Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Transform apple pie into a delicious monkey bread that you can eat with your fingers! Apple Pie Monkey Bread is great for breakfast OR dessert!

Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (1)

Original post: September 2017 | Updated: October 2020

Why I Love This Recipe

Did you know, did you know?! It’s FALL! It’s fall, you guys! My favorite weather and food season. There’s so much to enjoy during this season that I become frantic trying to take it all in.

The smells (outside and inside), the crispness in the air, the sweatshirts, the colorful leaves swirling around the streets, the apples. I am so freakishly in love with apple recipes that I’m considering seeking therapy.

I have a bushel of apples sitting directly in front of me and I’m having a hard time controlling myself. Tomorrow my apple peeler will be smokin’, but for now you are going to LOVE this Monkey Bread with fresh apples in it.

This isn’t the type of recipe that you just dump a can of apple pie filling into. Fresh, tender apples are baked into a sweet, soft bread. If you love Monkey Bread, this may become your new favorite version!

I let my boys dip into this bread after school on Friday and OHMYGOSH they immediately turned into feasting zombies.

Recipe Ingredients

Refrigerated flaky biscuits(Grands) – each biscuit cut into quarters for perfect bite sized pieces

Apples – Use mediumbaking apples such ashoneycrisp, gala, golden delicious, jonagold or granny smith, then peel and core them, then chop about 3 of them up.

Brown sugar – If you prefer, you can add more naturally sweet apples and reduce the amount of brown sugar you added. Other sugar substitutes that would be great are maple syrup, coconut sugar or stevia.

How To Make Apple Pie Monkey Bread With Biscuits

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with cooking spray and set aside. In a large resealable bag, combine the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (2)

Add the biscuit pieces, seal the bag and shake until they are completely coated with the sugar mixture.

Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (3)

Step 2

Place chopped apples in a large bowl, along with lemon juice. Toss to coat apples completely. Add the brown sugar and stir until it is absorbed by the apples.

Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (4)

Layer the bottom part of the prepared pan with half of the apple mixture. Top with half of the biscuits and repeat with remaining apples and biscuits.

Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (5)

Pour the melted butter evenly over the top.

Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (6)

Step 3

Place pan onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes, or until dough is cooked through in the centers (check at the 40-minute mark).

Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (7)

Remove from the oven and cover with foil. Let sit for 10 minutes. Remove foil and invert onto a serving platter. Serve warm!

Recipe Notes

  • For a finishing touch on your plated dessert, sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar over the top.
  • Drizzle Salted Caramel Sauce over the top to spruce up this monkey bread!
  • This is the perfect recipe to make for brunch or for guests who are staying overnight. It is also just a great dessert or any-time snack. It’s like Apple Pie in your fingertips!

Best Apples For Baking

I recommend using a variety of apples and at the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My favorite combination of apples is Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples.

Sweet/Softer Apple Brands

  • Fuji
  • Honeycrisp
  • Red Delicious
  • Golden Delicious
  • Cortland
  • Gala

Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands

  • Granny Smith
  • McIntosh
  • Ida Red
  • Braeburn
  • Empire
  • Jonathan
Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (8)

FAQ About Monkey Bread

What is monkey bread?

Monkey bread is a bunch of balls of dough being baked together with sugars and butter. During baking, the dough balls adhere together making it possible to pull pieces away by using your fingers. The term “monkey bread” comes from being a finger food, the same way monkeys eat their food.

Does monkey bread have to be in a bundt pan?

Monkey bread is commonly baked in a bundt pan but it is not necessary to do so. The shape of the bundt pan allows for even baking and produces a fun shape. However, of if you don’t have a bundt pan or tube pan, you can easily bake monkey bread in a casserole dish, loaf pan or on a cookie sheet and place the dough as evenly as possible in a layer in the pan.

Where is monkey bread served?

It is common to serve monkey bread for breakfast, brunch and share as a dessert.

Is monkey bread good the next day?

Monkey bread can be enjoyed the next day. If there are any leftovers, place the monkey bread in an air-tight container for a day or two or in the fridge for a week.

Quick Bread Recipes

  • Pumpkin Banana Bread Recipe – Pumpkin AND bananas join forces in this tasty bread! This is a great fall treat and your house has never smelled so good.
  • Reese’s Banana Bread – Add Reese’s peanut butter cups to Banana Bread to make it a delectable treat! You’ll never look at a loaf of banana bread the same ever again.
  • This is the easiest, most delicious Best Beer Bread recipe you will find! Only a handful of ingredients are required for this no-fail, flavorful loaf of bread.
  • Easily transform cinnamon rolls into a sweet and delicious monkey bread that is made right in your slow cooker and using canned dough. This is the perfect breakfast to make when guests are over. It won’t last long!
  • Monkey Bread with Cream Cheese Recipe
  • Crock Pot Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread Recipe
  • Best Apple Bundt Cake Recipe
  • Strawberry Bundt Cake Recipe
  • Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake Recipe

Will you help add value to Pip and Ebby?
If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!

Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (9)

Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe

Transform apple pie into a delicious monkey bread to eat with your fingers! Apple Pie Monkey Bread is great for breakfast OR dessert!

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate

Course: Bread

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 462kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Equipment

  • bundt pan

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 32 oz refrigerated flaky biscuits (Grands), each biscuit cut into quarters
  • 3 cups apples peeled, cored, chopped (~3 medium)
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup salted butter melted

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with cooking spray; set aside. In a large resealable bag, combine the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the biscuit pieces, seal the bag and shake until they are completely coated with the sugar mixture.

  • Place chopped apples in a large bowl, along with lemon juice. Toss to coat apples completely. Add the brown sugar and stir until it is absorbed by the apples.

  • Layer the bottom part of the prepared pan with half of the apple mixture. Top with half of the biscuits and repeat with remaining apples and biscuits. Pour the melted butter evenly over the top.

  • Place pan onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes, or until dough is cooked through in the centers (check at the 40-minute mark). Remove from the oven and cover with foil. Let sit for 10 minutes. Remove foil and invert onto a serving platter. Serve warm!

Notes

  • For a finishing touch on your plated dessert, sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar over the top.
  • Drizzle Salted Caramel Sauce over the top to spruce up this monkey bread!
  • This is the perfect recipe to make for brunch or for guests who are staying overnight. It is also just a great dessert or any-time snack. It’s like Apple Pie in your fingertips!

Nutrition

Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 783mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 253IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 3mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

Apple Pie Monkey Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is monkey bread and why is it called monkey bread? ›

The origin of the term "monkey bread" is unknown. Some food historians suggest that it comes from the pastry being a finger food, and that those eating it pick apart the bread with their hands as a monkey might. Others suggest that it comes from the pastry's resemblance to the monkey puzzle tree Araucaria araucana.

What kind of apples make the best apple pie? ›

The best apples for making apple pie
  • Braeburn. This apple is a descendant of Granny Smith, but slightly sweeter. ...
  • Cortland. ...
  • Crispin (Mutsu). ...
  • Golden Delicious. ...
  • Granny Smith. ...
  • Honeycrisp. ...
  • Jonagold or Jonathan. ...
  • Northern Spy.
Oct 8, 2021

What is a substitute for McIntosh apples in pie? ›

Cortland. Flavor: Similar to that of a McIntosh, but much sweeter and more tart. Like its cousin, it's got very white flesh and a mild flavor.

What apples are best for apple crisp? ›

What Makes A Good Apple For Apple Crisp? The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

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

While most monkey bread recipes are typically made in a bundt pan, this recipe instructs you to make the monkey bread in a loaf pan. You get a smaller batch of monkey bread, perfect for serving 4 to 6 people!

What is a fun fact about monkey bread? ›

Recipes for the bread first appeared in American women's magazines and community cookbooks in the 1950s. During the 1980s, Nancy Reagan popularized serving monkey bread during Christmas by making it a staple of the Reagan White House Christmas.

What is the sweetest apple for apple pie? ›

Honeycrisp. The Honeycrisp apple is one of the sweeter varieties, so it definitely is not lacking in the flavor department.

Are Gala apples ok for baking? ›

While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

How do you make apple pie not runny? ›

If you usually use flour to thicken your apple pie and it's not doing the job, try something different: cornstarch, tapioca, and arrowroot are other established fruit pie thickeners.

What apples should not be used for apple pie? ›

Red Delicious and Gala are two apples that won't withstand cooking temperatures and should not be used for apple pie. Many new apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, have a flesh that fractures when you bite it. This is so appealing for snacking on an apple, but not the best feature for a good apple pie apple.

Are honeycrisp and McIntosh apples the same? ›

McIntosh has the better balance of sweet and tart, and rewards the taster with a dry astringent finish that lingers wonderfully in the mouth and throat. Honeycrisp has an amazing crunch, but I find the flavor cloying. Its sugar sweeps all away before it, which is impressive, but I like to taste things more than that.

Are Cortland apples good for apple pie? ›

Cortlands are juicy and slightly tart, with bright red skin and snowy white flesh. They are a terrific baking apple: Great apples for pies, cobblers, and crisps. When sliced, Cortlands are a excellent for salads and cheese plates, as the flesh doesn't brown and discolor quickly.

Are Gala apples good for apple pie? ›

Gala are great multi-purpose apples and a delicious pick for apple pie. They have a mellow sweetness to them and they don't get too soft in the oven. Best of all, this variety of apple is usually available year-round. Look for the red and yellow striped apples at most grocery stores and farmers' markets.

Is Honeycrisp a good baking apple? ›

Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

Which apple is the sweetest? ›

Apple Sweetness Chart
Types of ApplesSweetest LevelPeak‑of‑season
Fujithe sweetest apple varietymid- to late October
Galahighly sweetlate July to early September
Golden Delicioussweet, rich and mild in flavormid- to late September
Red Delicioussweet-tart mix but very mild in flavormid- to late September
7 more rows
Aug 9, 2022

What is the meaning of monkey bread? ›

The origin of the term “monkey bread” comes from the pastry being a finger food; the consumer would pick apart the bread as a monkey would.[2]

Where did monkey bread come from in the US? ›

Fazekas traced the dessert back to the 1880s, claiming that it was Hungarian immigrants who introduced it to the United States. Fazekas named Hungarian Jewish bakers as the heroes of the story. In the middle of the twentieth century, it was they who made aranygaluska popular with American society.

What does monkey bread taste like? ›

Each bite tastes like the sticky delicious center of cinnamon rolls. Monkey bread is served pull apart style, similar to my cinnamon roll wreath, where everyone tears off a piece—just like how monkeys pick at their food. You can have monkey bread for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

What tree does monkey bread come from? ›

A baobab tree may also be called a monkey bread tree, Ethiopian sour gourd, cream of tartar tree and even upside-down tree. A slow-growing tree, baobab is an important resource with many purposes including shelter, medicinal and food in southern Africa.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terence Hammes MD

Last Updated:

Views: 6097

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terence Hammes MD

Birthday: 1992-04-11

Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

Phone: +50312511349175

Job: Product Consulting Liaison

Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.