In this article, you will get to know the delicious apple cinnamon roll monkey bread recipe that combines some of the most delicious flavors of North American pastries. 

Not only will you learn how to make it, but you will also learn more about its history, its different variants, and multiple tips to make this recipe without failing.

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What is Monkey Bread?

Monkey bread is a dish that had its origins in the Hungarian pastry during the 17th century.

Years later, in 1900 when a wave of Hungarian immigrants arrived in the United States, the recipe underwent some modifications, and the monkey bread as we know it today was born.

This particular recipe is a mix of 3 of the most beloved North American pastry dishes; monkey bread, cinnamon rolls, and finally the apple pie. 

The blending of the flavors immediately takes you to holiday mornings, and if you need to feel like a kid on Christmas morning, I recommend that you prepare this recipe immediately.

Things You’ll Need for Apple Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

To make this recipe for this cinnamon roll monkey bread, it is likely that you already have most of the ingredients at home, or that they are very easy to find. 

For example, this recipe calls for cinnamon roll dough, but if you don’t have it or can’t find it in the store you can replace it and make an easy monkey bread recipe with 1 can of biscuits, just add more cinnamon!

When it comes to the kitchen tools, this recipe is extremely easy to make since you just need a bundt pan, but you can replace it with any shallow pan.

Ingredients

• 2 cans (16.5 oz each) cinnamon roll dough
• ½ cup (100g) nuts
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ cup (120g) white sugar
• 5 tablespoons (75g) butter (melted)
• 2 cups (240g) apples (granny smith)

How to make Apple Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread – Step by Step Guide

1. To start with this apple cinnamon roll monkey bread recipe all you have to do is to preheat the oven at 350°F or 180°C for at least 15 minutes, which is the same time that it’ll take you to prepare everything. In the meantime grease a bundt pan with one tablespoon of melted butter or vegetable oil.
2. After that grab, the granny smith apples, wash them and then peel and cut them. Then set aside. The granny smith is the best for this recipe due to its texture, but you can use any of your choices.
3. In a small bowl mix sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, then divide into two equal parts. Use one of them to toss the cubed apples in. You can also use store-bought cinnamon sugar, but it is really easy to make.
4. Then separate each cinnamon roll dough piece, and cut them into quarters. Coat them in melted butter and the rest of the cinnamon and sugar and cinnamon mix. Save the remaining butter for later.
5. Next, pour half of the cubed apples and half of the nuts on the bottom of the bundt pan, then place on top one layer of the dough and repeat. When you are done with the layers, pour the leftover melted butter on top. Since the cinnamon roll dough is already pretty sweet, you don’t have to make caramel for this monkey bread recipe.
6. Bake at a 350°F oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until it is completely done, you can check it by inserting a toothpick and if it comes out clean then it is ready. Let it cool for 10 minutes and transfer it to another plate. Serve warm and enjoy!

Substitution of ingredients

There are hundreds of ingredient substitutions in this recipe that you can make, and you’ll still have delicious monkey bread. Some of these changes require a little extra elaboration in the recipe but are by no means impossible to do.

The easiest changes involve replacing the cinnamon roll dough with other store-bought doughs. For example, you can make monkey bread with Rhodes rolls or monkey bread with crescent rolls.

The texture might be a little bit different, but if you add one or two extra teaspoons of cinnamon you’ll have a pretty similar flavor.

Besides that, you can adapt this recipe to your personal preferences or diet, by making gluten-free monkey bread or vegan monkey bread. These recipes will make you a bit longer since you should make the dough from scratch.

Anyways I recommend you try them! Or to look for a store-bought vegan or gluten-free dough.

Finally, if you liked this recipe I encourage you to try the famous pizza monkey bread. It is really tasty and ideal for you if you like the savory food more than the sweet.

You can try it using frozen bread dough since it doesn’t have the cinnamon flavor from the cinnamon rolls. This way you’ll have a pizza monkey bread recipe with frozen bread dough.

Tips on Serving Apple Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

This cinnamon roll apple monkey bread is usually eaten for breakfast on cold days, especially on the winter holidays.

Despite that, you can eat it whenever you want and at any time of the year, although honestly, the aromas of cinnamon will make you feel the Christmas spirit in your home immediately.

It is always recommended to eat it hot, even if it means that you have to warm it up for a bit before eating it.

I personally recommend serving it with a little cream cheese, you can even use the same cream cheese frosting that comes with the cinnamon roll dough, this way you will have a delicious monkey bread with cream cheese.

If you eat it as a dessert, I recommend serving it with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or cream with cookies, since it is a combination of temperatures and flavors that is very good. If you love ice cream, check out my recipe for monkey bread with ice cream.

How to store Apple Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

This monkey bread with apples can be stored in different ways, and you can use the one that is more convenient for your needs.

For example, you can choose to store it for just a couple of days or for a whole month, here I’ll give you the tips for each case.

If you want to store this apple cinnamon monkey bread just for a couple of days, or you have some of it leftover (which will hardly happen) I recommend you to store it outside of the fridge at room temperature.

This is the best way because otherwise, the fridge will affect the texture, making the dough balls chewier and they’ll get a weird consistency.

Don’t be afraid of keeping it outside of the fridge, the amount of sugar in this recipe works as a preservative for the bread, and all you have to do is heat it for a couple of minutes before consuming.

Just make sure to cover it with plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag.

Besides that, you can also freeze the apple cinnamon monkey bread the flavor and texture will remain the same!

You could also freeze it while it is still raw, but in this case, you are using frozen roll monkey bread, so there’s no point in doing that.

You can keep it in the freezer for up to one month, and then you just have to leave it in the fridge the night before eating it so that it defrosts. 

Recipe Card: Apple Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread