This Maple Bacon Monkey Bread is a fun and tasty treat! Soft, warm dough balls are lovingly coated in a sweet maple syrup and crispy bacon mixture, making each bite hard to resist.
It’s the perfect dish for breakfast or brunch, and who doesn’t love bacon? I could eat this while still in my pajamas—after all, it’s like having dessert for breakfast! 😄
Making this is super easy. Just mix, roll, and bake! It always smells amazing, and my family can’t get enough of it. Serve it with extra maple syrup for dipping, and you’re all set!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Biscuit Dough: Refrigerated buttermilk biscuits are a time-saver and give a fluffy texture. If you prefer, you can use homemade biscuit dough, or even frozen dough, but keep in mind the baking time may vary.
Sugar and Cinnamon: These are key for that classic flavor. You can swap out granulated sugar for brown sugar for a richer taste, or use cinnamon alternatives like pumpkin pie spice for a fun twist!
Bacon: Use your favorite type of bacon—thick-cut or turkey bacon works too. For a vegetarian option, consider using cooked and crumbled tempeh or vegan bacon.
Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup adds wonderful flavor. If you don’t have it, agave syrup, corn syrup, or even honey can be used, although these will alter the taste slightly.
Butter: Unsalted butter is the best for this recipe to control the salt levels. You can substitute it with margarine or a vegan butter if you’re looking to make it dairy-free.
How Do I Make Sure My Monkey Bread Is Fluffy?
Getting that irresistible fluffiness in monkey bread is all about the preparation and baking methods. Here are some tips:
- Use fresh biscuit dough for the best results. Don’t let it sit out too long before using it.
- Cut the dough into equal quarters to ensure even cooking. A sharp knife or pizza cutter works great!
- Coating the dough with bacon grease before rolling in cinnamon sugar adds flavor and helps with the baking process.
- This recipe benefits from layering. Distributing the bacon and dough pieces evenly in the pan helps them rise and cook well.
- Don’t skip the resting time in the pan after baking; this allows the bread to firm up a bit before flipping it out.
Maple Bacon Monkey Bread
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 2 (16.3 oz) cans refrigerated biscuit dough (buttermilk biscuits)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 8 slices bacon
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted
How Much Time Will You Need?
This delicious Maple Bacon Monkey Bread takes about 15 minutes of prep time and 35-40 minutes to bake. Be sure to give it an additional 10 minutes to cool before serving. In total, you’re looking at around 1 hour to delight your taste buds with this scrumptious dish!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat and Prepare:
First, you’ll want to preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it heats up, grab a bundt pan and grease it well with butter or non-stick spray to prevent sticking later on.
2. Cook the Bacon:
Next, cook the bacon slices in a skillet over medium heat until they are nice and crispy. Once done, take them out and place them on some paper towels to soak up any extra grease. Let them cool for a bit, and then crumble them into small pieces. Remember to save about 1 tablespoon of that yummy bacon grease for later!
3. Mix the Sugar and Cinnamon:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. This is what will give your monkey bread its sweet and spicy flavor!
4. Prepare the Biscuit Dough:
Cut each biscuit into quarters. Take each piece and dip it into the reserved bacon grease first, making sure it’s coated nicely. Then roll it in the cinnamon sugar mixture to make it sweet and flavorful.
5. Layer the Dough and Bacon:
Now it’s time to arrange the coated biscuit pieces in the prepared bundt pan. Layer them evenly, sprinkling the crumbled bacon pieces as you go along. Make sure to distribute the bacon throughout the monkey bread so every bite is delicious!
6. Make the Maple Mixture:
In another bowl, combine the melted butter and maple syrup. Mix it together well, then pour this sweet mixture over the layers of biscuit and bacon in the bundt pan.
7. Bake the Monkey Bread:
Pop your bundt pan into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. It’s done when the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. You’ll love the aroma wafting through your kitchen!
8. Cool and Invert:
Once baked, remove the bundt pan from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes. This resting time will help it set up a little. Then, carefully invert the bundt pan onto a serving plate to release the monkey bread.
9. Serve and Enjoy:
Serve warm, and if you’d like, drizzle extra maple syrup on the side for dipping. Your Maple Bacon Monkey Bread is now ready for everyone to enjoy!
Bon appétit! Your irresistibly sweet and savory Maple Bacon Monkey Bread is just waiting to be devoured!
Can I Use Frozen Biscuit Dough Instead?
Yes, you can use frozen biscuit dough! Just make sure to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before using so that it’s easy to cut and coat. Follow the same steps for coating and layering in the bundt pan.
What’s the Best Way to Store Leftovers?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply warm it in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes until heated through. You can also microwave individual pieces for about 30 seconds.
Can I Make This Recipe Ahead of Time?
Yes! You can prepare the monkey bread but don’t bake it right away. Cover it tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready, simply bake straight from the fridge, but add a few extra minutes to the baking time to ensure it’s cooked through.
How Can I Customize the Flavor?
Feel free to get creative! You can add nuts, such as chopped pecans or walnuts, to the layers for added crunch. For a chocolatey touch, sprinkle some mini chocolate chips in with the biscuit pieces. Adjust the spices by adding nutmeg or even vanilla extract to the butter and syrup mixture for a unique flavor twist!