Pull-Apart Monkey Bread (Bread Machine Dough)
Sneak Peek: Buttery and pull-apart, this Bread Machine Monkey Bread bakes up soft and golden with a tender texture that melts in your mouth. The dough is handled in the machine, but you’ll shape, coat, and bake it yourself for a beautiful hands-on finish.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
In the 1970s, I worked as a kitchen supervisor at the Greenhouse—a week-long health spa experience that focused on nourishing food and wellness. Helen Corbitt designed the menus and recipes we followed there, so I became intimately familiar with her cooking style.
This Monkey Bread is a modern nod to one of her signature creations from Helen Corbitt Cooks for Company(paid link), adapted for today’s bread machine cooks who appreciate a bit of hands-on shaping.
What Makes This Bread Worth Sharing
- Hands-Off Dough Prep: Your bread machine takes care of mixing and kneading.
- Customizable: Keep it plain and buttery, or dip in cinnamon sugar for a sweeter version.
No bread machine? No worries. See the recipe notes for making this recipe with a stand mixer or by hand.
Shared and Loved
“Yum yum yum!!! Served it with a pork roast sliced thin for folks to nosh on during a group get together and everyone agreed….yum yum yum!” — SUE
Ingredients and Substitutions
- MILK:
- I use whole or 2% milk.
- Non-dairy milk also works.
- WATER:
- Tap water is fine.
- It does not need to be warmed when using a bread machine.
- EGG:
- One large egg (50 gr ±).
- To make it egg-free, use a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water).
- BUTTER:
- I prefer salted butter, but unsalted works too.
- Use plant-based butter for a dairy-free version.
- SUGAR:
- A little white sugar to feed the yeast.
- Honey or maple syrup also work.
- SALT:
- Don’t leave this out. It works in partnership with the yeast.
- It makes a difference in flavor. No sub recommended.
- ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR:
- I use unbleached all-purpose.
- Bread flour is fine but will make the texture chewier.
- YEAST:
- Bread machine or instant yeast works best with a bread machine.
- OPTIONAL CINNAMON-SUGAR MIXTURE:
- Use if you want a sweet Monkey Bread. Skip it for savory.
Cinnamon-Sugar Monkey Bread Variation
After dipping the dough pieces in butter, coat them with 1 cup of granulated white sugar and two teaspoons of cinnamon. Arrange pieces randomly in a bundt pan. Let rise until almost double. Bake as directed.
Browned Butter Monkey Bread (in a Heart-Shaped Pan)
I used a heart-shaped pan to add to the festiveness. The dough is from the original recipe, but I dragged the dough pieces through browned butter instead of plain melted butter to take it to a celebratory level. If you want more sugar, try drizzling the baked bread with caramel syrup. Perfect for sharing.
Three More Variations
- Garlic-Butter Monkey Bread: Add three chopped garlic cloves to the butter you dip your rolls in before placing them in the pan.
- Bacon Monkey Bread: After dipping the dough in butter, sprinkle lightly with cooked bacon bits.
- Herb Monkey Bread: After dipping the dough in butter, roll each piece in finely chopped fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or rosemary,
Step-by-Step How To Make and Shape the Dough
- Add All Ingredients to the bread machine pan. Choose the DOUGH cycle and press START.
- Check Paddles
After the first minute, make sure the paddles are engaged and the dough is starting to clump. - Check Dough Texture
At 15–18 minutes, it should stick to the sides, then pull away cleanly. - Let the Dough Cycle Finish
The dough should be double the original size at the end of the DOUGH cycle.
- Shape Dough
Roll into a rectangle, about ½ inch thick. - Cut into Chunks
Use a pizza cutter for even 1-inch squares or diamonds. - Dip in Butter (and Cinnamon Sugar, if using)
Adds flavor and stickiness. - Layer in Bundt Pan
Grease it first to avoid sticking. - Let Rise Until Puffy
Usually 30–45 minutes. - Bake
350°F for 30–35 minutes, until golden.
Pull-Apart Monkey Bread (Bread Machine Dough)
Video
Ingredients
- ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon (184 g) milk (cool)
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large (50 g) egg (cool)
- 3 tablespoons (36 g) sugar
- ½ cup (114 g) butter (divided–half for dough, half for dipping)
- 3 cups (360 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons bread machine or instant yeast
Instructions
- Add ingredients to the bread machine pan in the order listed: ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon (184 g) milk, 1½ teaspoon salt, 1 large (50 g) egg, 3 tablespoons (36 g) sugar, ½ cup (114 g) butter (divided–half for dough, half for dipping), 3 cups (360 g) unbleached all-purpose flour, and 2 teaspoons bread machine or instant yeast Select the DOUGH cycle and start.
- First Peek (1 Minute In): Lift the lid to ensure the paddle(s) are moving and the dough is starting to clump.Second Peek (15–18 Minutes In): The dough should stick to the sides, then pull away cleanly.If it sticks without releasing, add 1 spoonful of flour at a time until it holds its shape. If it’s too dry (bouncing around or riding the paddle), add 1 spoonful of water at a time until it sticks briefly to the sides before releasing. Wait 1–2 minutes between additions to let the dough adjust. Read more about this surprising secret to success with a bread machine here.
- At the end of the DOUGH cycle, remove the dough to a floured surface. (It should be doubled in size. If not leave it in the machine until it doubles.)
- Roll out finished dough on a floured surface to ½-inch thickness.
- Cut into 1-inch squares or diamonds with a pizza cutter.
- Dip each piece in melted butter. Optionally, roll in cinnamon sugar.
- Layer dough in a greased Bundt pan. Cover and let rise until puffy (30–45 minutes).
- Bake at 350˚F (177˚C) for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and/or the temperature registers 190˚F(88˚C). Cover with foil after 10 minutes to prevent the top from over-browning. Cool slightly, then invert onto a serving plate.
Notes
- Add ingredients to the mixer bowl in the listed order.
- Mix on low speed until everything is moistened.
- Switch to the dough hook and increase speed to 2 or 3.
- Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic (about 5–10 minutes).
- Cover and let it rise in a warm place until doubled.
- Gently deflate, shape, and bake as directed.
- In a large bowl, mix ingredients until you have a shaggy dough.
- Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (10–20 minutes, depending on experience).
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise until doubled.
- Once risen, gently deflate, shape, and bake as instructed.
Equipment
Nutrition
All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com
FAQs
- How do I serve this bread?
- Serve it warm, straight from the pan, or invert it onto a platter for a more dramatic presentation. You can drizzle with a glaze for a sweeter option, or pair the savory version with marinara or soup for dipping.
- Can I make this the night before?
- Yes. Assemble in the pan, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Let it rise before baking.
- Do I need a bundt pan?
- Not required. A loaf or deep round cake pan works—just adjust baking time.
Final Thoughts
I cannot express how much my family has enjoyed this recipe. It’s fun to make, especially with a bread machine, to do the hard work. I hope sharing this recipe will bring you as much joy and satisfaction as it has to us.
I have another recipe very similar to this with lemon flavors. If you are a lemon lover, check out this Lemon Pull-Apart Bread Machine Recipe. Another monkey bread variation that’s a bit more trouble but also unique is my Party Bread with Three Flavors. If you love adventures in the kitchen, don’t miss this one.
P.S. In a hurry? You can bake the dough directly in your bread machine pan using the Basic or Sweet cycle. Remove the dough from the pan, cut it, and layer it back into the bread machine pan to finish the cycle. It won’t be pretty, but it works in a pinch!
Need help troubleshooting? Email me: Paula at saladinajar.com—photos welcome!
Paula Rhodes, owner
As a retired home economist, I created Saladinajar.com to share my belief that you don’t have to be a chef to find joy in creating homemade food worth sharing. Bread machines (used in an unconventional way), homemade yogurt, and quick microwave recipes are my specialty.