There’s nothing quite like the sweet, gooey goodness of caramel apple monkey bread to kick off a cozy morning or satisfy a late-night craving. This recipe combines tender chunks of dough with tart apple pieces drenched in a rich caramel sauce.

Caramel Apple Monkey Bread is the perfect special occasion or weekend breakfast. With just the right amount of sweet and sticky, my kids absolutely love it, and you will too.

Caramel Apple Monkey Bread Recipe

All monkey bread is pretty similar. Start with dough balls of some sort. Then, mix the dough with butter, sugar, and whatever other toppings you want.

This caramel apple monkey bread features chunks of apples and easy homemade caramel. Combine that with the cinnamon flavors from the rolls and you get an ooey gooey delicious treat!

I totally used it as a bribe to get my kids to do their chores after school and it worked! The first time we made this, my six year old stuck her fork in and tried to eat the whole thing! 😀 Are you ready to make this caramel apple treat for your family?

Ingredients for Caramel Apple Monkey Bread

Homemade monkey bread is delicious, but sometimes we need to take a faster route to satisfaction. Here are the “almost homemade” ingredients you’ll need:

• Cinnamon roll dough: I like the Annie’s brand because the ingredient list is better for you, but choose whichever you prefer.
• Diced apple: Go as tart or as sweet as you’d like. I like Granny Smith apples but any variety will work. Visit an apple orchard and experiment with different varieties.
• Raw sugar: Adds that hint of sweetness to your tart apples and dough.
• Cinnamon: You can add more or less depending on your taste. I love the warm aroma of cinnamon.
• Butter: When butter combines with sugar and cinnamon, it makes a luscious caramel sauce.

How to Make Apple Monkey Bread

First, gather your ingredients and preheat the oven to 350F. Grease your bundt pan.

Melt butter over medium low heat and add sugar to make the caramel sauce. It will bubble up. Make sure it is mixed together completely and let it simmer for a few minutes.

Mix 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tsp ground cinnamon together in a bowl. Use 1/4 cup of the cinnamon and sugar mixture to coat the apples.

Cut the canned cinnamon rolls in fourths and then roll in the remaining 1/4 cup cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Place half the sugared apples in the bottom of the bundt pan. Top with half the sugared cinnamon roll quarters. Layer the rest of the apples and the remaining cinnamon rolls.

Drizzle melted butter and sugar over the cinnamon roll pieces. Bake for 40-45 minutes.

Cool for 10 minutes, then run knife around edges of the pan. Invert pan over a heatproof plate and remove pan. Finally, place it on a serving plate, drizzle the caramel apple monkey bread with icing, and enjoy.

Baked monkey bread is best served warm.

Variations of Caramel Apple Monkey Bread

This recipe for caramel apple monkey bread is delicious in its own right, but we like to experiment with a few variations, too. Try making a Maple Pecan Apple Monkey Bread by adding chopped pecans to the apples and then drizzling the top with maple syrup instead of icing.

Apple Cranberry Monkey Bread is another fun twist. Add the cranberries into the dough and/or apple mixture. Cranberries add to the tartness a bit. Bake until golden brown.

What to Eat with Monkey Bread

We like to eat pull apart bread for both breakfast and snacks. I like to serve it with something simple such as eggs and sausage so we get protein in our bellies too. A smoothie also goes well for a late breakfast.

Can I Freeze Monkey Bread?

Yes, you can definitely freeze monkey bread. I like to make a double batch when I make this. I don’t bake the one I freeze. Instead, I assemble the monkey bread like normal and then wrap it tightly and put it in the freezer.

Unbaked monkey bread can be stored in the freezer for 2-3 months. When you’re ready to use it, just let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, bake as directed. You might need to add just a few minutes of baking time.

Alternatively, you can freeze the monkey bread once it’s already baked. Make sure you let it cool COMPLETELY before wrapping it and storing it in the freezer. If it’s not cooled completely, condensation will form which means soggy monkey bread.

When you’re ready to eat it, let it thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat it in the oven at 350F for 20-30 minutes until warmed through.

More Family Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love

• Leftover Eggnog Waffles – freezer friendly and perfect!
• Overnight Breakfast Casserole that’s Not Mushy
• Overnight French Toast Casserole
• Granola Fruit Pizza