Chocolate Cinnamon Roll Rhodes Monkey Bread

Rhodes Monkey Bread

Yes, you could make this with their frozen rolls as well, but we think this is even better! Since there is already a bit of sweetness in these, there’s less to add on your end.

I am ALL about easy breakfast recipes here on The Typical Mom. Now that we have the timing and easy monkey bread base figured out, we can share it with y’all. From there you can tweak it and add your favorite flavors into the mix.

There are TONS of frozen cinnamon roll recipe ideas you can make I tell you. Whether you make it in to a traditional large bundt pan, or make our monkey bread muffins they are all fantastic treats.

Rhodes Rolls Monkey Bread Without Pudding

First things first, you’ll need 2 bags of these babies. Each one comes with 2 tubs of frosting each. I only needed 1 of the 4 total packets since I added chocolate to ours. I didn’t want to make it over the top puckeringly sweet.

• If you didn’t want such a large batch you could use just one.
• Cut the recipe in half and put it into a sprayed 8×8 pan.
• 18-20 minutes might do the trick, just allow to lightly brown on top.
• It would work just as well, but you’d need a smaller pan for sure.

Gooey Monkey Bread with Frozen Bread Dough

If you have their cookbook this brand does share their own version inside with directions. It calls for a box of pudding mix which most don’t have in their pantry (I didn’t either), so I tweaked it so that wasn’t needed here.

• The base is quite simple.
• You just need premade dough and a sugary melted butter sauce poured on top.
• Beyond that you can add all kinds of goodies.

Can you buy monkey bread?

Yes, we’ve done that. Before I made this, it was Fall and I came up with this killer pumpkin monkey bread. It took a bit of time so I went to looking in the store. I found one that was frozen in a box. You microwave it for a few minutes, flip it on to a plate and enjoy. THIS one is so much better though!

How to Make Chocolate Monkey Bread

I chose to add chocolate chips and cocoa powder this time. If you don’t want this version you can omit those items. You just sprinkle them in the bottom (which will become the top) to add. Want to incorporate fresh fruit instead? Use these rolls and follow our apple monkey bread recipe instead.

Rhodes Monkey Bread Recipe

Want a “plain” version? Just leave out the chocolate items and it will turn out just fine using the rest of the ingredients below and same directions.

• Either way you’ll need to quarter each semi defrosted roll and then roll it in a cinnamon sugar mixture.
• This will make sure that each bite is perfectly sweet.

This has more of a chocolate flare but you can change it up a number of different ways. If you want just the basic type you can omit those two ingredients all together. It won’t change the success of the overall dish at all, it will still be sticky and sweet like you want it to be. Just chop nuts and sprinkle in the bottom if you prefer.

Ingredients

1. Frozen Rhodes cinnamon rolls, frozen dinner rolls work too but it won’t be as sweet
2. Brown sugar will make it sweet
3. Sugar and cinnamon is the usual mix for this pull apart bread
4. Butter or dairy free vegan alternative works too
5. Cocoa powder to make it chocolate variety – optional
6. Chocolate chips are optional too
7. Bundt Pan sprayed with non stick spray

For reference you should start this 2 hours before you are ready to bake it. This is important in case you’re preparing a lot of things for Christmas morning.

It will need time to defrost and then rest / rise for an hour too. While you’re waiting, make a batch of our Instant Pot peanut clusters so you can have a dessert ready too.

Below is a quick step by step but there is a printable recipe card available tomorrow too. Lay frozen cinnamon rolls on parchment paper and defrost for 45 minutes, no longer.

How to Make Monkey Bread with Frozen Cinnamon Rolls

• Cut each roll into 4 equal pieces.
• On a shallow plate combine sugar, cocoa and cinnamon. Spray inside of bundt pan well with non stick spray. Sprinkle chocolate chips into bottom, spread out.
• Dip in melted butter and cinnamon sugar mixture next to coat.
• Put coated pieces into bottom of the pan so they’re evenly distributed. (if you want it really chocolatey add more chips in the middle layer when layering of the biscuits.)
• Melt butter with brown sugar, stir and pour on the top. Cover pan with plastic wrap and a towel. Put into a warm place (or close inside microwave but don’t turn on). Allow to rest for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove towel and plastic wrap. Put filled bundt pan on 2nd lowest rack in oven and bake for 40 minutes (until top pieces are no longer sticky, do not overbake)
• Remove and place on a cooling rack for 15 – 30 minutes, until you can touch sides of pan in order to flip it over.

Drizzle 1 frosting packet included in the Rhodes bag on top and enjoy! OR use a packet of ice cream caramel syrup if you want a different flavor profile.

Can you make monkey bread with frozen dough?

You could do the same thing with frozen rolls but those don’t have as much sweetness. The key is to defrost just enough so they aren’t rock hard, but tender enough to slice without sticking. Using a pizza cutter helps to get the cutting done quickly too.

How do you remove monkey bread from a bundt pan?

You do want to flip over when it is still a bit warm, and not room temperature. This will help it slide out easier. Make sure to leave it in the pan for at least 15 minutes though so it can continue to bake and solidify. I let it sit for about 20 min. and it worked great.

Using pot holders I flipped it on to a cutting board, tapped the bottom all around and it slid out well. I take the same steps when making a smaller savory version of our Rhodes rolls air fryer garlic rolls too!

If you are trying to prepare Christmas brunch items you may be able to prepare and leave in the fridge overnight. My fear is it may not rise properly unless you then put it into a warm place for a few hours. The pan and rolls would need to thaw and rest before baking.

How to Make Rhodes Monkey Bread Muffins

If you wanted to make these in a smaller form you can. Just follow the temp and timing for our apple monkey bread muffins here for that. Looking for more recipes using cinnamon and/or frozen dinner rolls?

Another smaller version that is fun during Spring time is making Easter egg bread with them this year too!

If you wanted to make this in a larger pan full for your family we have directions for that too. Using a 9×13″ rectangular pan, our cinnamon roll breakfast casserole is easy to throw together. A little bit like bread pudding, it’s a throw it all in and go type of treat. And for a savory idea, try our pull apart smoked bread recipe.