Easy Air Fryer Monkey Bread (Pull Apart Bread)

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Air Fryer Monkey Bread is a delectably sticky and sweet sugar and cinnamon pull-apart bread that’s perfect for breakfast or dessert. No matter what time of day you make this, your family will thank you!

You’ll also love  Air Fryer Banana Bread, Air Fryer Donuts and Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls.

Suitable for vegetarian diets.

top down view of the completed air fryer monkey bread

Cinnamon roll lovers unite! This air fryer monkey bread is a riff on classic cinnamon rolls that’s fun to serve and tastes incredible. It’s easy to make and easy to prep ahead so you can enjoy a delicious breakfast treat. 

I bet you can’t think of a more pleasant way to start a Saturday morning than the smell of warm, yeasty bread, sugar, and cinnamon wafting through the air. And kiddoes totally feel the same way because the smell entices even the strongest daylight-objectors to the breakfast table.

Served with a steaming cup of Coffee or Hot Chocolate, this cinnamon pull-apart bread is the perfect breakfast treat or dessert, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or brunch treat. And if you love this you’ll want to check out my Air Fryer Apple Fritters.

the finished monkey bread served on a white cake stand

Why You’ll ♡ This

  • Easy to Make – This recipe is so easy to make you’ll want to make it every weekend.
  • Make Ahead – You can prep this right up to the point where you stick it in the air fryer, so it’s perfect for making ahead. 
  • Fun to Eat – Set this gorgeous pile of cinnamon sugar covered pastry onto a plate and watch everyone dig in. 
  • Versatile – Make this for breakfast or dessert. (Hint: Monkey bread is also really great served alongside a bowl of my Instant Pot Chili!)

Tools Needed 

the completed monkey bread recipe inside the air fryer basket

Ready to make this Monkey Bread? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…

How To Make Air Fryer Monkey Bread

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Combine milk, yeast, sugar, eggs, oil, and flour to make a shaggy dough.
  2. Knead for four minutes and let rise for 45 minutes. Divide into golf-ball sized pieces.
  3. Melt butter, cinnamon, and sugar in a bowl and then dip each piece of dough into the mixture.
  4. Place the dough balls into a small bundt pan and set in the air fryer.
  5. Cook at 350F / 180C for about 20 minutes. 
image collage showing the steps for making air fryer monkey bread

Bake This in the Oven

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F / 180C / gas mark 4.
  2. Combine milk, yeast, sugar, eggs, oil, and flour to make a shaggy dough.
  3. Knead for four minutes and let rise for 45 minutes. Divide into golf-ball sized pieces.
  4. Melt butter, cinnamon, and sugar in a bowl and dip pieces of dough into the mixture.
  5. Place the dough balls into a small bundt pan and put in the oven.
  6. Bake for about 35 minutes or until the top is golden and crispy. 
a close up view of the completed monkey bread served on a white plate

Pro Tips

  • Use a small round cake pan in place of a small bundt pan. Place a small ramekin in the middle to replicate the bundt shape. 
  • Don’t let this bread cool too long. Invert it onto a plate shortly after removing from the oven, or it will stick like nobody’s business!
  • Icing makes everything better. Top with icing made by combining one cup of powdered sugar with 1-2 tablespoons of milk and a splash of vanilla extract. Drizzle over the top before serving. 
  • Plan so you can serve monkey bread warm, even straight out of the oven. Its molten gooeyness will be divine!
one piece of monkey bread being pulled off of the finished recipe

Delicious Variations

  • Add nuts – Sprinkle chopped nuts (such as pecans or walnuts) into the bottom of the pan before adding the dough, then invert onto a plate before serving. 
  • Drizzle it – Drizzle the top of the bread with icing (see instructions in our Pro Tips section), caramel sauce, or even chocolate sauce. 
  • Add Bacon – YES! Bacon! Cook several slices of bacon, cool, and crumble. Add the bacon between the layers of dough balls.
  • Make it Fruity – Add chopped apples or raisins between dough layers for a fruity flavor and some added texture. 
top down view of the cooked monkey bread inside the air fryer basket

Make ahead and storage

  • Make Ahead – You can prep the entire recipe in advance and set in the fridge covered in plastic wrap for up to three days. When ready to cook, remove the pan from the refrigerator about 30 minutes beforehand. You may need to adjust the time on your air fryer to account for the cold dough. Check it about every 6 minutes. 
  • Store – If you don’t add icing, leftovers can be covered tightly and stored at room temperature for a day or two. If you add icing, it’s best to keep these in the fridge so the milk doesn’t sour. To reheat, place into a 250F oven for 5-10 minutes. 
  • Freeze – It’s best to freeze Cinnamon Monkey Bread after it has been cooked. Allow it to cool completely, then wrap with plastic wrap and foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and bake in a 250F / 121C oven for 5-10 minutes or until heated through and gooey. 

FAQs

I Don’t Have Time To Make Dough From Scratch. Is There A Shortcut?

Homemade dough is always the best, in my opinion, but there is a handy shortcut. Purchase canned biscuits, open and slice each biscuit into 4 sections. Roll and coat with cinnamon sugar and complete the recipe as directed. 

What’s the Best Way To Serve This As A Dessert?

Monkey bread makes a great self-serve dessert. If you prefer, pull off several pieces and serve them in a small dish topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

the finished pull apart bread served on a white cake stand

More Air Fryer Recipes You May Like

Serving Suggestions

Thank you for reading my pull apart bread recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

a graphic of an air fryer cooking bundle

Get The Monkey Bread Recipe:

Don’t forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try Air Fryer Monkey Bread! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I’d love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.

top down view of the completed air fryer monkey bread
Print Recipe
4.80 from 5 votes

Air Fryer Monkey Bread

A great breakfast or dessert for the whole family
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Western
Servings: 6
Calories: 852kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup (300ml) milk warm
  • 3 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • cup (80ml) oil
  • 5 cups (625g) flour
  • ½ cup (113g) butter melted
  • 1 cup (200g) sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions

  • Add milk, yeast and sugar to a mixing bowl, stirring to combine.
  • Next, add the eggs, oil and flour. Combine until you have a shaggy dough. On a floured surface, knead for 4 minutes until the dough is soft and elastic.
  • Place dough back in the mixing bowl and cover with a cloth. Let it rise for 45 minutes, then divide into golf-ball sized pieces.
  • In a small bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Then dip each dough ball into the mixture.
  • Place dough balls in a small bundt pan or a round cake pan with a ramekin in the middle.
  • Put in the air fryer and cook at 350F / 180C for approximately 20 minutes.
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Notes

  • Use a small round cake pan in place of a small bundt pan. Place a small ramekin in the middle to replicate the bundt shape. 
  • Don’t let this bread cool too long. Invert it onto a plate shortly after removing from the oven, or it will stick like nobody’s business!
  • Icing makes everything better. Top with icing made by combining one cup of powdered sugar with 1-2 tablespoons of milk and a splash of vanilla extract. Drizzle over the top before serving. 
  • Plan so you can serve monkey bread warm, even straight out of the oven. Its molten gooeyness will be divine!

Nutrition

Calories: 852kcal | Carbohydrates: 125g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 183mg | Potassium: 256mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 42g | Vitamin A: 634IU | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 5mg

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6 Comments

  1. 4 stars
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  2. 5 stars
    Pretty sure I’m getting an air fryer for Christmas, so this will be one of the first things I make!!

  3. 5 stars
    I have never thought about making bread in my air fryer. What a brilliant (and tasty) idea.

    1. Amazing recipe!! Filled the whole house with a yummy cinnamon aroma. Easy. Simple. Delicious. What more needs to be said?

  4. 5 stars
    I love easy recipes like this. I didn’t even know that I could make monkey bread in an air fryer!