Cinnamon Sugar Monkey Bread Bites – Gooey, Sweet, and Addictively Delicious

If you’re craving something irresistibly gooey, buttery, and bursting with warm cinnamon flavor, look no further than these Cinnamon Sugar Monkey Bread Bites. Every piece is soft, sweet, and coated in a buttery cinnamon sugar glaze that caramelizes to golden perfection in the oven.

Think of them as mini pull-apart dough nuggets — sticky, tender, and completely addictive. Whether you’re making them for a cozy weekend brunch, a family breakfast, or a holiday morning treat, these bite-sized monkey bread balls are guaranteed to disappear fast.

They’re made with shortcut ingredients (hello, refrigerated biscuit dough!) and come together in minutes — no yeast, no fuss, just pure cinnamon bliss.

Why You’ll Love These Monkey Bread Bites

• Quick & easy: Made with store-bought biscuit dough, so no rising or kneading needed.
• Perfectly portioned: Bite-sized pieces mean everyone gets the gooey edge and the soft center.
• Smells amazing: The aroma of cinnamon and butter fills your kitchen while they bake.
• Crowd-pleasing: Ideal for breakfast buffets, holidays, or sweet snacks.
• Kid-friendly: Fun to make and pull apart — a hit with all ages!

Ingredients

For the Monkey Bread Bites

• 2 cans (16 oz each) refrigerated biscuit dough (like Pillsbury Grands)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), melted
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Optional Glaze

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk or cream
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or large muffin tin with nonstick spray or butter.
2. Cut the dough: Open the biscuit cans and cut each biscuit into quarters (or smaller if you want extra bite-sized pieces).
3. Mix the coating: In a small bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. Toss the biscuit pieces in the mixture until evenly coated.
4. Arrange in pan: Place the coated dough pieces in the prepared baking dish, layering them loosely.
5. Make the buttery syrup: In a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.
6. Pour & bake: Pour the butter mixture evenly over the dough pieces. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until puffed up, golden brown, and bubbling.
7. Cool slightly: Let the monkey bread bites cool for 5–10 minutes in the pan before inverting or serving.
8. (Optional) Add glaze: Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth, then drizzle over warm bites. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Cinnamon Sugar Monkey Bread Bites

Soft, gooey, and coated in buttery cinnamon sugar, these mini monkey bread bites are a quick and irresistible sweet treat perfect for breakfast or brunch.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 24 bites

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American, Comfort Food

Calories: 180

Ingredients

  

Base

• 2 cans refrigerated biscuit dough 16 oz each
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup unsalted butter melted
• 0.75 cup brown sugar packed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Glaze

• 0.5 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp milk or cream
• 0.25 tsp vanilla extract

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• 9×13-inch baking pan
• Small saucepan
• Whisk

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan.
2. Cut each biscuit into quarters and toss in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.
3. Arrange coated pieces evenly in the pan.
4. Melt butter and stir in brown sugar and vanilla. Pour over the dough.
5. Bake 25–30 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
6. Cool 5–10 minutes before serving. Optional: drizzle with glaze.

Notes

Add chopped nuts or apple bits between layers for a fun twist.

Pro Tips for Perfect Monkey Bread Bites

• Use fresh dough: The fresher the biscuit dough, the fluffier your bites will be.
• Don’t overbake: Bake until golden and set, but still soft inside. Overbaking can make them dry.
• Flip carefully: If you’re inverting them onto a plate, wait about 5 minutes after baking so the syrup sets slightly.
• Customize the sweetness: Add chopped pecans, raisins, or a sprinkle of sea salt for a twist.

Make Ahead & Storage

To Make Ahead:
Assemble everything (except baking) the night before, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. In the morning, bring to room temperature and bake as directed.

To Store:
Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 4 days.

To Reheat:
Warm in the microwave for 10–15 seconds to restore that gooey, fresh-baked texture.

Serving Suggestions

These Cinnamon Sugar Monkey Bread Bites are a showstopper all on their own, but here are some fun ways to serve them:

• Breakfast centerpiece: Serve in a big bowl or platter with forks for everyone to pull apart.
• Holiday brunch: Perfect for Christmas morning or Easter brunch spreads.
• Party dessert: Pair with small bowls of vanilla glaze or cream cheese frosting for dipping.
• With coffee: These bites and a cup of hot coffee or chai latte? Perfection.

Variations You’ll Love

1. Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread Bites: Add finely chopped apples between the layers before baking for a caramel apple twist.
2. Cream Cheese-Filled Bites: Press a small cube of cream cheese into each dough piece before coating in cinnamon sugar.
3. Salted Caramel Monkey Bread: Drizzle caramel sauce over baked bites and sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt.
4. Pumpkin Spice Version: Swap cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice and mix a spoonful of pumpkin purée into the butter mixture.

Fun Fact: Why “Monkey Bread”?

The name “monkey bread” comes from the way it’s eaten — picking apart the soft, sticky pieces with your fingers, just like a monkey would! This playful treat became a popular American breakfast in the 1950s and remains a nostalgic comfort food today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I make these in a muffin tin?
A: Yes! Simply divide the dough evenly into greased muffin cups for individual mini servings. Bake for about 18–20 minutes.

Q: Do I need to use canned biscuit dough?
A: You can make your own biscuit dough if you prefer, but store-bought saves time and still delivers great results.

Q: Can I add nuts or chocolate chips?
A: Absolutely — chopped pecans, walnuts, or mini chocolate chips make delicious additions!

The Sweet Final Word

These Cinnamon Sugar Monkey Bread Bites are everything you want in a treat — warm, sticky, buttery, and sweet. They’re fun to make, even more fun to eat, and impossible to resist once that cinnamon aroma hits your kitchen.

Whether you’re making them for a lazy Sunday morning, a family brunch, or your next holiday celebration, these bite-sized monkey bread nuggets are guaranteed to bring smiles all around.