Recipe Background
Cinnamon Apple Monkey Bread weaves cinnamon, apples, and dough into a warm, shareable treat perfect for gatherings.
Cinnamon Apple Monkey Bread is like gathering a group of friends around a crackling autumn fire. The aroma of cinnamon mingling with buttery sweetness fills the air as the bread bakes, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Biting into a piece, you’ll find tender chunks of apple tucked in between fluffy layers of dough, offering a comforting contrast of textures—softness from the apples and a satisfying chew from the dough. It’s a treat best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, while the glaze drips elegantly down the golden mounds.
Assembling this dish is a tactile delight. Rolling the biscuit pieces in cinnamon sugar gives each layer a caramelized edge that deepens in flavor when baked. A key tip is to layer the apples and dough pieces loosely in the pan, allowing room for the buttery caramel to sneak through, enriching every bite and ensuring the bread pulls apart effortlessly. The alchemy of ingredients makes for a sweet, slightly tangy taste that’s perfect for sharing with family or friends.
Each slice of this monkey bread shares a story, making it not just a dish, but an experience. The combination of cinnamon, vanilla, and apples evokes nostalgia and joy, reminding us of simpler days. Whether it’s part of a holiday breakfast or an afternoon treat, your kitchen becomes the heart of conversation, with everyone reaching for one more piece, because somehow, one is never enough.
Ingredients
For the apple filling:
- 3 apples peeled, cored, and diced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
For the monkey bread:
- 3 (8-ounce) tubes refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a Bundt™ pan with butter or cooking spray.
- In a bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice to prevent browning, and sprinkle them with 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar.
- In a sauté pan, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat.
- Add the apples to the butter and sauté until soft, about 7-10 minutes. Cool slightly.
- Open the biscuit tubes and cut each of the biscuits into 4 bite-sized pieces.
- In a small bowl, combine 1 cup of the granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons of the cinnamon.
- Gently drop the dough pieces into the bowl and cover them with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Alternate layering the diced apple and the dough bites in the prepared pan.
- In a small saucepan, add 1 cup of the unsalted butter, 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture from the dough. Stir the mixture gently and bring it to a boil. Once the sugar is dissolved, drizzle the sauce over the prepared pan.
- Bake until the bread is golden brown, about 30-35 minutes.
- Allow the bread to rest for about 5 minutes, then invert onto a large plate.
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, the milk, and the vanilla together to make the glaze.
- Drizzle the bread with the glaze and serve warm.
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