Monkey Bread Muffins… quite possibly the best thing I’ve ever eaten!

Published February 9, 2012. Updated January 5, 2024

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Breakfast or dessert, you need to make these soft, delicious Monkey Bread Muffins! These fluffy, cinnamon-sugar-coated biscuit-like muffins are finished with a sweet vanilla glaze that you’ll want to lick off the plate. I promise it’s one of the tastiest muffin recipes you’ll ever eat!

These muffins are quite possibly the best thing I’ve ever eaten! I love sitting down with a warm Monkey Bread Muffin when I need a moment to pause life. You’ll want to take in everything this muffin has to offer as you pull apart one of its delicate, tender, fluffy, buttery, crystallized sugar-and-cinnamon-coated pieces and gently bite into it. While luxurious, Monkey Bread Muffins are also super kid-friendly. Kids LOVE pulling each little bite from the muffin and popping them into their mouths!

I created these muffins because I was craving Monkey Bread and didn’t have the traditional bundt pan.  I know many monkey bread recipes use store-bought biscuit dough, but I wanted these to be from scratch—isn’t everything that much better when it’s made from scratch?  For the dough base, I started a very similar dough to the one I used for my 15 Minute Donuts from Scratch and I think it’s perfect. You can always use canned dough in a pinch (it’s always useful to keep some in the fridge!).

I won’t lie, when I first pulled these out of the oven the presentation wasn’t what I was looking for.  For me, presentation is an important part of good food, so I thought “hmm what can I do to make them pretty?  Ah, yes indeed, glaze!”  It adds a delicate touch to these delightful muffins.  Enjoy, try not to eat the whole pan at once, because warm Monkey Bread Muffins are heavenly.

Pro Tip: don’t wash your muffin pan until you’ve eaten all those delicious cinnamon sugar chips off of it, yum!

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5 from 2 votes

Monkey Bread Muffins

Soft, cinnamon sugar coated biscuit-like muffins finished with a sweet vanilla glaze! One of the tastiest muffin recipes you'll ever eat!
Servings: 12
Prep30 minutes
Cook18 minutes
Ready in: 48 minutes

Ingredients

Glaze

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a muffin tin, set aside. In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, 3 Tbsp granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Pour buttermilk, 1/3 cup milk and melted butter into flour mixture. Stir with a fork or clean hands just until mixture comes together (don't overmix, key to fluffy muffins).
  • Pour 1/2 cup granulated sugar into a medium container that has a lid to cover. Scoop dough out 1 even teaspoon at a time and drop into container in an even layer, working in batches (I fit 18 dough balls in at a time). Then cover container with a lid and shake to coat. Drop 6 sugar coated dough balls into each muffin cup. Repeat this process until all muffin cups are filled.
  • Whisk together 6 Tbsp melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until well combine. Pour about 1 scant Tbsp brown sugar mixture evenly over each muffin. Place muffin tin on a cookie sheet and Bake 18-19 minutes until golden. Allow to cool 5 minutes in muffin tin before removing muffins (I lifted mine out with a fork).
  • In a mixing bowl whisk together powdered sugar and 1 Tbsp milk until well blended. Pour mixture into a piping bag or ziploc bag, snip a small tip off the end of the bag and drizzle glaze over each muffin.

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47 Comments

  • Jaclyn

    Jessica – I think you could easily make these with the refrigerated biscuits from the grocery store. I’ve seen many recipes that do so. You simply dice the dough into pieces then toss in them in sugar then pour over the melted butter cinnamon sugar mixture as directed. I have to be honest though, I’ve never bought the refrigerated biscuits so if they aren’t moist enough for the sugar to stick you may want to dip them in a little melted butter before shaking them in the granulated sugar. Hope that helps =). I may have to try that method myself when I want a quicker version.

  • Jaclyn

    Melissa – I love the re-post and I love your blog! You really have done a great job! Thanks so much for your comment! Have a great day!

  • Melissa @ Bless This Mess

    Jaclyn- I made these and they are SO good. I even took some pictures and posted the recipe too with a shout-out for your blog (because it’s great!) Thanks for the great ideas. Those cookie bars are next on my list, but I’m nervous I’ll love them and eat them all!

  • Amalia

    I don’t know why I haven’t made monkey bread yet, seriously, what’s wrong with me?? These look so amazing! I love the little size, that means no sharing :) I love that you made homemade dough from scratch, it makes everything better!

  • Tina

    I know how big the standard monkey bread can be and it is way too much for my small family! The smaller muffins, however, are perfect. I am sure they have the same delicious cinnamony flavor and fluffy texture that their larger cousin does-yum! Your pictures sure do tempt.