This easy overnight monkey bread recipe takes just 5 minutes to make with a handful of simple ingredients. Made in a bundt pan, this effortless bread is perfect for brunch and making for overnight guests.
Overnight monkey bread is a hostess and guest favorite! This beautiful monkey bread takes just 5 minutes hands on time and makes entertaining a breeze.
Monkey bread is a classic American dish and is made of baked dough and sprinkled with cinnamon. It’s soft, sticky and sweet and is perfect for a brunch for a crowd.
It’s baked in a bundt pan, so it looks really pretty when it’s served. My version is so quick and easy to make, with a few short cuts that no one will ever notice!
I always loved monkey bread growing up, but it felt like an eternity to cut biscuits into quarters, toss individually with mixture and place in muffin tins to bake. This overnight monkey bread is no fuss, no mess.
Ingredients
- Frozen dinner rolls – I like the Rhodes brand. No need to thaw them!
- Brown sugar – You can use dark or light brown sugar.
- Butterscotch cook and serve dry pudding mix – Don’t use instant
- White Granulated Sugar
- Cinnamon: Use ground cinnamon.
- Butter – We tend to have salted butter on hand, so that’s what we use. You can use salted or unsalted.
- Nuts – Optional, use your favorite. We like chopped pecans, walnuts or slivered almonds.
Tips
- Cut Dough Evenly – Cut the dough into even-sized pieces (about 1-2 inches) for uniform baking. This ensures that all monkey bread pieces cook at the same rate.
- Grease your bundt pan before you start for easy removal.
- Layering – Layer the coated dough pieces evenly in the pan. Pour the caramel sauce over the top, making sure it seeps into all the nooks and crannies.
- Refrigerate Overnight – Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight. This allows the flavors to meld and the dough to rise slowly.
- Allow for a Second Rise – In the morning, take the pan out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes before baking. This gives the dough a chance to rise further.
- Cool Before Serving – Allow the monkey bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before inverting it onto a serving plate. This helps the caramel set slightly and makes it easier to remove from the pan.
Overnight Monkey Bread
Ingredients
- 24 rise and bake dinner rolls 1 small bag
- 1 box butterscotch cook and serve dry pudding mix do not use instant
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
Optional
- ½ cup nuts chopped
Instructions
Make Ahead
- Grease bundt pan. Optional: sprinkle with nuts. Add frozen rolls.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine pudding mix, brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Sprinkle on top of rolls.
- Pour melted butter over rolls, covering the sugar mixture. Leave uncovered overnight at room temperature.
To Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Punch rolls down if needed and place the bundt pan on cookie sheet. Bake 30 minutes.
- Place bundt pan upside down on platter or cake stand to remove. Serve warm.
Julie’s Tips
-
- Cut Dough Evenly – Cut the dough into even-sized pieces (about 1-2 inches) for uniform baking. This ensures that all pieces cook at the same rate.
- Grease your bundt pan before you start for easy removal.
- Layering – Layer the coated dough pieces evenly in the pan. Pour the caramel sauce over the top, making sure it seeps into all the nooks and crannies.
- Refrigerate Overnight – Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight. This allows the flavors to meld and the dough to rise slowly.
- Allow for a Second Rise – In the morning, take the pan out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes before baking. This gives the dough a chance to rise further.
- Cool Before Serving – Allow the monkey bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before inverting it onto a serving plate. This helps the caramel set slightly and makes it easier to remove from the pan.
Storage Notes
If you plan to consume the monkey bread within 1-2 days, you can store it at room temperature, wrapped tightly with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. Store it for up to a week in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze the monkey bread. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.Wrap the monkey bread tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, or place it in a freezer-safe airtight container. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight to enjoy.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Do you need to cover the bread over night
Hi Diane,
I usually cover with a clean dish towel or loosely placed plastic wrap!
I hope you enjoy,
Julie
Can you cut the rolls? Also, Im afraid it might be too sweet, so wondering if you could adjust the recipe and use only half of the butterscotch pudding powder? Will it still taste good?
These are indulgent, but amazing! You can certainly cut if you prefer, but you won’t regret going all in!
Is there a homemade substitute for the packaged pudding mix? NOT going to the store (Covid risks and a snowstorm here)! Thanks!
Use butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in lieu of pudding. You don’t have to have pudding. Enjoy and stay cozy!
What’s the reply for? It doesn’t work?!?
Where is the recipe for the brown sugar &!butter? I can’t find it??????
Hi Carol,
All the ingredients and step by step instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Enjoy!
Julie
Can you tell me what kind of frozen dinner rolls you used? Are they the already cooked version or are they still dough, if that makes sense?
They’re still dough, Jordan. Rhodes are great!