think apple fritter meets cinnamon roll, a flavor combination that just can’t be beat
Ingredients Needed for this Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread:
This monkey bread is easy to make with only a few ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cinnamon Rolls w/ icing– you’ll buy 2 cans of cinnamon rolls, I use Pillsbury
- Apple-peeled and chopped
- Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Butter– melted
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
How to Make Apple Monkey Bread with Cinnamon Rolls
- Grease a Bundt pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar. Remove 1/4 cup of cinnamon sugar mixture and add it to a different medium bowl.
- Add the chopped apples to one of the bowls and toss to coat evenly. Set aside.
- Cut the cinnamon rolls into quarters. Roll each cinnamon roll dough piece through bowl of cinnamon/sugar.
- Place half the coated apples into the greased Bundt pan.
- Add half the cinnamon rolls on top of the apples.
- Repeat layers one more time ending with the remaining cinnamon roll dough.
- Pour melted butter over top and place pan in oven.
- Bake for about 40-45 minutes. Remove from oven and flip pan carefully onto a plate or tray.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes before drizzling with icing from cinnamon roll packages. Serve and enjoy!!
What Kinds of Apples to Use
For the best pies, crisps, and other baked apple treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin. My go-to apple is always a Granny Smith, but feel free to use any others of the listed ones above.
What can I use in place of refrigerated cinnamon rolls?
If you want to use pre-made biscuits, that is a great option as well! If you don’t have access to pre-packaged dough products, feel free to make your biscuits from scratch using THIS recipe and follow the recipe as directed in recipe card below.
How long does apple cinnamon monkey bread last for?
In my house, I am lucky if we get two days from this. My kids almost always go back for seconds or have another piece later in the day. If the monkey bread lasts a bit longer in your house, it will be good for about 3-4 days covered, at room temperature. To reheat, simply cut desired size piece and place in the microwave for about 20 seconds. You can also enjoy this at room temperature, it just may not be as tender and fluffy! To freeze, wrap securely in foil and plastic wrap to protect it from freezer burn and it will keep well for 1-2 months. Thaw at room temperature to serve
Tips for the best Apple Fritter Monkey Bread
- Feel free to add in some chopped nuts. The crunch is a tasty addition to this recipe.
- You can use any flavor cinnamon rolls desired. I have even found apple cinnamon rolls at the grocery store.
- You can bake this in an 8×8 pan if desired, just watch the cook time as it may bake a bit faster.
- If you want to cut down on the sweetness, you can omit the cinnamon roll glaze from the top. You’ll still get the same great taste, just a bit less sweet.
- Make sure that your oven is fully preheated before baking the bread so it cooks through evenly.
- Leftovers can be warmed through in the oven at 360°F for 5-10 minutes.
What to serve with Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread
Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread is a pretty hearty meal and can either be served on its own or as part of a large brunch spread.
Spinach, Mushroom, and Feta Quiche– flavorful, healthy dish that makes a great pairing option
Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast Casserole– packed with flavor and a “stick to your ribs” kind of meal! Hearty, tasty, and a favorite any time of the day!
Breakfast Pizza– using a few shortcut ingredients, this protein packed pizza is the perfect way to start the day
Check out these other monkey bread recipes:
Easy Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cans cinnamon rolls 17.5 oz cans
- 1 apple *peeled/chopped
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup butter *melted
Instructions
- Grease a bundt pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar.
- Remove 1/4 cup of cinnamon sugar mixture and add it to a different medium bowl.
- Add the chopped apples to one of the bowls and toss to coat evenly. Set aside.
- Cut the cinnamon rolls into quarters.
- Roll each cinnamon roll dough piece through bowl of cinnamon/sugar.
- Place half the coated apples into the greased bundt pan.
- Add half the cinnamon rolls on top of the apples.
- Repeat layers one more time ending with the remaining cinnamon roll dough.
- Pour melted butter over top and place pan in oven.
- Bake for about 40-45 minutes.
- Remove from oven and flip pan carefully onto a plate or tray.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes before drizzling with icing from cinnamon roll packages.
- Serve!!
