This Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread is soft, buttery, sweet, and filled with warm cinnamon flavor in every bite. Made with store-bought canned buttermilk biscuit dough, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon, this easy pull-apart bread is a cozy breakfast, brunch, holiday treat, or simple dessert that tastes homemade without requiring homemade dough.
Also known as Monkey Bread, this cinnamon pull apart bread has been a family favorite for years. It is the kind of recipe that works beautifully for Thanksgiving morning, Christmas breakfast, Easter brunch, weekend guests, or any time you want something sweet and comforting with very little prep.
The best part is how easy it is. Instead of making yeast dough from scratch, this recipe uses refrigerated buttermilk biscuits. The biscuit pieces bake together in a bundt pan with a rich cinnamon brown sugar butter mixture, creating sticky, tender pieces that can be pulled apart and shared right from the plate.
Why This Recipe Works
Easy to make: You only need a short list of ingredients, and the prep is simple. Cut the biscuits, melt the butter mixture, layer everything in the pan, and bake. It is a great recipe for beginners and busy mornings.
Uses store-bought biscuit dough: Refrigerated canned biscuits make this cinnamon pull apart bread quick and reliable. There is no kneading, rising, or waiting for dough to proof. The hardest part may be opening the cans.
Perfect for sharing: The pull-apart style makes it ideal for family breakfasts, holiday tables, brunch spreads, and casual desserts. Each piece is coated with buttery cinnamon sugar, so every bite is flavorful.
Make-ahead friendly: You can assemble the bread the night before, refrigerate it, and bake it the next morning. This makes it especially helpful during busy holidays.
What You Need for Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread
- Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar adds a deeper molasses flavor, but light brown sugar also works well.
- Buttermilk Canned Biscuits: Use grand buttermilk biscuits or regular-size buttermilk biscuits. Any brand can work for this monkey bread recipe.
- Butter: Butter melts into the brown sugar and cinnamon to create the rich, sticky coating.
- Cinnamon: This gives the bread its warm, classic flavor.
- Chopped Walnuts: Walnuts are optional. Pecans can also be used if you prefer them.
- Bundt Pan: A 10-inch, 12-cup bundt pan is recommended for even baking and the classic pull-apart shape.
- Non-Stick Cooking Spray: Spray the pan very well so the bread releases cleanly after baking.
How to Make Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread
- Step 1: Preheat the oven and spray the bundt pan thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray. Cut each biscuit into quarters.
- Step 2: Microwave the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in short intervals until melted, then stir until combined.
- Step 3: Layer the bundt pan with walnuts, if using, a portion of the cinnamon brown sugar butter mixture, and biscuit pieces. Repeat the layers until everything is used.
- Step 4: Bake until the bread is golden brown and cooked through.
- Step 5: Let the bread rest for a few minutes after baking, then carefully flip it onto a large serving plate.
Expert Tips
- Spray the bundt pan generously. Use more non-stick spray than you think you need. This helps the sticky cinnamon sugar coating release from the pan after baking.
- Cover with foil if needed. If the top begins to brown too quickly before the center is fully baked, loosely cover the pan with foil and continue baking.
- Let it rest briefly before flipping. A short rest helps the hot sugar mixture settle slightly, but do not let it cool too long in the pan or it may stick.
How Do I Know When the Cinnamon Pull-Apart Is Done?
Cinnamon pull apart bread is usually done when the top is golden brown and the biscuit pieces are cooked through. In most ovens, this takes about 30 to 40 minutes. Baking time can vary depending on your pan, your oven, and whether you use grand biscuits or smaller regular biscuits.
If you have a food thermometer, check the center of the bread. The biscuit pieces should be cooked through when the internal temperature reaches about 190°F or higher. If the outside is browning too fast while the middle still needs more time, cover the bundt pan loosely with foil and keep baking.
Best Brand of Biscuits for Monkey Bread
Both name-brand buttermilk biscuits and budget-friendly store brands can work well in this monkey bread recipe. The most important thing is to use canned buttermilk biscuit dough and cut the pieces evenly so they bake at the same rate.
Should I Coat the Dough With Sugar First?
Coating each biscuit piece in sugar before layering is optional, but it is not required for this recipe. The melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon mixture gives the bread plenty of sweetness and flavor. Skipping the extra coating also saves time and keeps the process simple.
Why Did My Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread Fall Apart?
If your monkey bread falls apart after flipping, the pan may not have been greased well enough, or the bread may not have baked all the way through. A well-greased bundt pan helps the bread release cleanly, while proper baking gives the biscuit pieces time to set together.
Variations of Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread
Chocolate, Caramel, or Butterscotch: Add a small amount of chocolate chips, caramel chips, or butterscotch chips between the layers for extra sweetness.
Cream Cheese Frosting: Drizzle cream cheese frosting over the warm pull apart bread for a cinnamon-roll-inspired finish.
Caramel Sauce: Add caramel sauce after baking for extra richness and a sticky dessert-style topping.
Cinnamon Rolls: Use cut-up refrigerated cinnamon rolls instead of biscuit dough for an even sweeter version.
Coffee Flavor: Add a little instant coffee or espresso powder to the butter mixture for a subtle coffee note that pairs well with the cinnamon.
No Bundt Pan? No Problem
If you do not have a bundt pan, you can make cinnamon pull apart bread in a baking dish or loaf pan. The baking time will need to be adjusted depending on the size and depth of the dish.
Choose a pan large enough to hold the biscuit pieces with room for them to expand as they bake. Watch the bread closely near the end of baking, and check that the center is fully cooked before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
This sweet breakfast bread pairs well with coffee, smoothies, bacon, eggs, breakfast burritos, or fresh fruit. It can also be served as a dessert on its own.
This bread is best served warm on the day it is baked. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Microwave individual portions in 15 to 20 second intervals until warmed through.
Yes. Assemble the dish the day before, cover it, and refrigerate it overnight. The next morning, bake it in a preheated oven until cooked through. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Other Related Recipes
If you enjoy this cinnamon pull apart bread, you may also like other sweet breakfast and brunch recipes such as maple bacon breakfast pie, orange buttermilk scones, breakfast tacos, and cinnamon roll French toast bake.
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Maple Bacon Breakfast Pie
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Orange Buttermilk Scones Recipe
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Best Breakfast Tacos
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Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake
Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread
Equipment
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Bundt Pan – 12 cups, 10 inches in diameter
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup dark brown sugar
- ¾ cup butter
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 cans Grand Buttermilk Biscuits 16 ounces each, with 8 biscuits per can, or four 7.5-ounce cans of regular-size buttermilk biscuits with 10 biscuits per can
- ¾ cup walnuts chopped, optional
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a bundt pan very thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray so the monkey bread does not stick.
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Cut each grand biscuit into quarters. If using regular-size biscuits, cut those into quarters as well.
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Add the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a microwave-safe measuring cup. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until melted. Stir well until combined.
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If using walnuts, sprinkle ¼ cup into the bottom of the bundt pan. Pour about ¼ cup of the cinnamon brown sugar butter mixture over the bottom of the pan.
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Layer 16 grand biscuit pieces into the pan, or 40 regular-size biscuit pieces. Drizzle with another ¼ cup of the butter mixture and add another ¼ cup of walnuts, if using.
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Repeat the layers until all biscuit pieces, walnuts, and cinnamon sugar butter mixture are used.
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Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil and continue baking.
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Remove from the oven and let rest for 2 to 5 minutes. Place a large plate over the bundt pan, carefully flip, and serve warm.
Notes
- Baking time: Times may vary depending on the size and thickness of your pan.
- Storage: This dish is best served warm the same day it is baked. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheating: Microwave leftovers in 15 to 20 second intervals until warmed through.
- Make ahead: Assemble the bread the day before, cover, and refrigerate. Bake the next morning in a preheated oven, adding a few extra minutes if needed.
- Nutrition: Nutrition information is estimated and includes walnuts.