Why You’ll Love This Easy 9×13 Monkey Bread Recipe

This butterscotch monkey bread isn’t just another breakfast pastry; it’s a culinary revelation that simplifies your baking and amplifies your enjoyment. Here’s why this particular method and recipe stand out and why it’s bound to become a staple in your kitchen:

1. Consistently Bakes Evenly: One of the most common frustrations with traditional monkey bread, often baked in a tall bundt pan, is the dreaded raw or undercooked center. My recipe specifically addresses this by utilizing a spacious 9×13-inch baking pan. The flatter, wider surface area ensures superior heat distribution, allowing every single piece of that delicious dough to cook through perfectly. This results in a uniformly soft, tender, and unbelievably gooey texture from one edge of the pan to the other, eliminating those disappointing underbaked surprises.
2. Incredibly Quick & Easy Prep: The secret to the simplicity and speed of this easy monkey bread lies in its star ingredient: pre-made canned biscuit dough. This ingenious shortcut completely eliminates the need for measuring flour, kneading, and waiting for yeast to rise, drastically cutting down on preparation time. What could be a lengthy baking project is transformed into a quick and fun activity, making it perfect for busy mornings or even getting children involved in the kitchen. It’s truly the ultimate low-effort, high-reward recipe.
3. Perfect for Any Crowd or Gathering: If you’re hosting a breakfast, brunch, or a casual gathering and need a treat that can effortlessly feed a hungry crowd without keeping you tied to the kitchen, this pull-apart monkey bread is your ideal solution. It’s designed to be a grab-and-go delight that’s perfect for family brunches, potlucks, church gatherings, or cherished holiday mornings like Christmas. The communal, pull-apart nature makes it inherently shareable and a joy for everyone to enjoy, fostering a warm, inviting atmosphere.
4. Versatile for Any Occasion: There truly isn’t a wrong time to enjoy this delectable recipe! Beyond just breakfast and brunch, imagine serving this warm, sweet treat as a delightful dessert after dinner, a special snack during a family game night, or a comforting accompaniment to coffee. Its comforting flavor profile and fun presentation make it a guaranteed hit no matter the event. It’s particularly wonderful for creating lasting memories, whether on a family beach trip, a cozy weekend at home, or making festive traditions on Christmas morning.
5. Irresistible Butterscotch Flavor: What truly sets this gooey monkey bread apart from other versions is the rich, warm, and distinctly unique flavor of butterscotch. Combined with robust brown sugar, it creates a luscious caramel-like glaze that deeply infuses and coats every single piece of biscuit dough, imparting a depth of flavor that is simply irresistible. This isn’t just a sweet treat; it’s a comforting, nostalgic, and deeply satisfying flavor experience that will have everyone reaching for another piece.

Essential Ingredient Notes & Smart Substitutions

Crafting the perfect butterscotch monkey bread starts with understanding your ingredients. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you’ll need and how you can make smart substitutions if necessary, ensuring your pull-apart bread turns out fantastically delicious every time:

• Canned Biscuits (2 tubes jumbo buttermilk): These are the foundational ingredient and the key to our easy monkey bread! I highly recommend using two cans of Aldi jumbo buttermilk biscuits due to their excellent taste, tender crumb, and affordable price point. They bake up wonderfully fluffy and absorb the glaze beautifully. However, you can absolutely use other popular brands like Pillsbury Grands! buttermilk biscuits. When selecting your biscuits, it’s crucial to opt for the regular homestyle buttermilk variety rather than the “flaky layers” or “grands flaky layers” type. The flaky versions tend to separate and might not hold their shape as well after being cut and coated, potentially altering the desired texture of your monkey bread. For a delightful variation, you could even use Grands! cinnamon rolls (just remove and set aside their icing packet for a post-bake drizzle, if desired). If you’re a seasoned baker or have homemade biscuit dough on hand, it can also be cut into bite-sized pieces and used with fantastic results.
• Butterscotch Pudding Mix (3.5-ounce box, Cook & Serve, unprepared): This is the secret ingredient that truly elevates this monkey bread recipe! It introduces a unique, warm, and deeply rich butterscotch flavor that simply cannot be replicated by brown sugar alone. It’s absolutely crucial to select the “Cook & Serve” version of the pudding mix, not the “Instant” pudding mix. Instant pudding contains different gelling agents and starches that will behave differently in the glaze, potentially leading to a less desirable or even runny texture. The dry powder is cleverly incorporated both into the coating for the biscuit pieces and directly into the liquid glaze for maximum flavor infusion and gooeyness.
• Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar: These two sugars play distinct yet equally important roles in creating the perfect sweet coating and decadent glaze for our gooey monkey bread. Granulated white sugar is initially combined with cinnamon and the dry pudding powder to coat the individual biscuit pieces, adding a delicate sweetness and contributing to a slightly textured exterior. Light brown sugar, with its higher molasses content and deeper flavor, is the foundation of the rich, caramel-like glaze. It’s responsible for the signature stickiness and deep, complex sweetness that defines classic monkey bread.
• Unsalted Butter (½ cup / 1 stick): Butter is utterly essential for that rich, luscious, and truly indulgent glaze. While unsalted butter allows you precise control over the overall saltiness of your dish, you can certainly use salted butter if that’s all you have available. Just be aware that it might introduce a subtle salty note, which many people find to be a delightful contrast to the intense sweetness! Cutting the butter into smaller, uniform pieces before microwaving helps it melt much faster and more evenly, ensuring a smooth glaze base.
• Milk (½ cup): Milk is a critical component for achieving a smooth, pourable, and saucy glaze. It works to keep the sugars and butter from hardening too quickly as they cool, ensuring that every single piece of the pull-apart bread is evenly coated with that delicious, sticky goodness. Any type of milk—dairy (whole, 2%, skim) or a non-dairy alternative (almond, soy, oat)—will work beautifully here, so use whatever you have readily on hand.
• Cinnamon (2 teaspoons total): Cinnamon is a classic and indispensable spice in sweet bread recipes. It adds a warm, aromatic, and comforting note that beautifully complements the rich butterscotch flavor. In this recipe, it’s strategically used in two places: first, in the dry coating mixture for the biscuits, and second, directly into the liquid glaze to enhance the overall taste profile and add a comforting spice.
• Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon): A touch of high-quality vanilla extract is the perfect finishing touch. It rounds out the complex flavors of the glaze, adding a subtle depth, brightness, and enhancing the sweetness of both the butterscotch and brown sugar. For the best and most authentic flavor, always opt for pure vanilla extract over imitation.

Step 1: Prepare Your Pan, Cut Biscuits & Toss in Flavorful Powder

The first crucial step is to adequately prepare your baking pan to ensure your gooey monkey bread releases effortlessly. Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with a high-quality nonstick cooking spray. For an extra layer of protection and to create handy “handles” for easy removal, line the pan with parchment paper, allowing it to extend over the longer sides. Once your pan is prepped, set it aside.

1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the contents of one 3.5-ounce box of dry butterscotch Cook & Serve pudding powder (remember, NOT instant!), 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until well combined. This flavorful mixture will provide the initial, aromatic coating for your biscuit pieces.

2. Cut & Coat Biscuits: Carefully open your two cans of jumbo buttermilk biscuits. On a clean cutting board, take each individual biscuit and cut it into four relatively small, even-sized pieces. Achieving uniform size is absolutely crucial for ensuring that all pieces of your pull-apart monkey bread cook evenly. Place the cut biscuit pieces into the bowl with your prepared cinnamon-sugar-pudding mixture. Toss gently but thoroughly until each piece is completely coated. Once coated, arrange the biscuit dough pieces in a single, even layer across the bottom of your prepared 9×13-inch baking pan, ensuring they are not overly stacked or clumped together.

Pro Tip: Taking an extra moment to cut your biscuits into 4 evenly sized pieces is a small effort that yields big rewards. This meticulous cutting helps prevent some pieces from being undercooked while others are perfectly golden. Even distribution of the dough means consistent exposure to the heat and uniform penetration of that irresistible butterscotch glaze.

Step 2: Create the Gooey Glaze & Pour Over Biscuits

This is where the true magic happens, transforming simple biscuit pieces into truly decadent and gooey monkey bread!

1. Melt Butter & Sugars: In a large, microwave-safe bowl or a sizable measuring cup, combine ½ cup (which is equivalent to 1 stick) of unsalted butter, ensuring it’s cut into smaller pieces to facilitate faster melting, with ¾ cup of light brown sugar and ½ cup of milk. Microwave this mixture on high for an initial 2 minutes. After the first microwaving interval, remove the bowl and stir the mixture well with a whisk or a sturdy spoon. If you still observe significant chunks of unmelted butter, return the bowl to the microwave for another 1 minute. The ultimate goal here is a completely melted butter and sugar mixture, forming a smooth, golden, and liquid base for your rich glaze.
2. Whisk in Flavorings & Pour: To the warm, liquid butter and sugar mixture, immediately stir in any remaining butterscotch pudding powder mixture (that was leftover from coating the biscuits), an additional 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Whisk thoroughly and vigorously until all the ingredients are fully combined, the mixture is smooth, and incredibly fragrant. Do not delay! Carefully pour this warm, rich, buttery, and incredibly flavorful butterscotch glaze evenly over all the biscuit dough pieces that you’ve arranged in the 9×13-inch pan. Make sure every single piece gets drenched in this luscious, sticky sauce.

Important Tip: After pouring the glaze, take a brief moment to gently adjust any overlapping biscuit pieces with a spoon or spatula. The aim is to ensure they are spread out as much as possible in a relatively even layer. Stacking too many pieces in one spot can create dense areas that lead to a doughy or undercooked center, even in a 9×13 pan. Proper spacing allows both the heat and the wonderful glaze to penetrate thoroughly, ensuring an even bake and consistent gooeyness.

Step 3: Bake to Golden Perfection

Now, it’s time for the oven to work its magic and transform those coated biscuit pieces into a glorious, golden, bubbly, and utterly delicious pull-apart monkey bread. Your kitchen will soon be filled with an irresistible aroma!

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once preheated, carefully place the 9×13 pan, filled with your beautifully assembled monkey bread, into the center rack of the oven. Bake for approximately 24-26 minutes. It’s wise to keep a close eye on it during the last few minutes of baking. You’re looking for the biscuit pieces on top to be lightly golden brown and visibly puffed up, which indicates they are fully baked through. The butterscotch glaze around the edges should be actively bubbling and appear thick and syrupy, forming that coveted gooey texture. If you notice the top browning too quickly before the center seems fully cooked, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil. This will help prevent over-browning of the crust while allowing the interior to continue baking to perfection.

Step 4: Serve Warm (and Flip, if Desired!)

Once your irresistible butterscotch monkey bread emerges from the oven, it will be piping hot, bubbling, and incredibly fragrant. You have two delightful main options for serving this delectable treat, each offering its own charm.

The simplest method is to serve it directly from the 9×13 pan. This allows everyone to easily pull off their own gooey, sticky pieces with a fork or even their fingers – it’s often the easiest and most mess-free way to enjoy this communal delight. Alternatively, if you desire a more dramatic and traditional presentation, you can choose to flip it onto a serving plate. However, this particular step requires a bit of patience and caution! Allow the monkey bread to cool in its pan for at least 5 minutes before attempting to invert it. This brief cooling period is crucial, as it allows the hot, liquid syrupy glaze to set and thicken slightly. This prevents the majority of the sticky sauce from running off the sides of your serving plate and creating an unexpected mess (trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way!). Once cooled slightly, carefully place a large, rimmed serving tray or plate upside down directly over the baking pan. Then, with a quick and confident motion, flip the entire assembly over. The parchment paper you used to line the pan will be your best friend here, as it will significantly help in releasing the monkey bread smoothly onto the platter. Gently peel off the parchment paper, and you’ll be left with a beautiful, caramel-coated mound of pull-apart deliciousness, ready to be enthusiastically devoured by all!

Creative Variations & Flavor Twists!

While this classic butterscotch monkey bread recipe is absolutely perfect as is, it’s also wonderfully adaptable! Don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment in your kitchen to truly make it your own with these exciting and delicious variations:

• Use Grands Cinnamon Rolls for an Extra Spice Kick: Want to infuse even more cinnamon goodness and a slightly different texture into your monkey bread? Simply swap out the regular buttermilk biscuits for two tubes of Grands! cinnamon rolls. Cut each cinnamon roll into quarters, just like you would with the biscuits, and then proceed with the recipe exactly as directed. After baking, you can use the icing packets that typically come with the cinnamon rolls to drizzle over the warm monkey bread for an additional layer of sweet, creamy deliciousness. This creates a delightful hybrid that’s both familiar and excitingly new!
• Add a Touch of Citrus Zest: For a brighter, more complex flavor profile that beautifully complements the sweetness, finely grate a teaspoon or two of fresh orange or lemon zest. You can add this directly into the dry coating mixture for the biscuits or mix it into the butterscotch glaze. The subtle citrus notes will provide a lovely, refreshing counterpoint to the rich, sweet flavors.
• Make it Nutty: For added crunch, delightful texture, and a rich, earthy flavor, sprinkle about ½ cup of finely chopped pecans, walnuts, or even sliced almonds over the biscuit pieces before you pour the butterscotch glaze. The nuts will toast slightly during baking, releasing their aromatic oils and adding an amazing, satisfying crunch to every gooey bite.
• Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Who can resist the allure of chocolate? For an indulgent twist, sprinkle about ½ cup of mini chocolate chips or finely chopped milk or dark chocolate over the biscuit pieces before adding the glaze. The chocolate will melt into luscious, gooey pockets of pure bliss, making this an even more decadent treat.
• Fruity Fun: For a delightful fruity contrast and added chewiness, consider adding about ½ cup of dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, or even golden raisins to the biscuit coating mixture. Alternatively, once the monkey bread is baked and cooled slightly, serve it with a side of fresh berries like raspberries or blueberries for a burst of fresh flavor.
• Bourbon Pecan Glaze (Adult-Friendly): For a more sophisticated, adult-friendly variation, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of good quality bourbon or dark rum to the butterscotch glaze mixture before pouring it over the biscuits. This will introduce a wonderful depth of flavor and warmth, especially when combined with the toasted pecans.
• Coconut Lover’s Delight: Sprinkle some shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened, depending on preference) over the biscuits before adding the glaze for a tropical twist. The coconut will toast beautifully as it bakes.

Expert Tips for the Best Pull-Apart Monkey Bread

Achieving that perfect, uniformly cooked, and unbelievably gooey pull-apart monkey bread is easier than you think, especially with these expert tips and tricks. Follow these guidelines to ensure your butterscotch monkey bread is a showstopper every time:

• Cut Dough Evenly: This tip cannot be stressed enough for optimal results! Make a conscious effort to cut your biscuit dough into 4 pieces that are as close to equal size as possible. Uniform pieces are the key to ensuring that every single bite cooks through at the same rate, preventing some from being underbaked and disappointingly doughy while others are perfectly golden. This also allows for consistent absorption of that decadent butterscotch glaze, resulting in an even texture throughout.
• Spread into a Single Layer: After you’ve coated your biscuit pieces with the flavorful powder, arrange them meticulously in a single, relatively even layer in your 9×13 pan. Avoid piling them up in dense clumps or overcrowding specific spots. Proper spacing is vital as it allows the hot air in the oven to circulate freely around each piece, facilitating thorough and even baking. If, towards the end of the baking time, you notice the top layer browning too quickly while the center still seems gooey or undercooked, simply loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil. This helps to prevent over-browning of the crust without inhibiting the continued cooking of the interior.
• Consider Add-ins for Extra Delight: Elevate your homemade monkey bread from great to extraordinary with a variety of delicious additions! Sprinkle in about ½ cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, or even sweet raisins for added texture and a delightful flavor contrast. For a truly indulgent experience that will satisfy any sweet tooth, stir in ½ cup of mini chocolate chips – they’ll melt into luscious pockets of pure bliss within the gooey layers. For those who enjoy a unique sweet and savory contrast, finely chopped crispy bacon pieces are an unexpected but incredibly delightful addition that creates a fantastic flavor dynamic.
• Decadent Topping Ideas: Once your warm 9×13 butterscotch monkey bread emerges from the oven, don’t stop there! Consider enhancing its appeal and flavor with various delicious toppings. A simple drizzle of extra caramel sauce, a delicate dusting of powdered sugar, or even a quick homemade cream cheese glaze (easily made by whisking powdered sugar with a splash of milk and a bit of softened cream cheese) can add an extra layer of sweetness and visual elegance. For an ultimate dessert experience, a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream transforms this breakfast treat into an exquisite after-dinner indulgence!
• Don’t Rush the Flip (If You Choose To!): As reiterated in the baking steps, if you plan to invert your monkey bread onto a serving plate for a beautiful presentation, patience is truly key! Allowing it to cool in the pan for at least 5 minutes after baking helps the hot, liquid glaze to firm up and set slightly. This critical step prevents the sticky, molten sauce from spilling everywhere when you flip it, ensuring a cleaner presentation and significantly less mess on your counter.
• Explore Savory Monkey Bread: While this recipe celebrates sweet indulgence, the concept of pull-apart bread is incredibly versatile and not limited to sweet treats. If you’re a fan of savory delights and enjoyed the ease of this format, you might be interested in exploring my Pretzel Monkey Bread. It’s a creative and delicious twist that transforms the familiar pull-apart structure into a savory snack, perfect for game days, appetizers, or a unique party dish!

Storage & Freezing Instructions for Monkey Bread

Ensuring your delicious 9×13 monkey bread stays fresh and ready to enjoy at a moment’s notice is simple with these effective storage and freezing tips:

• Storage: Once the monkey bread has completely cooled to room temperature, transfer any leftover portions to an airtight container. It can be stored comfortably at room temperature for up to 2 days, maintaining much of its desirable soft and gooey texture. For extended freshness, particularly if you’ve made a large batch or want to savor it longer, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat individual portions and fully restore their wonderful warmth and softness, simply pop them into the microwave for a quick 10-15 seconds.
• Freezing: Monkey bread freezes exceptionally well, making it a fantastic make-ahead option! Allow the entire baked monkey bread (or individual portions) to cool completely to room temperature before freezing. Then, wrap it tightly first in plastic wrap, ensuring no air can get in, followed by an additional protective layer of aluminum foil to prevent any freezer burn. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months without compromising its quality. When you’re ready to enjoy, you can reheat frozen portions in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 10-15 minutes (or slightly longer if reheating a whole frozen block) or microwave individual pieces for 20-30 seconds until they are warm, soft, and perfectly gooey again.

Frequently Asked Questions About Monkey Bread