Name: Easy Monkey Bread with Canned Biscuits (Quick Sweet Treat)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cans refrigerated biscuit dough (16 oz total, such as Pillsbury Grands); 1 cup granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick, melted); 1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark both work); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/4 teaspoon salt

Jump to Recipe

My mom used to make monkey bread on slow Saturday mornings, and the smell of cinnamon and brown sugar bubbling in the oven still feels like the coziest thing in the world.

This version skips any fuss by using canned biscuit dough, so it comes together incredibly fast. It is the kind of recipe that looks impressive but asks almost nothing of you.

Easy Monkey Bread with Canned Biscuits (Quick Sweet Treat)

Pull-apart, gooey cinnamon sugar monkey bread made in under an hour with just a can of biscuits.

4.6 (72 reviews)

Prep15 min

Cook30 min

Total45 min

Serves8 servings

LevelEasy

Ingredients

2 cans refrigerated biscuit dough , 16 oz total, such as Pillsbury Grands
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup unsalted butter , 1 stick, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar , light or dark both work
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a standard Bundt pan generously with butter or nonstick cooking spray, making sure to get into all the ridges.

Open both cans of biscuit dough and cut each biscuit into quarters. You will end up with roughly 64 small pieces.

Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a large zip-top bag or a wide shallow bowl and stir them together.

Add the biscuit pieces in batches and toss them until every piece is well coated in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Drop the coated pieces into the prepared Bundt pan, distributing them evenly.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Do not let it come to a full boil.

Pour the warm brown sugar butter mixture evenly over all the biscuit pieces in the pan. Use a spoon to help it seep down into the gaps.

Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, until the top is deep golden brown and the center feels set when gently pressed. If the top is browning too quickly, loosely tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.

Let the monkey bread cool in the pan for exactly 10 minutes — no longer, or the caramel will harden and stick. Place a large plate or serving platter over the pan and flip it in one confident move. Serve warm and let everyone pull away.

Serve immediately while gooey and warm for the best experience.

Tips & Notes

Do not skip greasing the Bundt pan thoroughly — the caramel will stick to any dry spots and make flipping a nightmare.
The 10-minute rest before flipping is important. Too short and it falls apart, too long and it sticks. Set a timer.
For extra richness, stir a pinch of nutmeg into the cinnamon sugar coating.
Leftover pieces reheat beautifully in the microwave for about 20 seconds — they get gooey all over again.
Using Pillsbury Grands gives you bigger, fluffier pull-apart pieces, but any refrigerated biscuit dough works.

Storage: Store leftovers loosely covered at room temperature for up to 1 day, or wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Warm individual portions in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds before eating.

Nutrition per serving · estimated

480 Cal

22g Fat

68g Carbs

5g Protein

1g Fiber

38g Sugar

720mg Sodium

Why Canned Biscuits Are the Secret Shortcut

There is zero shame in reaching for canned biscuit dough here — it is honestly what makes this recipe so reliable. The layers puff up perfectly in the oven, soaking up all that brown sugar butter and turning into something that tastes like it took real effort.

Using homemade dough is lovely, but on a weekend morning when everyone is already hovering around the kitchen asking when it will be ready, canned dough is the right call every single time.

How to Make It Your Own

Once you have the basic recipe down, it is easy to play with. Stir a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts into the pan before adding the sauce for a little crunch. A drizzle of simple vanilla glaze over the top after flipping makes it feel extra special for a crowd.

You can even make a savory version by swapping the cinnamon sugar for garlic butter and shredded parmesan — it becomes a completely different dish that is just as addictive alongside a bowl of soup.

Easy Monkey Bread with Canned Biscuits (Quick Sweet Treat)