These Pull-Apart Cinnamon Rolls are a fantastic hack that gives you tasty cinnamon pull aparts to enjoy whenever you want. I love enjoying a few pieces warm with a hot cup of coffee. If you love sweet breakfast items, you should keep this recipe in your back pocket for the best quick cinnamon rolls ever!
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If you have ever had monkey bread with Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, you know how delish this is! I love this recipe as a way to use up extra refrigerator biscuits. We have extra cans often, and I like to whip these up in a pinch for the whole family to enjoy. This recipe is similar to monkey bread made with Pillsbury cinnamon rolls!
If you like shortcut cinnamon roll recipes, you will love Canned Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream and Blueberries and Pie Crust Cinnamon Rolls.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s easy to make: I love how easy it is to make this pull-apart cinnamon roll recipe. You take simple refrigerated biscuits and jazz them up to make a deliciously sweet treat.
- It’s inexpensive: It’s cheap to make, too! It utilizes premade biscuits, which are very affordable, and pantry staples like cinnamon and brown sugar that most people keep stocked.
- It takes 30 minutes to bake: These cinnamon rolls only take 30 minutes in the oven to reach perfection. Prep is pretty quick, too. It goes to show that it doesn’t always take hours to make something yummy.
Cinnamon Pull-Aparts Ingredients
You’ll need easy, minimal ingredients to make these. They are like a copycat Cinnabon pull-apart cinnamon roll recipe.
- Refrigerated biscuits: You may use any brand and variety of canned refrigerated biscuits you want. I love making this cinnamon pull-apart bread with Pillsbury biscuits. They remain perfectly soft!
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar is a key ingredient to help you achieve caramel pull-apart cinnamon bread. It caramelizes as it bakes, creating a light, sugary coating on the bottom of the rolls. It adds the perfect texture and notes of caramel and molasses.
- Cinnamon: You can’t have cinnamon rolls without cinnamon! It’s a simple warm spice that adds sweetness to the biscuits.
- Butter: This helps the cinnamon sugar mixture coat each piece of biscuit and stick so you get enough flavor and texture in every bite. I prefer unsalted butter for this recipe and that you allow it to cool slightly after you melt it.
- Powdered sugar: This is the best sweetener for simple icing. I use it to make a sweet glaze to drizzle on top of the finished cinnamon roll pull-apart bread.
- Milk: I combine this with powdered sugar to make the glaze. Add more or less depending on the consistency you’re looking for.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Blueberries: Scatter blueberries throughout the pull-apart cinnamon rolls for a sweet and tart berry flavor.
- Chocolate: Stir cocoa powder into the sugar glaze for a rich and chocolatey version.
- Maple bacon: Add chopped pieces of cooked bacon throughout the monkey bread and then finish it with maple syrup before serving for a savory twist.
How to Make Cinnamon Pull Aparts
To get started, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and generously grease the bundt pan. I also recommend cutting each biscuit into quarters, too.
Step 1: Make the cinnamon mixture. Combine the cinnamon and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Then, melt the butter in a separate bowl.
Step 2: Coat the biscuit pieces. Take each piece and gently roll it into a ball. Next, coat it in melted butter and the cinnamon mixture. Place it into the prepared pan and repeat the process.
Step 3: Bake and flip. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top browns and the edges are caramelized. After 5 minutes, flip it over onto a platter.
Step 4: Add the icing. While the monkey bread is cooling, combine the powdered sugar and milk. Place it in a piping bag to decorate or drizzle on top with a spoon. Enjoy warm or room temperature!
Recipe Tips
- Generously grease the pan: These pull apart cinnamon rolls tend to stick to the pan. Be very generous with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Even parchment paper would be helpful if you cut it and put it on the bottom.
- Use flaky biscuits: For less dense biscuits, use the flaky layer variety. They are much more soft and remain flaky as they bake.
- Stagger the biscuit dough: When adding the dough to the pan, stagger it as much as possible to ensure they all fit and stick well.
If you love recipes like these easy cinnamon rolls, you may also enjoy these Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze it for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: These are best reheated in a 350° F oven for about 5 minutes. The microwave will work in a pinch, but don’t heat them for longer than 1 minute or they will start to dry out.
- Make Ahead: You may prepare the cinnamon pull apart bread up to 24 hours in advance and store them tightly covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it.
Serving Suggestions
- Try serving these alongside a tasty savory breakfast item like sausage egg bites or salmon quiche.
- You can’t go wrong with bacon! Enjoy a couple of slices of toaster oven bacon with some cinnamon pull aparts.
- This cinnamon roll monkey bread recipe would be amazing with air fried apples on top.
- A breakfast shot is a lovely citrusy accompaniment for the adults!
Recipe FAQs
Sure! Place a couple of pieces into each muffin cup and bake for 15-20 minutes to start.
Of course. It’s totally optional but worth it!
If you overbake the monkey bread, it can become quite dry. This also happens if you don’t fully coat each piece in melted butter. Be generous!
More Delicious Cinnamon Recipes
Do you like the flavor of cinnamon? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Recipe Video
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Caramel Pull-Apart Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- bundt pan
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 tubes refrigerated biscuits quartered
Brown Sugar Coating
- 1 ⅔ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered or icing sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Dip paper towel in melted butter and grease your pan. Set aside.
- In a small bowl combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Place melted butter in second bowl. Set aside.
- Open tube and place biscuits on your work surface. Cut biscuits into quarters. Roll each dough piece into a ball. Working one at a time, dip balls in melted butter, allowing excess butter to drip back into bowl. Roll in brown sugar mixture. Gently place dipped balls in even layers into your prepared pan.
- Bake until the top is dark brown and caramel begins to bubble around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then turn out on platter and allow to cool slightly, about 5 more minutes.
- While bread cools, whisk powdered or icing sugar and milk in small bowl until all of the lumps are gone. Using a spatula scrape all of the icing into a resealable bag. Press icing into one corner as best you can. Cut tip off the corner of the bag. Press and squeeze icing all over your cinnamon balls to decorate,. Serve warm and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Place any extra cinnamon rolls in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Try making this recipe with a muffin tin for a fun twist and easily separated portions.
- Be careful not to overbake the pull-apart. This can cause them to burn or become very dry.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in September 2017. It's been updated with new content and images.
Amanda says
Love desserts like this. Easy and delicious. Thank you for sharing this we will be making it for years to come. 😊😍
Karin and Ken says
You just made my day. All the best. Karin
Kay says
OMG. This is crazy good I’ve made it 3 times this week alone. Total family favorite. TFS
Karin and Ken says
I’m glad to hear it. All the best. Karin