Monkey Bread Muffins are cute and fun! These little bites are made of flaky dough balls coated in cinnamon and sugar, creating a sweet treat that’s perfect for breakfast or snack time.
They’re super easy to share, and honestly, who can resist pulling apart these tasty muffins? I love serving them warm with a drizzle of icing—yummy!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Biscuit Dough: Refrigerated biscuit dough is key to making this recipe quick! If you want a homemade touch, you can use your favorite biscuit or flaky pastry recipe instead.
Granulated Sugar: This is for sweetness, but brown sugar is an excellent alternative for deeper flavor. You can even use coconut sugar for a healthier spin!
Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon is classic here, but feel free to try other spices like nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice for a different twist.
Unsalted Butter: Instead of unsalted butter, you could use margarine or coconut oil for a dairy-free option. Just remember that it may change the flavor slightly!
How Do I Get the Perfect Coating on My Muffins?
The coating of cinnamon sugar is what makes these muffins so delightful! Here’s how to get it just right:
- After cutting the dough into quarters, toss each piece in melted butter before rolling it in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Ensure every piece is coated well; this helps in creating that sweet, crispy outer layer as they bake.
- If there’s extra cinnamon sugar mix, sprinkle it on top of the muffins before baking for added sweetness!
How to Make Monkey Bread Muffins
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Muffins:
- 2 cans refrigerated biscuit dough (16 oz total)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (half a stick), melted
For the Optional Glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
How Much Time Will You Need?
This recipe will take about 10 minutes to prepare and 20-25 minutes to bake, plus a little cool-down time. In just under an hour, you’ll have warm, delightful monkey bread muffins ready to share or enjoy all by yourself!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). It’s important to have the oven ready so that your muffins bake evenly. While it heats up, you can get everything else ready!
2. Prepare the Muffin Tin:
Line a muffin tin with 12 paper liners. If you don’t have liners, just grease the muffin cups well with a bit of butter or cooking spray.
3. Combine Sugar and Cinnamon:
In a medium bowl, mix the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon together. Make sure they’re well combined as this will be the sweet coating for your muffins.
4. Prepare the Biscuit Dough:
Open the biscuit dough and separate it into the individual biscuits. Carefully cut each biscuit into four quarters to make bite-sized pieces that will be easy to pull apart.
5. Coat the Dough Pieces:
Take each piece of dough and dip it into the melted butter first, ensuring it’s fully coated. After that, roll it in the cinnamon sugar mixture until it’s nicely covered.
6. Fill the Muffin Cups:
Drop the coated dough pieces into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup nearly to the top. Make sure to distribute the pieces evenly across all 12 cups.
7. Add Extra Butter:
If you have some melted butter left in the bowl, pour it over the muffins for added flavor and moisture. This helps them become extra delicious!
8. Bake:
Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Keep an eye on them until they’re golden brown and puffed up. Once they look great, they’re ready!
9. Cool and Glaze (Optional):
After baking, let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then, carefully move them to a wire rack. For an extra treat, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make a simple glaze and drizzle it over the warm muffins.
10. Serve and Enjoy:
Now it’s time to dig in! These muffins are best served warm and are perfect for pulling apart and sharing. Enjoy your sweet treat!
This recipe yields soft, sweet monkey bread muffins coated in cinnamon-sugar, making them an irresistible option for breakfast or as a delightful snack.
Can I Use Frozen Biscuit Dough?
Yes, you can use frozen biscuit dough as a substitute! Just make sure to thaw it completely in the fridge before following the recipe steps. This way, you still get that soft texture and buttery flavor.
Can I Make These Muffins Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough pieces and coat them in cinnamon sugar, then store them in the fridge overnight. When you’re ready to bake, just pop them in the oven and enjoy fresh muffins!
How Should I Store Leftover Muffins?
Store any leftover muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze them for up to a month. Just reheat in the oven or microwave before enjoying!
Can I Add Other Fillings or Toppings?
Yes, you can definitely get creative! Adding chocolate chips, nuts, or even a dollop of fruit preserves into the dough pieces before coating them with sugar can elevate the flavor. Just make sure not to overfill so they bake evenly!