One of our favorite Christmas morning traditions is baking some cinnamon rolls and enjoying them together after all of the presents are unwrapped. We love this tradition for two reasons- we love spending time together, and we LOVE a delicious, sweet breakfast!
While the holidays are behind us, I don’t really want to wait another 11 months to have a sweet start to my day- so I’m making a point of making some of my favorite cinnamon rolls and muffin recipes all year long! After all, the best time of year to celebrate is whenever you want to!
This Monkey Bread Muffins Recipe is a perfect example of a tasty breakfast that can bring your family together any time of year- and it’s SO easy to make that you won’t need a special occasion to make them. These muffins start with jumbo biscuit dough from the grocery store which cuts down on baking time, so you can have this recipe on the table after just 5-10 minutes of prep and 15-20 minutes in the oven.
In fact, this recipe is so easy that it would be a great one to make with the kids! Making memories AND making muffins- what could be sweeter? Read on for some answers to common questions you may have about this easy monkey bread muffin recipe, or scroll down to the bottom to skip ahead and print it out.
Can I use homemade biscuit dough instead of canned biscuits?
Yes! Of course it will add quite a bit of prep time, but if you’d prefer you can make your own biscuit dough for this recipe. This is a great idea if you need to accommodate specific dietary needs or just love baking!
Some things to keep in mind if making your own biscuit dough are that you’ll need to cut it into small, bite sized pieces as the recipe indicates. You also may need to adjust your bake time up or down depending on the density of your dough, so be sure to keep an eye on your muffins a few minutes before the listed time and let them continue to bake until they’re fully done.
How can I make these a little healthier?
While I believe in balance and indulging once in awhile, I fully understand if a muffin made of biscuits and sugar sounds like a quick way to derail your New Year’s Resolutions.
Here are some ways to make these a bit healthier:
-Use whole wheat biscuits: Whether you make them yourself or buy them, swap the traditional biscuits for a whole wheat version.
-Sugar: You can use a natural sweetener, like honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar. Or if you’d rather keep the regular cane sugar, you can reduce the amount both in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and in the brown sugar glaze.
-Butter: Consider cutting back on the amount of butter, or use an alternative like coconut oil or plant-based margarine.
-Add nuts, seeds, or fruits: Instead of taking away ingredients, add some that bring a nutritional boost with them to help meet those daily values!
How can I add nuts or fruits to the Monkey Bread Muffins for extra flavor?
Whether you’re trying to pack in some extra nutrients, want to experiment with the texture or just want to make this your own, you can definitely add nuts or fruits to these muffins! Here’s how:
Nuts: Add chopped pecans or walnuts by tossing them in with the cinnamon-sugar coating- press down lightly if needed to ensure they stick to the biscuit pieces.
Fruits: You can either mix small pieces of fruit into the cinnamon sugar mixture or mix them in with the biscuit pieces in the muffins themselves! You can use whatever fruits you like as long as you cut them up well- some great options include diced apples, raisins, cranberries {fresh or dried}, fresh or frozen blueberries, or even raspberries.
Want to make these even more indulgent? Add chocolate chips!
Are these any other glazes I could try on top?
If you want to try something besides the brown sugar glaze, you could try a maple glaze, caramel sauce, vanilla glaze, some citrus zest, powdered sugar or even a coffee-infused glaze! Or you could go a more traditional route with a cream cheese glaze for some cinnamon roll monkey bread muffins. No matter what you put on the tops of the muffins I’m sure it’ll be delicious!
Can I make Monkey Bread Muffins in a different form?
Yes! In fact, check out this Turtle Monkey Bread recipe made in a bundt pan for inspiration!
Other options would be to use a loaf pan or even a mini muffin tin for smaller individual servings of Mini Monkey Bread Muffins. Just be sure to keep an eye on your bake times- it’ll take longer to bake if you use a bundt pan or loaf pan, and less time if you’re using a mini muffin tin!
What can I serve with Monkey Bread Muffins for a full breakfast?
Since these are so rich and sweet, I’d recommend balancing them out with some freshness. Whether you want to serve a fresh fruit salad or yogurt parfaits, keep it light!
Can I make Monkey Bread Muffins ahead of time and freeze them?
Sure! Whether you’re making a batch specifically to freeze for later or you’re just trying to keep leftover muffins fresh, you can definitely freeze them.
Follow the instructions as usual, all the way through the baking process. Let them cool all the way down to room temperature, then wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap. Be sure to wrap them tight to prevent freezer burn! Place your individually wrapped muffins in a large freezer zip top bag and be sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before closing to minimize the risk of freezer burn.
When you’re ready to enjoy them, take them out of the freezer and thaw them in the fridge overnight. To reheat, use a microwave or bake them at about 300 degrees until they’re heated through.
If possible, I’d recommend making a fresh batch of brown sugar glaze to drizzle on them before reheating or just before serving, but that’s up to you!
Muffins stored in this way in the freezer are good for about 2-3 months.
What supplies do you need to make Monkey Bread Muffins?
To make these Easy Monkey Bread Muffins, you’ll need:
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- 12-cup muffin tin
- Nonstick baking spray
- Knife, Kitchen Shears, or Pizza Cutter
- Ziploc Bag
- Small Saucepan
- Oven mitts
Step by Step Guide
Ready to cook? Grab the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post and come back here to get started!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray each muffin cup with nonstick cooking spray or brush with melted butter. Remove the biscuit dough from the package and cut each biscuit into 9 pieces.
Combine the cinnamon and sugar in a large zip top bag. Toss the dough pieces with the sugar and cinnamon in the bag, working in batches to keep the biscuits from sticking together.
Arrange the pieces in the muffin pan, pressing the balls of dough down to get them to stick together while they bake.
Heat the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan and cook until sugar has dissolved.
Spoon the mixture over the top of each muffin.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through.
Allow to cool until the muffins are cool enough to touch, then use a butter knife to carefully remove muffins from pan. Eat while warm or transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Note: If the biscuit pieces rise out of the pan while baking, just carefully press them down with your hand while they’re still warm to keep them from falling apart.
Hungry for More?
Want more delicious recipes? Try these:
- Nutella Banana Muffins
- Pineapple Coconut Muffins
- Mocha Muffins {made with Espresso!}
- Pumpkin Monkey Bread Muffins
- Cinnamon Roll Pecan Muffins
- Brown Sugar Blueberry Muffins
- Neapolitan Ice Cream Muffins!
Monkey Bread Muffins
These Monkey Bread Muffins are a delicious way to start your day! With bite-sized pieces of biscuit dough coated in a cinnamon-sugar mix and then topped with a brown sugar and butter glaze, this is a great reason to get up in the morning. With a slightly crispy exterior and a gooey, soft center, these are the perfect breakfast treat!
Ingredients
- 2 cans jumbo biscuits
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray each muffin cup with nonstick cooking spray or brush with melted butter.
- Remove the biscuit dough from the package and cut each biscuit into 9 pieces.
- Combine the cinnamon and sugar in a large zip top bag. Toss the dough pieces with the sugar and cinnamon in the bag, working in batches to keep the biscuits from sticking together.
- Arrange the pieces in the muffin pan, pressing the balls of dough down to get them to stick together while they bake.
- Heat the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan and cook until sugar has dissolved. Spoon the mixture over the top of each muffin.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through. Allow to cool until the muffins are cool enough to touch, then use a butter knife to carefully remove muffins from pan.
- Eat while warm or transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
- Note: If the biscuit pieces rise out of the pan while baking, just carefully press them down with your hand while they're still warm to keep them from falling apart.
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