Monkey Bread Recipe {with a tropical twist} - Belly Full (2024)

Ooey gooey Pina Colada Monkey Bread with canned biscuit dough, coconut milk, pineapple, rum, and a silky vanilla glaze! Make it for an indulgent breakfast or dessert. So easy!

Love the flavor of pina coladas? Don’t miss our Frozen Pina Colada drink and Pina Colada Jello Shots!

Monkey Bread Recipe {with a tropical twist} - Belly Full (1)

There are a few food items my husband deeply loves: a sloppy burger, beer, anything dill, and pineapple. Not necessary together. Because…ew. Although I wouldn’t put it past him.

Inspired by traditional cinnamon-sugar monkey bread and our favorite Pina Colada drink, I decided to put a delicious tropical twist on it for him, which included pineapple. It was sweet, rich, gooey…and he loved every single bite. And then said, “don’t ever make that again.” HA. This monkey bread recipe is so good!

What is Monkey Bread?

Monkey bread is essentially a bundt cake made from small balls of dough that have been coated in butter, sugar, and cinnamon. It bakes until the dough is tender and golden, with a buttery, sticky sweet sauce, then inverted onto a plate and drizzled with glaze. It’s basically a giant mound of tiny cinnamon rolls. Eaten like pull-apart bread, where everyone snags a piece, similar to how monkeys eat.

Our version uses the same method, but we changed up the ingredients to mimic classic Pina Colada flavors.

Monkey Bread Recipe {with a tropical twist} - Belly Full (2)

Monkey Bread Recipe

Ingredients you’ll need for this particular monkey bread with biscuits recipe:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

  • Butter and sugar: To coat the dough balls in.
  • Coconut milk: Just canned coconut milk, full fat or light. Make sure you shake it up before using.
  • Rum: No need to buy anything top shelf – just whatever rum you enjoy drinking. Simply omit the rum if you’re avoiding alcohol.
  • Pillsbury biscuits: This recipe calls for Pillsbury Homestyle Original Grands refrigerated biscuits. If you are outside the US and can’t find canned biscuit dough, you can try and make your own homemade dough or use pizza or bread dough, but the overall texture might be more dry.
  • Crushed pineapple: Canned crushed pineapple that’s been fully drained.
  • Powdered sugar and vanilla extract: These ingredients are combined with coconut milk and rum to make the glaze.
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How to Make Monkey Bread

There are 5 easy steps to making this recipe: Make the sauce, prepare the biscuits, fill the bundt pan, bake, invert, and glaze. (To make this Pull Apart Monkey Bread, follow the steps below included in the printable recipe card.)

This type of bread cooks best when made in a bundt pan and that’s how this recipe has been tested. You probably could bake it in a different type of baking dish, but a bundt pan gives it that signature shape.

Sometimes it can be a guessing game when monkey bread is cooked through. Our recipe bakes for 35 minutes and when a toothpick inserted comes out clean. But all ovens run differently, so it’s best to use a digital thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 190 degrees F and you’re not eating any raw dough.

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How to Store Monkey Bread

Monkey bread is best served right away or at least the same day it’s made while it’s fresh. If you do have leftovers, it can be stored tightly covered at room temperature for a day or in the fridge for about 3 days. Bring it back to room temperature or heat up sections in the microwave before serving again.

More Pull Apart Bread Recipes:

  • Italian Pull Apart Bread
  • Breakfast Pull Apart Bread
  • French Toast Pull Apart Muffins
  • Monkey Bread Muffins {savory}

I hope you love this quick and simple recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full onFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest, andYouTube!

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Pina Colada Monkey Bread

Ooey gooey Pina Colada Monkey Bread with coconut milk, pineapple, and rum! Make it for dessert or even breakfast. So easy!

Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup coconut milk , divided
  • 1/2 tablespoon rum + a splash more
  • 16 ounce tube Pillsbury Homestyle Original Grands refrigerated biscuits
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 8 ounce can crushed pineapple , drained and divided
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Thoroughly coat a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, 2 tablespoons coconut milk, and 1/2 tablespoon of rum until smooth. Remove from heat.

  • Separate biscuits and cut each one into 4 equal pieces.

  • Gently dip half of the biscuit pieces into the butter mixture, then roll in the granulated sugar and place in prepared bundt pan. Evenly sprinkle half of the pineapple over the top. Repeat a second layer with the remaining biscuit pieces and pineapple.

  • Bake until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and an internal temperature of 190 degrees F is reached, about 35 minutes. (Watch carefully toward the end and tent with foil if it's over-browning.)

  • Transfer to a cooling rack; cool 5-10 minutes in pan. Carefully invert monkey bread onto a plate.

  • In a small bowl, whisk powdered sugar, remaining 2 tablespoons coconut milk, vanilla, and a splash of rum until smooth. Drizzle glaze over the warm bread.

  • Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 616mg | Potassium: 278mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Other Notes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: monkey bread

Did you make this recipe?Snap a picture and mention @bellyfullblog!

Monkey Bread Recipe {with a tropical twist} - Belly Full (6)
Monkey Bread Recipe {with a tropical twist} - Belly Full (2024)

FAQs

How do you know when monkey bread is done? ›

Bake the monkey bread for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top of the loaf is golden brown. An instant read thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf should read between 190°F and 200°F. Serve and store. Serve immediately, or warmed.

What can you use instead of a bundt pan for monkey bread? ›

I bake mine in one of the best Bundt pans, but a tube pan works, too. You could even bake it in a muffin tin for individual monkey bread "muffins." Wouldn't that be cute?! Just be sure to adjust the baking time.

What is monkey bread made of? ›

Monkey bread is a sweet, gooey Bundt cake made from balls of dough rolled in cinnamon sugar. Arrange the dough balls in a Bundt pan, then top it all with a buttery brown sugar sauce before baking. Invert it onto a serving plate, then drizzle with creamy vanilla icing.

Do I need to store monkey bread in the fridge? ›

If you somehow end up with leftovers, save them for later! This Grands!™ Monkey Bread can be stored, tightly covered, on the counter for 1–2 days. To keep it fresh for 3–4 days, pop it into the fridge. And if you want to put a treat aside for future you, you can freeze monkey bread for up to two months.

What does bread look like when its done? ›

Crust color is a clear visual indicator of bread doneness, but Barb says different types of bread have varying levels of color to look for. Sandwich bread and pan loaves: “The color should be a rich golden brown and the top crust should feel firm.

Why is my monkey bread doughy? ›

If the bottom of the pieces that haven't been exposed is still doughy, the bread needs to bake longer. If it's fully baked and no stretchy dough appears, it's ready.

Can I use a 9x13 pan instead of a bundt pan? ›

Can you bake a Bundt cake in a 13×9 pan? Yes—but don't overfill the pan. Be sure to leave about 1/2″ to 1/4″ of space at the top to give the cake room to grow. You'll also need to adjust your baking time.

What is another name for monkey bread? ›

Monkey bread (also known by other names including plucking cake, pull-apart bread, and bubble 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.

What country is monkey bread from? ›

Monkey bread facts for kids
Alternative namesPull-apart bread, bubble bread, Christmas morning delights
CourseBreakfast
Place of originHungary
Main ingredientsbread flour
Food energy (per serving)352 kcal (1474 kJ)
3 more rows
Oct 16, 2023

Why is monkey bread called monkey? ›

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 (which is actually a weird thing to name a food after, if you really think about it.)

Can monkey bread go bad? ›

Storage: Monkey bread is definitely best served on the same day that it is baked, preferably fresh out of the oven! Any leftovers should be stored, covered tightly with plastic wrap, at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Can you reheat monkey bread? ›

Reheating leftover monkey bread in the oven will yield the best results. Place monkey bread on a baking sheet, cover with foil, and bake at 250 degrees F for 5-10 minutes.

How do you soften brown sugar? ›

To quickly soften brown sugar: place the sugar in a microwave safe bowl and cover it with a damp paper towel for about 20 second, or use a food processor to loosen the brown sugar. If you aren't pressed for time, use a slice of bread or an apple in an airtight container with the brown sugar for 24 hours.

Why is my monkey bread not cooking in the middle? ›

Recipe Tip

To be entirely sure that the monkey bread is fully cooked and not doughy in the center, use a thermometer to verify that the middle has reached 190°F. If the top is browning too much and the center is still not at 190°F, lower the monkey bread in your oven and/or cover it with foil to prevent over-browning.

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