Monkey Bread With Frozen Dinner Rolls

Let’s be honest. Some mornings, the thought of mixing, kneading, and waiting for dough to rise is just too much. You want something warm, gooey, and spectacular, but you want it without the fuss.
I remember one specific holiday morning. The house was full of family, the coffee was brewing, but my motivation was at an all-time low. I wanted to make a big impression for breakfast, but the idea of starting from scratch felt like climbing a mountain.
That’s when I remembered the pack of frozen dinner rolls tucked away in my freezer. A lightbulb went off. Could this be the shortcut to end all shortcuts? It turns out, it was. Using frozen dinner rolls is the ultimate hack for creating ridiculously delicious monkey bread.
This recipe transforms humble frozen dough into a pull-apart masterpiece of cinnamon, sugar, and buttery caramel. It’s perfect for lazy weekends, holiday brunches, or any time you need a sweet treat that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, even when you didn’t.
What You’ll Need
The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity. You probably have most of these ingredients waiting in your pantry right now.
- 24 frozen dinner rolls (like Rhodes brand)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, but recommended)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
Required Tools
No fancy gadgets are needed for this one. Just your basic baking equipment will do the job.
- Bundt pan
- Large zip-top bag or a shallow dish
- Small saucepan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Sharp knife or kitchen shears
Pro Tips
I’ve made this dozens of times, and I’ve learned a few things that guarantee success. Here are my top tips for getting it right every single time.
- Don’t Rush the Thaw: The rolls need to be thawed enough to cut but still cold. If they start rising before you coat them, they can become puffy and hard to work with. About 1-2 hours on the counter is usually perfect.
- Grease Every Nook: Bundt pans have lots of crevices. Be very generous when greasing your pan. Use non-stick spray or softened butter and get into every single corner to prevent the caramel from sticking.
- The 5-Minute Rest is Crucial: After you pull the monkey bread from the oven, let it sit in the pan for just 5 to 10 minutes. This lets the molten caramel set slightly. If you wait too long, it will harden and glue the bread to the pan. If you flip it too soon, it will all run out.
- Shake, Don’t Stir: When you combine the butter and brown sugar for the sauce, melt them together over low heat. Gently shake the pan to combine them instead of stirring. This helps prevent the sugar from crystallizing and keeps your sauce smooth.
How to Make Monkey Bread With Frozen Rolls
Ready to make some magic? Follow these simple steps for pull-apart perfection.
Step 1: Place the frozen dinner rolls on a lightly greased pan or parchment paper. Let them thaw for 1 to 2 hours, until they are soft enough to cut but still cold.
Step 2: While the rolls are thawing, generously grease a 10-inch bundt pan with non-stick spray or softened butter.
Step 3: In a large zip-top bag, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Seal the bag and shake it well to mix everything together.
Step 4: Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, cut each thawed dinner roll into quarters. This is the perfect bite-size piece.
Step 5: Work in batches. Drop about 8-10 dough pieces into the cinnamon-sugar bag. Seal it and shake until every piece is completely coated.
Step 6: Place the coated dough pieces into the prepared bundt pan. If you’re using nuts, sprinkle them in between the layers of dough. Continue until all the dough is coated and in the pan.
Step 7: In a small saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium-low heat. Let it bubble gently for about one minute, just until the sugar is dissolved. Be careful not to let it burn.
Step 8: Pour this beautiful caramel sauce evenly over the dough pieces in the bundt pan.
Step 9: Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place it in a warm, draft-free spot to rise for 1 to 2 hours, or until the dough has nearly doubled in size.
Step 10: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the plastic wrap and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is deep golden brown.
Step 11: Let the monkey bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5-10 minutes. Place a large serving plate over the top of the bundt pan and, using oven mitts, carefully and quickly flip it over. Lift the pan off and serve warm!
Substitutions and Variations
This recipe is a fantastic starting point. Feel free to get creative and make it your own.
Variation Idea | How to Do It |
---|---|
Chocolate Chip Delight | Sprinkle 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips between the dough layers. |
Cream Cheese Filled | Press a small cube of cream cheese into the center of each dough quarter before coating. |
Orange Zest | Add the zest of one orange to the cinnamon-sugar mixture for a bright, citrusy flavor. |
Savory Garlic & Herb | Swap cinnamon-sugar for melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, and parmesan cheese. |
Make-Ahead Magic
Want fresh monkey bread first thing in the morning? You can easily prepare this the night before.
Assemble the entire thing through Step 8. Instead of letting it rise in a warm place, cover it tightly with greased plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning, take it out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour to finish rising before baking as directed.
Nutrition, Diets, and Pairings
Here’s a quick look at how to fit this treat into your life, no matter your needs.
Dietary Ingredient Swaps
A few simple changes can make this recipe work for different dietary needs.
Diet | Ingredient Swap | Notes |
---|---|---|
Gluten-Free | Use your favorite frozen gluten-free dinner rolls. | Baking and rising times may vary based on the brand. |
Dairy-Free | Use a high-quality, stick-form vegan butter. | The flavor and texture will be just as rich. |
Lower Sugar | Use a brown sugar substitute like monk fruit or erythritol. | The caramel sauce may have a slightly different consistency. |
Meal Pairings and Efficiency
While this monkey bread is a star on its own, it plays well with others. For a balanced breakfast, serve it alongside some scrambled eggs or a fresh fruit salad to cut through the sweetness.
For maximum efficiency, use the dough’s thawing time to measure out all your other ingredients. By the time the dough is ready, you’ll have your cinnamon-sugar mixed, your pan greased, and your caramel ingredients ready to go.
Estimated Nutritional Information
(Per serving, assuming 12 servings. This is an estimate and will vary based on exact ingredients used.)
- Calories: ~250-300 kcal
- Carbohydrates: ~45g
- Fat: ~8g
- Protein: ~5g
- Sugar: ~25g
Leftovers and Storage
If you somehow manage to have leftovers, they are still fantastic the next day.
Store any remaining monkey bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To reheat, just pop a piece or two in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. This will make it soft and gooey all over again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. My monkey bread came out doughy in the center. What did I do wrong?
Ans: This usually happens for one of two reasons: it was underbaked, or the dough balls in the middle were still a bit too frozen. Make sure the top is a deep golden brown before pulling it from the oven, and give it an extra 5 minutes if you’re unsure. You can also tent it with foil if the top is browning too quickly.
Q2. Can I use a different pan instead of a bundt pan?
Ans: Absolutely. A 9×13 inch baking dish or two loaf pans will work well. The shape will be different, but the taste will be the same. You may need to adjust the baking time slightly, so keep an eye on it.
Q3. Help! My bread is stuck in the pan!
Ans: This is the most common issue! It means either the pan wasn’t greased well enough, or you let it cool for too long before flipping. If it’s stuck, try placing the pan (with the bread still in it) in a larger pan of hot water for a minute or two. This can help re-melt the caramel just enough to release it.
Q4. Why did my caramel sauce get grainy or separate?
Ans: This can happen if the heat is too high when you’re melting the butter and sugar. Keep it on a gentle medium-low heat and just warm it until the sugar dissolves into the butter. Avoid vigorous stirring, which can cause crystallization.
Wrapping Up
This Monkey Bread with Frozen Dinner Rolls isn’t just a recipe; it’s a solution. It’s the answer to creating a warm, comforting, and impressive breakfast without all the effort.
The combination of soft, pull-apart bread, a crunchy cinnamon-sugar coating, and that rich, buttery caramel sauce is truly hard to beat. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that will fill your home with the most incredible aroma.
So go ahead, give this recipe a try. I promise you’ll be amazed at how something so simple can be so incredibly delicious. When you make it, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a comment below and let me know how it turned out or if you added your own fun twist.