Monkey Bread Muffins Recipe

If you crave gooey cinnamon-sugar bliss in a personal-sized treat, Monkey Bread Muffins from Scratch are about to become your newest baking obsession. Each soft, pillowy bite is drenched with caramelized brown sugar and finished with a dreamy drizzle of vanilla glaze — so much fun, so much flavor, and they pull-apart just like the classic monkey bread you adore!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Every element of Monkey Bread Muffins from Scratch is simple but thoughtfully chosen: you’ll find just a handful of pantry staples at work. Each ingredient builds irresistible softness, rich flavor, and a bit of bakery-style magic — no shortcuts or mystery convenience foods required!

• All-purpose flour: The backbone of our brioche dough, lending structure and tender crumb.
• Instant dry yeast: Delivers a reliable, speedy rise for that bakery-perfect texture.
• Granulated sugar: Feeds the yeast and gently sweetens the dough.
• Fine sea salt: Essential for bringing out the flavor and balancing sweetness.
• Milk & water (warmed): Moisturize, activate yeast, and add a subtle richness.
• Unsalted butter (melted): For richness in both the dough and the sugary coating.
• Dark brown sugar: Gives the coating that deep, molasses-y caramel flavor so classic in monkey bread.
• Ground cinnamon: The essential warm spice swirl you want in every single bite.
• Powdered sugar: For an ultra-smooth, sweet, and glossy glaze.
• Vanilla bean paste: Brings a little luxury and that gorgeous speckled look to your glaze.

Variations

Once you master these Monkey Bread Muffins from Scratch, you’ll be dreaming up new spins every weekend! The recipe is so flexible, letting you tweak flavors or shapes to suit your family’s tastes, dietary needs, or whatever’s in your pantry.

• Swap the spices: Try pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, or chai spice blend for a twist on classic cinnamon-sugar.
• Add-ins: Toss in mini chocolate chips, chopped pecans, or raisins when layering the dough balls.
• Gluten-free version: Use your favorite 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to make these accessible for everyone.
• Lemon glaze: Skip the vanilla, and whisk in fresh lemon juice and zest for a zippy finish that brightens all that sweetness.

How to Make Monkey Bread Muffins from Scratch

Step 1: Mix the Dough

In a stand mixer bowl or large mixing bowl, whisk together your flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add the warmed milk, warmed water, and melted butter. Mix with a wooden spoon or the dough hook until just combined, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to let the flour absorb the liquids. This little rest gives you a head start on a smooth, luxurious dough!

Step 2: Knead Until Silky

Using the hook attachment, knead the dough on medium speed for about 5 minutes, until it’s soft and comes together. Kick it up to medium-high for another 5 minutes, watching as the dough turns pillowy and pulls away from the bowl’s sides. Add a spoonful or two of flour only if it’s very sticky — you want a soft, supple dough, not a stiff one!

Step 3: First Rise

Plop your dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for just a minute, shaping it into a smooth ball. Pop it back in the bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled (about 45 to 60 minutes). Watching soft dough puff and grow is all part of the monkey bread magic!

Step 4: Make the Sugar Coating

While the dough rises, whisk the dark brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and melt your butter in a separate container. Prep a 6-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray or cupcake liners—trust me, this step makes cleanup a breeze later!

Step 5: Shape the Muffins

Gently press the risen dough into a rough rectangle and use a bench scraper or knife to cut it into 32 even-ish pieces. Roll each into a ball. Dip each ball into melted butter, then roll it in cinnamon sugar, and start layering 5–6 sugar-coated dough balls into each muffin cup. It’s messy, yes, but oh-so satisfying!

Step 6: Second Rise

Loosely cover the muffin pan with plastic wrap and let your muffin towers rise again for 30–45 minutes, until the dough balls look plump and puffy. This second rise ensures every muffin bakes up tall, fluffy, and pull-apart delicious.

Step 7: Bake & Glaze

Bake the muffins at 350°F (180°C) for 30–33 minutes, until gorgeously golden and a thermometer poked into the middle reads 190°F (90°C). While they’re still warm, whisk together your glaze ingredients until smooth, then generously drizzle over the tops. Each bite will be sweet, sticky, and utterly irresistible.

How to Serve Monkey Bread Muffins from Scratch

Garnishes

If you want to dress up your Monkey Bread Muffins from Scratch, try a sprinkle of toasted pecans, a pinch of extra cinnamon, or even a dusting of edible gold dust on the glaze for a party-ready finish. For a fun brunch treat, a dab of whipped cream on the side adds an extra touch of decadence!

Side Dishes

These muffins pair brilliantly with fresh fruit salad or citrus wedges to balance their sweetness. If you’re planning a brunch spread, offer creamy scrambled eggs, salty bacon, or smoked salmon on the side to round out the meal — the sweet-savory combo is divine.

Creative Ways to Present

Arrange the muffins on a rustic wooden board for a bakery display vibe, or stack them pyramid-style on a cake plate if you’re serving a crowd. For a fun twist, serve them in muffin liners with little paper flags, or tuck each muffin into a small gift box for delicious edible gifts straight from the heart.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Monkey Bread Muffins from Scratch are at their very best the day they’re made, but you can store any extras tightly wrapped in plastic wrap (or in an airtight container) for up to 2 days at room temperature. The dough stays soft and the sugar coating delicious — just be sure to keep air out!

Freezing

Want to save some for later? After cooling completely, you can wrap the muffins individually and freeze them for up to 2 months. When craving strikes, thaw at room temperature or give them a super short zap in the microwave — they’ll taste just-baked.

Reheating

If your Monkey Bread Muffins from Scratch have lost a bit of their gooey warmth, pop them in the microwave for 10–15 seconds, or in a 300°F (150°C) oven for a few minutes. The glaze will melt into every crevice, making them just as irresistible as when fresh!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

These Monkey Bread Muffins from Scratch are a guaranteed hit, whether you’re sharing them for a cozy breakfast or surprising your friends at brunch. Treat yourself to that gooey pull-apart moment — you won’t believe just how easy it is to create bakery-style brilliance right at home. You deserve a muffin (or three) fresh from your own oven!

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