Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread Recipe

Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread Recipe

This Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread is a gooey and buttery recipe, which is a fun, pull-apart bread made incredibly easy with refrigerated biscuits, a bright orange sugar, and a rich vanilla-butter sauce. It’s the perfect treat for a weekend breakfast or brunch, ready in about an hour.

Jump to Recipe

Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread Ingredients

  • 3 cans (7.5 Ounces Each) Buttermilk Biscuits (not the flaky kind), kept cold
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • Zest of 2 whole Oranges
  • 1 dash Salt
  • 2 sticks Salted Butter
  • 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
  • Nonstick cooking spray, for the pan

How To Make Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread

  1. Prep Oven and Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously grease a Bundt or tube pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Make the Orange Sugar: In a large zip-top plastic bag, combine the granulated sugar, the orange zest, and a dash of salt. Seal the bag and shake it around until the zest is fragrant and thoroughly combined with the sugar.
  3. Coat the Biscuits: Open the cold cans of biscuits and cut each biscuit into quarters. Drop the pieces into the bag of orange sugar, seal it, and shake vigorously until all the biscuit pieces are separated and evenly coated. Pour the coated pieces into the prepared Bundt pan.
  4. Make the Sauce and Bake: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the brown sugar and vanilla until just barely combined. Pour this mixture all over the biscuit pieces in the pan.
  5. Bake and Rest: Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the top of the biscuits are deep golden brown and cooked through. Remove the pan from the oven and let it sit on a wire rack for exactly 10 minutes.
  6. Invert and Serve: After 10 minutes, place a large cake plate on top of the Bundt pan and, using oven mitts, carefully and quickly invert it. Let the hot caramel drizzle down the sides. Serve warm.
Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread Recipe
Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread Recipe

Recipe Tips

  • How to keep the bread from sticking to the pan? This is the most important tip! You must generously grease the Bundt pan and then invert the bread after exactly 10 minutes of cooling. If you flip it too soon, it might be too loose. If you wait too long, the caramel will harden and stick to the pan like glue.
  • How do I know when it’s fully baked? The top will be a deep golden brown, and the biscuits around the edge should look cooked through. To be sure, you can gently pull at a piece from the top center; it should be fluffy and cooked, not raw and doughy.
  • Can I use a different kind of biscuit? For the best pull-apart texture, use standard-size refrigerated buttermilk or homestyle biscuits. Avoid the “flaky layers” or “Grands” style, as they don’t separate into pull-apart pieces as nicely.
  • Why use cold biscuits? Keeping the biscuit dough cold until you’re ready to cut and coat it helps the pieces stay separate and makes them easier to handle.

What To Serve With Monkey Bread

This is an incredibly rich and decadent breakfast or brunch dish that stands perfectly on its own. It needs no other accompaniment. For a beverage pairing, it is fantastic with:

  • A strong, hot cup of black coffee to cut the sweetness
  • A cold glass of milk

How To Store Monkey Bread

  • Room Temperature: This is best eaten warm, fresh from the oven. If you have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
  • Reheat: Gently reheat individual portions in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to re-melt the caramel and soften the bread.

Monkey Bread Nutrition Facts

  • Serving: 1 serving
  • Calories: 480 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 70g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 14g
  • Sugar: 50g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

What’s the difference between this and regular monkey bread?

This version has a wonderful, bright citrus flavor from the fresh orange zest rubbed into the sugar, which is a delicious twist on the classic cinnamon version.

Can I make this ahead of time?

This dish is at its absolute best when served warm and gooey, fresh from the oven. For a head start, you can coat the biscuit pieces and arrange them in the pan, then cover and refrigerate for an hour before baking.

Can I add nuts?

Yes, a cup of chopped, toasted pecans sprinkled in the bottom of the pan and between the layers of biscuit pieces would be a fantastic and classic addition.

Try More Recipes:

Orange-Vanilla Monkey Bread Recipe

Recipe by MarryCourse: BreakfastCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

12

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

35

minutes
Calories

480

kcal

A gooey, buttery pull-apart bread made incredibly easy with refrigerated biscuits, a bright orange-sugar coating, and a rich brown sugar caramel sauce.

Ingredients

  • 3 cans (7.5 oz each) buttermilk biscuits

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • Zest of 2 oranges

  • 2 sticks salted butter

  • 3/4 cup brown sugar

  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease a Bundt pan.
  • In a zip-top bag, shake the granulated sugar and orange zest together.
  • Cut each biscuit into quarters. Shake the pieces in the bag to coat them in the orange sugar.
  • Arrange the coated biscuit pieces in the prepared pan.
  • In a saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar and vanilla. Pour this sauce evenly over the biscuits.
  • Bake for 25-35 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Let the pan cool for exactly 10 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate.

Notes

  • The 10-Minute Rule: The most important tip for this recipe is to invert the pan after just 10 minutes of cooling; this is the secret to getting the bread to release cleanly without sticking.
  • Grease the Pan Well: Generously greasing the Bundt pan, getting into every single crevice, is essential for a clean release of the sticky caramel.
  • Don’t Overbake: The bread is done as soon as the top is a deep golden brown and the center biscuits are cooked through. Overbaking can make the biscuits dry.
  • Use a Shortcut: Using a can of refrigerated biscuits is the key that makes this impressive-looking brunch treat incredibly quick and easy to assemble.

Recommended Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *