Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Easy cinnamon roll monkey bread recipe with cherries is the perfect treat for breakfast or dessert in a bundt cake. With just 2 ingredients, you can make this easy monkey bread at home!

Monkey Bread with Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

I love Rhodes frozen cinnamon rolls because you can make all the things with them beyond just baking on a sheet pan. Once thawed you can slice into bite size pieces and use our recipe below to make “plain” or fancy like we show you here.

I got this idea after buying something similar at Schatt’s Bakery in Bishop, Ca. If you have ever driven to Mammoth you MUST stop here and get some treats. It is a small but very popular bakery at the bottom of the mountain that has treats and a deli too.

Ingredients

1. You’ll use just 2 cans of refrigerated cinnamon rolls, not Grands but the normal sizes, or thaw about 18 frozen rolls and use those
2. 1 can cherry pie filling – or other flavor can be used to fold inside and on top
3. Cream cheese should be room temperature so it is easier to blend
4. A tub of regular sized marshmallow creme

Variations and Substitutions

It is easiest to use just the rolls of refrigerated sweet biscuit dough but you could defrost frozen dough balls and make this as a version of Rhodes monkey bread as well. That will take more time just to get them to soften and get to the right texture to cut into smaller pieces but will work great as well.

Pie filling is what we used to add “fruit” into the mix. You could make homemade if you wanted and had the time to do so. I typically just buy a can ready made though. Apple, mixed berry or as one of our Blueberry Canned Pie Filling Recipes works too.

Bundt cake pan is what I used, cooks better in this vs. a square pan. Powdered sugar could be dusted over the top at the end but not necessary, it is definitely sweet enough as is.

How to Make 2 Ingredient Monkey Bread

• First cut each cinnamon roll into about 4 pcs, put into a small bowl.
• Add can of fruit pie filling into a large bowl then combine with cut cinnamon rolls inside
• Very gently stir together.
• Spray inside of your bundt pan with non stick spray, or brush with melted butter. Spoon mixture into your pan. Make sure it is even all the way around so it cooks evenly.
• Bake in your preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and insides are no longer sticky.
• Allow to continue to cook in the pan and cool for at least 5-10 minutes before flipping bundt oven on to a large serving platter.

Frosting

On a low setting mix together your sugar and cream cheese at room temperature together with a tub of marshmallow creme. Squeeze icing on the top using a pastry bag or spoon on each serving when served. The combination of the pie filling and cream cheese will make it just amazing.

Isn’t it pretty! Slides right out of your bundt pan once it has a few minutes to settle after being pulled out of the oven and you can either make this easy 2 ingredient cheesecake frosting or just use the frosting that comes with the cinnamon rolls and squeeze that right on!

Can you bake monkey bread in a muffin tin?

Yes!! It is so fun too and takes a fraction of the time to bake. Just spoon into a sprayed pan, scoop out when done and frost before serving. If you wanted to make monkey bread muffins use this timing instead of the one below.

Can you bake monkey bread in a 9×13 pan?

You could, follow our cinnamon roll breakfast casserole in that case. Just keep a close eye on it near the end so it doesn’t get too brown. Once the center no longer looks wet and it is lightly golden on the top stick a toothpick in the middle to make sure the biscuits are no longer sticky.

I made something similar years ago using some of the same ingredients when I made these cherry cheesecake egg rolls. They were so good I thought of it again but with a different twist.

Unlike a traditional style where you roll each cut piece of biscuit in a bowl of sugar and cinnamon, it isn’t necessary with this one. We have a printable recipe at the bottom of this post but here is a quick step by step to peek at first:

How to Save Leftovers

If you do have leftovers they save well if done so properly. You want to avoid air getting into contact with the outsides as that will dry it out. Put into a freezer bag and suck all the air out instead. Put into the fridge and it is best if eaten within 24 hours and warmed up in the microwave for a bit.

• Use the same can to make our cherry pie filling dump cake too
• Pumpkin monkey bread is amazing especially during the Fall seasons.
• Instant Pot monkey bread is possible y’all….you should try it!

If you’re a cheesecake fan you’ll also love this Instant Pot cheesecake recipe. There’s a video in this post showing you how to make our cherry cheesecake monkey bread using refrigerated cinnamon rolls.