Making Chocolate Chip Monkey Bread might just be one of the best kitchen decisions you’ll ever make. Seriously. It’s gooey, soft, chocolatey, and just ridiculously good.
It’s the kind of recipe that turns an ordinary day into something a little bit sweeter. And if you have kids (or just want to feel like a kid again), this is the kind of treat that brings out all the smiles. I’ve made this plenty of times for family gatherings and lazy weekends, and it always disappears way faster than I expect.
If you’re ready for a fun and crazy-easy dessert that looks impressive but feels totally doable, then let’s get into it.
What You’ll Need
- 2 cans refrigerated biscuit dough (16.3 oz each)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 bag semisweet chocolate chips (12 oz)
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Optional: caramel sauce for drizzling
Pro Tips
1. Let the kids help This is a super fun recipe to make with kids. Let them roll the dough into balls and shake them around in the cinnamon sugar. It gets messy, but in the best way possible.
2. Use the bag trick Instead of trying to coat all the dough pieces by hand, toss them into a large resealable bag with the cinnamon sugar and give it a good shake. It makes life way easier and covers everything evenly.
3. Layer your chocolate When you’re adding the dough balls into the pan, sprinkle chocolate chips in between the layers. Trust me, you want melty chocolate happening in every bite, not just sitting on top.
4. Grease the pan really well Be super generous with the nonstick spray. Make sure you get into all the little corners of the bundt pan so your beautiful monkey bread doesn’t stick when you flip it out.
5. Serve it warm Monkey bread is best when it’s fresh and warm and slightly falling apart. If it cools off too much before you eat it, you can pop it back in a low oven for a few minutes to bring back the magic.
Substitutions and Variations
- If you like a little more variety, try mixing dark chocolate and white chocolate chips together.
- Feel like adding some crunch? Toss in a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts.
- For a gluten-free version, just swap in your favorite gluten-free biscuit dough and double-check your other ingredients.
- Not into biscuit dough? You can totally use homemade sweet dough if you’re feeling fancy.
Make-Ahead Tips
You can prep everything the night before. Just layer the coated dough balls and chocolate chips into your greased pan, cover it with plastic wrap, and stick it in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit out on the counter for about 30 minutes while the oven preheats.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Monkey Bread
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Spray your bundt pan really well with nonstick cooking spray.
- Open the biscuit dough and cut each biscuit into four pieces.
- In a big resealable bag, mix the sugar and cinnamon. Add the dough pieces and shake until everything is nicely coated.
- Add half of the dough pieces to the bundt pan, sprinkle half of the chocolate chips over them, then repeat with the remaining dough and chocolate.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan and stir in the brown sugar until smooth. Pour this buttery goodness all over the dough in the pan.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the center looks set.
- Let it cool for about 5 minutes, then carefully flip it out onto a serving plate.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce if you want to be extra, and serve warm.
Nutritional Info (per serving)
Just a quick heads up, this is an estimate and can vary based on the ingredients you use.
- Calories: 420
- Total Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
- Sodium: 400mg
- Total Carbs: 52g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 28g
- Protein: 4g
Leftovers and Storage
If you have any leftovers (which is rare around here), store them in an airtight container. You can leave it at room temperature for a day or two, or keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To reheat, just pop a piece into the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds, or warm it up in the oven at 300°F for about 10 minutes if you want it to taste freshly baked again.
Final Thoughts
Chocolate Chip Monkey Bread is one of those recipes that feels a little bit magical. It’s simple, super fun to make, and crazy delicious. Plus it’s perfect for family gatherings, brunches, or just treating yourself to something cozy and sweet.
If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear how it goes! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think or if you have any questions. I’m excited to see your creations!
