15 Frozen Roll Monkey Bread Recipes Made Simple — a simple, gooey and sweet collection you can make tonight. Below are our favorite monkey bread with frozen dinner rolls ideas for slow weekend mornings, from quick classics to fresh twists, each easy to make and easy to save.
Part of our Brunch Bakes collection.
Start with biscuit or bread dough, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, pecans and a cream cheese glaze. From there, each idea below is a simple swap or add-in — mix and match to suit your taste and what's in your kitchen.
Exact quantities are in the recipe card below.
Soft, pull-apart dinner rolls tossed in cinnamon sugar and baked in a rich brown-sugar butter caramel for the easiest gooey monkey bread ever.
Take the frozen dinner rolls out of the freezer and set them on a plate. Let them thaw at room temperature for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until they are soft enough to handle and cut but not yet puffed up and rising.
Grease a 10- to 12-cup Bundt pan well with nonstick spray or softened butter, reaching into all the grooves so the finished bread releases cleanly. If using pecans, scatter half of them into the bottom of the pan.
In a medium bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Using kitchen scissors or a knife, cut each thawed roll in half so you have 48 small pieces (this helps them cook through evenly).
Roll each dough piece in the cinnamon sugar until lightly coated on all sides, then arrange them in the prepared Bundt pan, layering evenly and scattering the remaining pecans between the pieces as you go.
In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth. Pour this mixture evenly over the dough pieces in the pan.
Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and set it in a warm, draft-free spot. Let the dough rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the pieces have puffed up and nearly reached the top of the pan.
About 20 minutes before baking, position an oven rack in the center and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the plastic wrap from the risen dough.
Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is deep golden brown and the caramel is bubbling around the edges. If the top browns too fast, tent it loosely with foil after 20 minutes.
Check for doneness by lifting a center piece with a fork; the dough inside should be fully set and no longer wet or doughy. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 190 degrees F.
Let the monkey bread cool in the pan for exactly 5 to 10 minutes, no longer, so the caramel does not harden and stick. Place a serving plate over the pan, then carefully invert to release the bread.
Spoon any caramel left in the pan over the top of the bread. Serve warm and let everyone pull off pieces by hand.
Nutrition is an estimate and will vary with brands, substitutions and portion size.
Thawed dinner rolls get quartered, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and layered in a bundt pan under a buttery brown-sugar glaze that bakes into gooey caramel. It is the version everyone pictures, and frozen dough makes the pull-apart texture foolproof. Let the pieces rise until puffy before baking so every bite stays soft in the center.
Toss dough pieces in melted garlic butter, grated Parmesan, and chopped parsley for a savory take that pairs with pasta night or soup. The frozen rolls bake up golden and cheesy with crisp edges and pillowy insides. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.
Flatten each roll, tuck in a cube of sweetened cream cheese, then seal and coat in cinnamon sugar for a surprise tangy center in every piece. As it bakes the filling turns soft and almost cheesecake-like against the sweet crust. Chill the cream cheese cubes first so they hold their shape while you wrap the dough.
Dip dough pieces in Italian-herb butter, layer with mini pepperoni and mozzarella, and serve warm with marinara for dunking. It turns frozen dinner rolls into a shareable pizza pull-apart perfect for game day. Slip a few pieces of provolone in for a richer, stretchier cheese pull.
Scatter toasted pecans through cinnamon-coated dough and pour a warm butter-caramel over the top so it soaks down into every layer. The nuts add crunch against the sticky, tender bread, like an easy sticky-bun ring. Flip the pan onto a plate right out of the oven so the caramel drips down the sides.
Fold diced apples and a little extra cinnamon into the sugar-coated dough for a cozy fall bake that tastes like warm apple pie. The apples soften and release their juices, keeping the frozen roll pieces moist and fragrant. Use a firm apple like Honeycrisp so the pieces hold their bite instead of turning to mush.
Brush dough pieces with butter and roll them in everything bagel seasoning for a savory, poppy-and-sesame crusted pull-apart. Served with a chive cream cheese dip, it brings brunch energy to frozen dinner rolls. A light egg wash before the seasoning helps every seed stick without falling off.
Layer dough with crumbled bacon, sharp cheddar, and a sprinkle of dry ranch seasoning for a loaded savory bread that disappears fast at parties. The cheese melts into pockets while the bacon crisps for a smoky, salty finish. Save a little bacon and cheese to press on top for a picture-perfect crust.
Toss sugar-coated dough with fresh blueberries and lemon zest, then drizzle a lemon glaze over the warm ring for a bright, jammy pull-apart. The berries burst into sweet-tart pockets that cut through the buttery dough. Add the glaze only after it cools slightly so it sets into a glossy coat instead of soaking in.
Roll the dough in pumpkin pie spice and brown sugar, then finish with a maple cream cheese drizzle for a seasonal favorite. Frozen dinner rolls keep it effortless while the warm spices make it taste like autumn baked all afternoon. A splash of maple in the butter glaze deepens that cozy flavor even more.
Stuff dough pieces with cream cheese and diced jalapeno, then layer with cheddar for a spicy, gooey pull-apart with a little kick. It hits the same craving as a jalapeno popper in shareable bread form. Remove the pepper seeds for milder heat, or leave them in for a bolder bite.
Tuck mini marshmallows and chocolate chips into cinnamon dough and top with crushed graham crackers for a campfire-inspired dessert. The chocolate melts into gooey ribbons while the marshmallows turn soft and toasty. Add the marshmallows to the inside rather than the top so they stay melty instead of scorching.
Layer dough with cooked breakfast sausage, sharp cheese, and a maple butter glaze for a sweet-and-savory morning bake that feeds a crowd. It packs everything you love about a breakfast plate into one warm pull-apart ring. Brown the sausage well and drain it so the bread bakes up tender rather than greasy.
Wrap dough around little spoonfuls of chocolate hazelnut spread, roll in sugar, and finish with chopped toasted hazelnuts for a rich dessert pull-apart. Each piece hides a molten chocolate center that pairs beautifully with morning coffee. Freeze small dollops of Nutella first so they are easy to seal inside the dough.
Coat dough in butter, fresh rosemary and thyme, and a blend of mozzarella, Parmesan, and Asiago for a savory bread that dresses up any dinner. The trio of cheeses melts into a golden, herby pull-apart that rivals a bakery loaf. Serve it warm alongside marinara or a bowl of olive oil for dipping.
Monkey Bread pairs beautifully with fresh coffee, scrambled eggs, fruit salad and mimosas. Round out the table with ideas from our other collections for an easy, crowd-pleasing spread.
Try it alongside 25 Dreamy Acai Bowl Recipes for Breakfast or 25 Easy Hawaiian Roll Sliders for a Crowd.
Yes. Most monkey bread in this list can be assembled or fully prepped ahead, then covered and refrigerated. Bake or reheat just before serving so everything tastes fresh.
Cool monkey bread completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. Reheat in the oven, microwave or air fryer until warmed through.
Many of these monkey bread freeze well. Wrap tightly or use a freezer-safe container for up to 2–3 months, thaw overnight in the fridge, and reheat until hot in the center.
Monkey Bread pairs beautifully with fresh coffee, scrambled eggs, fruit salad and mimosas. Mix and match to build a full meal or a simple spread depending on the occasion.
Skim the 15 ideas above and choose by time, skill level and what's in your kitchen. Start with the simplest one, then work up to the more loaded, dressed-up versions.
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