Incredible Savory Monkey Bread Recipe
Introduction
Incredible Savory Monkey Bread is a delightful twist on the classic sweet treat, featuring tender buttermilk biscuits coated in garlic butter and a variety of savory herbs and cheeses. This pull-apart bread is perfect for sharing at gatherings or as a flavorful appetizer that everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 2 cans (16 oz. each, 8-count) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
- ½ cup salted butter, melted
- 3 garlic cloves, very finely minced
- Fresh chopped parsley (about ½ cup)
- Chopped pine nuts (about ½ cup)
- Dried cranberries, chopped (about ½ cup)
- Fresh black pepper, to taste
- Poppy seeds (about ½ cup)
- Shredded cheddar cheese (about ½ cup)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (about ½ cup)
- Paprika, to taste
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Generously grease a 9- or 10-inch Bundt pan with butter to ensure the monkey bread develops a nice golden color and extra flavor.
- Step 2: Place your herbs, nuts, dried cranberries, spices, and cheeses into small bowls for dipping. Use about ½ cup of each ingredient or adjust according to your preference.
- Step 3: Stir the minced garlic into the melted butter. Cut each biscuit in half and roll each piece into a small ball. Complete this before dipping to avoid greasy hands which can cause the dough balls to break apart.
- Step 4: Dip each biscuit ball into the garlic butter mixture, allowing some garlic to stick. Roll each ball in your chosen herb, cheese, and spice combinations. Arrange the coated biscuit balls in the Bundt pan, alternating the coatings for a colorful, flavorful mix.
- Step 5: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the biscuits are cooked through and the top is golden. About 25 minutes into baking, cover the top loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
- Step 6: Let the monkey bread cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Run a thin, soft spatula around the edges to loosen any stuck cheese. Invert the bread onto a plate, then flip it onto a serving platter to reveal the beautiful golden top.
Tips & Variations
- You can prepare the monkey bread a day in advance by assembling it in the Bundt pan, covering tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerating. Bring to room temperature while the oven preheats before baking.
- Feel free to swap the herbs and cheeses to suit your taste or theme. For a Tex Mex flair, add taco seasoning and red pepper flakes to the cheese. For an Italian twist, try fresh or dried basil and oregano.
- Any refrigerated dough totaling 32 ounces, such as flaky dinner rolls, can be used in place of buttermilk biscuits.
Storage
Store leftover savory monkey bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes to regain its crispy exterior and warm, melty cheese filling.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use frozen biscuit dough for this recipe?
Frozen biscuit dough can work if fully thawed according to package instructions before use. Make sure the total dough weight is about 32 ounces to maintain the right bread size and texture.
How do I prevent the bread from getting too brown on top?
Cover the monkey bread loosely with aluminum foil about 25 minutes into baking. This shields it from direct heat and prevents over-browning while allowing the inside to cook fully.
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Incredible Savory Monkey Bread Recipe
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
Description
This Incredible Savory Monkey Bread recipe transforms refrigerated buttermilk biscuits into a flavorful, cheesy, and herb-infused pull-apart bread. Perfect for gatherings or as a snack, it features garlic butter-coated biscuit balls rolled in a variety of cheeses, nuts, herbs, and seasonings, baked until golden and irresistible.
Ingredients
Scale
Biscuit Dough
- 2 cans (16 oz. each) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (8-count each, total 32 biscuits)
Butter and Garlic
- ½ cup salted butter, melted
- 3 garlic cloves, very finely minced
Coatings and Seasonings
- Fresh chopped parsley (about ½ cup)
- Chopped pine nuts (about ½ cup)
- Dried cranberries, chopped (about ½ cup)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- Poppy seeds (about ½ cup)
- Shredded cheddar cheese (about ½ cup)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (about ½ cup)
- Paprika (to taste)
Optional Variations
- Taco seasoning blended with shredded cheese and red pepper flakes for Tex Mex flavor
- Fresh or dried basil and oregano for Italian flavor
Instructions
- Prepare Pan and Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease a 9- or 10-inch Bundt pan with butter to ensure the bread browns beautifully and gains extra flavor. Using a dark non-stick Bundt pan works best as it promotes even cooking.
- Organize Coatings: Place your chosen herbs, cheeses, and seasonings into small separate bowls, approximately ½ cup of each. This setup makes dipping and rolling biscuit balls easier and keeps flavors distinct.
- Mix Garlic Butter: Stir the finely minced garlic cloves into the melted butter thoroughly. This mixture will coat each biscuit ball, infusing them with a rich garlic flavor.
- Form Biscuit Balls: Cut each biscuit in half and roll each half into a smooth ball. Complete all the biscuit balls before dipping them in butter to avoid greasy hands that could cause the dough balls to fall apart.
- Coat Biscuit Balls: Dip each biscuit ball into the garlic butter mixture, making sure some garlic sticks to the surface. Then, roll each ball in your desired herb, cheese, and seasoning mixture. Arrange the coated biscuit balls in the Bundt pan, alternating coatings to distribute flavors evenly.
- Bake the Monkey Bread: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the biscuit dough is fully cooked and the top is golden brown. To prevent excessive browning, cover loosely with aluminum foil after about 25 minutes.
- Cool and Release: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes after baking. Use a thin, soft rubber spatula to gently loosen any stuck cheese around the edges. Then invert the bread onto a serving plate, flipping carefully to keep the shape intact.
- Advance Preparation Tip: You can assemble the monkey bread up to a day before baking. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Remove it from the fridge while the oven preheats before baking as directed.
- Ingredient Flexibility: Feel free to substitute the buttermilk biscuits with any refrigerated dough, such as flaky roll varieties, provided the total dough weight is around 32 ounces to maintain the right texture and volume.
Notes
- Generously greasing the Bundt pan with butter helps create a golden crust and prevents sticking.
- Be careful not to handle biscuit dough with greasy hands to prevent balls from falling apart.
- Aluminum foil should be tented over the bread near the end of baking to avoid over-browning.
- Customize with your favorite cheeses, nuts, and herbs to match any meal theme, such as Tex Mex or Italian flavors.
- This bread is best served warm and fresh for maximum pull-apart enjoyment.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: savory monkey bread, garlic bread, pull-apart bread, cheesy bread, biscuit bread, party appetizer, bundt bread
