How Do You Make Cookie Butter Monkey Bread with Canned Biscuits?
Cut refrigerated biscuits into pieces, coat them in cinnamon sugar, layer them in a greased bundt pan, pour a warm cookie-butter glaze over the top, and bake until golden and caramelized. Flip the pan onto a plate and serve warm for a gooey, pull-apart breakfast thatโs perfect for Christmas morning.
This shortcut recipe uses store-bought biscuit dough, which eliminates yeast, proofing, and complicated steps. The result is a soft, sticky, bakery-style monkey bread with rich speculoos flavor and caramelized edges.
Below youโll find everything you need to make the best cookie butter monkey bread with canned biscuits, plus pro tips, make-ahead instructions, and flavor variations.

Why Cookie Butter Makes Monkey Bread Better
Cookie butter (often sold as speculoos spread) adds something traditional monkey bread doesnโt have: deep spiced caramel flavor.
What Cookie Butter Adds
โข Warm cinnamon and ginger notes
โข Rich caramelized sweetness
โข Smooth texture that melts into glaze
Unlike plain sugar syrups, cookie butter creates thicker caramel pockets between layers of dough.
Flavor Comparison
| Ingredient | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|
| Traditional monkey bread glaze | Buttery caramel |
| Cookie butter glaze | Spiced caramel with cookie flavor |
This simple addition turns a classic breakfast into a holiday dessert-style treat.
Why Canned Biscuits Make This Recipe Foolproof
Traditional monkey bread recipes require yeast dough, which means:
โข mixing dough
โข proofing time
โข kneading
โข shaping
Using canned biscuit dough eliminates all of that.
Benefits of Biscuit Dough
โข Consistent results every time
โข Perfect fluffy interior
โข Faster prep time
โข Beginner-friendly
Most grocery store biscuit doughs are designed to bake evenly in small pieces, making them ideal for pull-apart breads.
Ingredients Youโll Need
This recipe uses simple grocery store ingredients.
Main Ingredients
โข 3 cans (16.3 oz each) refrigerated biscuit dough
โข 1 cup cane sugar
โข 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
โข 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter
โข ยฝ cup cookie butter spread
โข ยผ cup brown sugar
Optional Add-Ins
โข chopped pecans
โข cream cheese glaze
โข vanilla extract
โข sea salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven and Pan
Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC).
Grease a bundt pan thoroughly with butter or baking spray.
Why this matters:
Monkey bread contains a sticky glaze that can stick easily without proper greasing.
2. Cut the Biscuit Dough
Open the biscuit cans and cut each biscuit into four pieces.
You should end up with about 96 small dough pieces.
Small pieces allow the bread to bake evenly and create the signature pull-apart texture.
3. Coat with Cinnamon Sugar
In a large bowl, combine:
โข 1 cup sugar
โข 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Add biscuit pieces and toss until evenly coated.
Pro tip:
For easy coating, place biscuit pieces and sugar mixture in a large zip bag and shake.
4. Layer the Dough in the Bundt Pan
Add the coated dough pieces to the greased bundt pan.
Spread them evenly.
Optional step:
Sprinkle chopped pecans between layers for crunch.
5. Make the Cookie Butter Glaze
In a saucepan over medium heat:
- Melt 2 sticks butter
- Stir in ยฝ cup cookie butter
- Add ยผ cup brown sugar
- Stir until smooth
The mixture should look like thick caramel sauce.
6. Pour the Glaze
Pour the warm glaze evenly over the dough pieces.
Try to coat as much of the dough as possible.
This glaze will melt down during baking and form gooey caramel pockets.
7. Bake the Monkey Bread
Bake for 40โ45 minutes.
The top should be:
โข golden brown
โข crispy at the edges
โข bubbling slightly
If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
8. Cool and Flip
Let the bread rest 5โ10 minutes.
Place a serving plate over the pan and carefully flip it over.
The caramel glaze will drip down the sides and coat the bread.
Serve warm for the best texture.
Tips for Perfect Pull-Apart Texture
Monkey bread can sometimes turn out dense or soggy. These tips prevent that.
Use Small Dough Pieces
Large chunks wonโt cook through.
Quartering biscuits ensures even baking.
Donโt Skip the Cooling Time
Letting the bread rest briefly helps the glaze thicken slightly.
If flipped too early, the glaze runs off.
Grease the Pan Generously
Sticky caramel glaze will cling to dry surfaces.
Use:
โข butter
โข baking spray
โข or shortening
Bake Until the Center Is Done
Insert a skewer into the middle.
It should come out mostly clean with caramel residue only.
Make-Ahead Christmas Morning Instructions
Holiday mornings are busy, so preparing the night before helps.
Overnight Prep Method
- Prepare the biscuit pieces and coat them with sugar.
- Place them in the bundt pan.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate overnight.
The next morning:
- Prepare the glaze
- Pour it over the dough
- Bake as directed
This method keeps the dough fresh and fluffy.
Delicious Flavor Variations
Once you master the base recipe, try these upgrades.
Cream Cheese Glaze Version
Whisk together:
โข 4 oz cream cheese
โข 1 cup powdered sugar
โข 2 tablespoons milk
โข ยฝ teaspoon vanilla
Drizzle over warm monkey bread.
This adds a cinnamon roll-style frosting.
Pecan Cookie Butter Monkey Bread
Add 1 cup chopped pecans between dough layers.
The nuts toast while baking and create a praline-like flavor.
Salted Caramel Version
Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top after flipping the bread.
Sweet + salty makes the cookie butter flavor even richer.
Ingredient Swaps
Sometimes you need substitutions.
Biscuit Dough Alternatives
โข crescent roll dough
โข pizza dough
โข homemade biscuit dough
Sugar Alternatives
โข coconut sugar
โข maple sugar
โข light brown sugar
Butter Replacement
If needed:
โข vegan butter works well
โข coconut oil can be used but changes flavor slightly
Serving Ideas
Monkey bread works as both breakfast and dessert.
Popular serving ideas:
โข Christmas morning breakfast
โข holiday brunch centerpiece
โข after-dinner dessert
โข potluck dessert
Serve with:
โข coffee
โข hot cocoa
โข eggnog
Storage and Reheating
How to Store
Keep leftovers in an airtight container.
Room temperature: 1โ2 days
Refrigerator: up to 5 days
How to Reheat
Best reheating method:
Microwave a portion for 20โ30 seconds.
This melts the glaze again and restores the soft texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cookie butter?
Cookie butter is a spread made from crushed spiced cookies blended with sugar and oil.
It tastes similar to:
โข gingerbread
โข caramelized cookies
โข cinnamon graham crackers
Popular brands include speculoos spreads sold at many grocery stores.
Can monkey bread be frozen?
Yes.
Wrap portions tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.
Why is my monkey bread doughy inside?
Common causes include:
โข dough pieces too large
โข oven temperature too low
โข baking time too short
Always check the center with a skewer.
Can I make monkey bread without a bundt pan?
Yes.
You can use:
โข a tube pan
โข a loaf pan
โข a 9ร13 baking dish
The texture may be slightly different, but the flavor will be the same.
Can I use fewer biscuit cans?
Yes.
Two cans will make a smaller loaf, but reduce glaze slightly so it doesnโt become overly wet.
Key Takeaways
Cookie butter monkey bread with canned biscuits is one of the easiest holiday recipes you can make.
What makes it great:
โข simple ingredients
โข beginner-friendly technique
โข rich caramel cookie flavor
โข perfect for Christmas morning
By combining refrigerated biscuit dough and cookie butter glaze, you get a bakery-style pull-apart bread without complicated baking steps.
Make it once and it will quickly become a holiday tradition in your kitchen.



