This Crockpot monkey bread with cinnamon rolls recipe is the perfect for dessert or breakfast! Made with cherry pie filling you can now prep this in just 5 minutes. Or make as a frozen bread dough recipe if you don’t have a roll of Pillsbury.
Cinnamon roll monkey bread in a slow cooker made with 3 ingredients is so yummy. Add canned apple pie filling if you’d rather for an easy Crockpot recipe you’ll love for a morning treat! One of our favorite dessert recipes that never lasts long in this house! 😉
I mean you can make our easy monkey bread in the oven BUT if you have never tried “baking” in your slow cooker you are in for a real treat. You can use biscuits to make this baby too but these are sweeter.
Crockpot Monkey Bread with Frozen Cinnamon Rolls?
The first few times I used those rolls in the refrigerated sections but then I went into my freezer. I had a few bags of the frozen cinnamon rolls so I attempted to make this with those. With 45 minutes of defrosting I was able to slice into fourths and follow this same recipe from there and it was a success too!!
Ingredient Notes
You will want to start out with 2 packages or rolls of refrigerated cinnamon rolls. If using frozen rolls you would want about 16 since those are smaller and would need to be slightly defrosted so they can be sliced. Biscuits work but aren’t as sweet
1/2 cup of Vanilla frosting is optional to add to the top when done. Cooking spray is helpful inside your slow cooker insert for cleanup purposes.
Monkey Bread with Fruit
Then you will gently fold together with your can of pie filling. I pay no mind to the brand, even store brand works, or use our homemade pressure cooker apple pie filling
If you wanted to use canned fruit you would have to go another route. I’d opt for our Crockpot Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix in that regard which works well with just the juices in the can vs. the ooey gooey sauce that this provides.
Variations
You can of course use any type of pie filling you want to and the cook time and directions won’t change. You do need the goo in the can to add to the necessary liquid in order for it to bake. If you wanted to make our chocolate monkey bread I would suggest baking instead, not with this method.
How Long do you Cook Monkey Bread in Slow Cooker?
2-3 hours depending on whether you set it to high or low is about right. Remember that the center will be more sticky and wet than the outsides that will be stiffer. If you place a few paper towels under the lid the top will brown a lot more if you prefer that.
Best if served immediately, just scoop out on to a plate and you can pick it apart easily with your fingers since it’s cinnamon roll monkey bread. To make an monkey bread in the oven, follow these directions instead. Our apple monkey bread is amazing too.
Tips
If you’re making it for dessert just pop it in just before you are beginning to cook dinner and since it only takes 2-3 hrs cook time it will be ready when you’re done. Make sure you spray the inside with non stick spray so it slides out, if not it will be hard to get off. I feel it turns out better on low vs. if you cook on high.
You can add vanilla or cream cheese frosting to the top if you want or just eat as is and it’s a sweet treat that is inexpensive to make and you can change it up with different flavors. Sprinkle the top with a cinnamon sugar mixture to make it taste like a sweet french toast bake.
This is the perfect holiday breakfast or brunch option. In this post there is a video showing you how we make it but you can also bake a version of this cinnamon roll breakfast casserole in the oven too.
I love an easy Christmas morning breakfast recipe. We usually make this easy crockpot breakfast casserole too and since I have several slow cookers I can make both. Then we are set for not only the morning but into the early afternoon if someone gets a little hungry later.
Crockpot Monkey Bread Recipe
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
- 1 knife
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 pkg. cinnamon rolls, refrigerated in cans, or 18 frozen and defrosted for 45 minutes before slicing
- 1 can pie filling, any flavor
- 1 cup vanilla frosting
Instructions
- Spray the inside of your crockpot with non stick spray (I used my 6 qt)
- Cut 1 pkg. of your cinnamon rolls into 6 pcs. each roll and lay them flat on the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Pour your can of pie filling on top of that layer, spread out evenly.
- Cut the last pkg. of your cinnamon rolls into 6 pcs. each cinnamon roll and spread evenly on top of your pie filling.
- Pour the 2 containers of frosting that came in your cinnamon roll tubes on top of your top layer of cinn. roll pcs.
- Close your lid and cook for 2 hrs on high or 3 hrs on low or until the middle pcs are no longer sticky (outside pcs will be more done than the middle, low setting is better).
- Scoop out on to plates and serve with drizzle of frosting if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Cherry is a wonderful fruit choice as you can see but apple is amazing! That is also yummy with a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top. We’ve made this in muffin tins too which is fun and easy to pick up.
If you don’t have a few hours to make this just use our monkey bread muffins recipe and get the same taste in just 20 minutes! Serve with a large roll of paper towels since they’re sticky.
If you do have leftovers you can keep it in a sealed container once it has cooled. Keep on the countertop, doesn’t need to be refrigerated, and will harden if you put it into the fridge. Wonderful easy dessert recipe, or treat yourself at breakfast. Below is the printable recipe to follow including nutritional information.
I’ve never made Monkey bread before. Was easy.
This was such an easy and delicious recipe that does not disappoint! Cooking this in the crockpot is the way to go; easily, a new favorite recipe!
It’s made effortlessly in the crockpot, allowing you to enjoy the heavenly aroma as it cooks. Thank you for sharing, will definitely try this
This recipe is great! Soft, yet chewy and sweet – it’s one of our favorite desserts!
Sorry, I just reread the recipe, and you did mention a 6 quart size. I must have missed that.
Jeanne
You probably need to specify the size of crock pot to use. I have several crock pots, and I tried the recipe with one that was too small. The bottom was hard and burnt, and the top was gooey and under-cooked.
I have an oval medium sized crock pot that I will use the next time. 🙂 Jeanne