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    You are here: Home / Breakfast / Homemade Monkey Bread from Scratch

    Homemade Monkey Bread from Scratch

    Published: February 2, 2020. Last Updated: November 21, 2022 by: Ginny McMeans

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    Close-Up of one breakfast roll broken off a loaf on a white plates with text above for pinning.

    Homemade Monkey Bread has bran cereal, dates and pecans with a drizzling of maple syrup all over the top. So friggin' good. This makes it the best breakfast recipe and its monkey bread from scratch in a bundt pan.

    Close-Up of one breakfast roll broken off a loaf on a white plates.



     
    Homemade Monkey Bread is made in a bundt pan so that it is even prettier. And ... how can food be so entertaining. Even the name is fun.

    Picking off one of those yummy little rolls with the anticipation of taking a sweet bite is wonderful. There is bran cereal, dates and pecans with a drizzling of maple syrup all over the top.

    A 6-cup bundt pan is used instead of one of the large cake pans. There are narrow ones and wide ones. The photos below used the taller narrow one.

    Either shape, the monkey bread is just as delicious and just as pretty.

    I suppose you could call this breakfast monkey bread because it would go so well with your morning drink and it's healthy but it would be great as a snack too.

    It's healthier because flaxseed meal is used as an egg substitute so that also makes it vegan. The sweetener is coconut sugar instead of refined sugar too.

    The maple syrup soaks in the top so that adds even a little bit of extra sweetness.

    Close-up of two rolls broken open and showing the inside and outside of the baked goods.

    📋 Monkey bread ingredients

    • Bran cereal - buds/crumbles - adds so much nutrition and texture to the bread.
    • Boiling water - is necessary for warming the yeast.
    • Dairy-free butter - adds richness and moisture to the baked goods.
    • Whole wheat flour - is the flour of choice for this healthy monkey bread from scratch.
    • Yeast - makes the bread rise.
    • Coconut sugar - adds just the right sweetness and depth of flavor.
    • Salt - is just a little bit of seasoning that rounds out the mix.
    • Flaxseed meal - is mixed with water and is the egg substitute.
    • Dates - are another texture that also totes a lot of sweetness.
    • Pecans - adds protein and just a little bit of crunch.
    • Maple Syrup - is the added topping for the finishing touch.

     

    A Baked Monkey Bread before it has been broken into with a flowered cloth behind.

    💭 Baker's Tips

    • Have a candy thermometer on hand. Grease a 6 Cup Bundt Pan.
    • Mix the flax seed meal and water and set aside so that it can gel a bit.
    • Boil the water and add the bran and mix. Set aside to let it settle to 125 degrees to 130 degrees.
    • In a large bowl mix 2 cups of the flour with the yeast, sugar and salt. Mix in the warm bran and water mixture.
    • Add the dates and enough flour to make a soft dough. You will probably use all the flour. Don't worry if you don't.
    • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough until smooth and elastic.
    • Add a little bit of flour as you roll and knead if it is sticky.
    • You will see some date pieces all over the dough and that is fine.
    First two process photos of ingredients in a mixing bowl and then of the dough being divided.

    • Make a ball with the dough, cover with a clean dish towel and let rest 10 minutes.
    • Divide the dough in half and then half again. Make 5 balls out of each of the 4 divisions so that you have 20 balls.
    • Dip each ball in the melted butter and place in the bundt pan. Place each ball around the bottom layer.
    Second two process photos of dough balls and then rolling the balls in melted butter.
    • Sprinkle half of the chopped pecans on the balls.
    • Deliberately build the next layer around the edge of the pan. This will keep the shape of the bundt pan.
    • Sprinkle the rest of the pecans.
    Third two process photos showiong the building of the homemade monkey bread in the bundt pan.
    • Cover the pan with a clean dishcloth and let rise in a warm area for 60 minutes. It will rise to fill the pan. Bake at 375° for 35 to 40 minutes.
    • Remove from the oven and slowly pour the maple syrup all over the cake while it is still in the pan. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes. The syrup soaks in./li>
    • Remove from pan and let cool completely on the wire rack. You can pour more maple syrup over the top of the Monkey Bread but it is not necessary. It all depends on your sweet tooth.

    🥞 Breakfast Recipes

    • You can make your own date sweetener breakfast with this Simple Homemade Granola Cereal recipe.
    • Apple Turnovers with Puff Pastry and Cranberries is a really nice fruity breakfast treat.
    • A really easy breakfast that's hot and ready is this Slow Cooker Irish Oatmeal. 
    Close-Up of one breakfast roll broken off a loaf on a white plates with text above for pinning.

    🍞 Can You Freeze Monkey Bread

    • Yes! Almost all baked goods freeze really well. It does keep in the fridge for about 5 days though.
    • If you choose to freeze the monkey bread then make sure it's in an airtight freezer container or you can use freezer bags. I still double bag baked goods.
    Three rolls of monkey bread broken off on a bread and butter plate.

    If you take a photo of your fresh-baked monkey bread I would love to see it. Follow me over on Instagram and tag me on your photo @vegan_in_the_freezer.

    Your opinion means a lot to me and if you'd like to leave a comment and possibly a star rating I'd love to hear your thoughts.

    Three rolls of monkey bread broken off on a bread and butter plate.

    Homemade Monkey Bread

    Ginny McMeans
    Homemade Monkey Bread has bran cereal, dates and pecans with a drizzling of maple syrup all over the top. So friggin' good.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Save Saved
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine Quick Bread, Vegan
    Servings 20 Rolls
    Calories 205 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup bran cereal - buds/crumbles
    • 1 cup boiling water
    • ½ cup dairy-free butter, melted
    • 3 ½ cup whole wheat flour
    • 4 ½ teaspoons baking yeast - 2 packages
    • 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal mixed with 4 tablespoons water
    • 1 cup dates, chopped small
    • 1 cup pecans, chopped
    • ½ cup maple syrup

    Instructions
     

    • Have a candy thermometer on hand. Oil a 6 Cup bundt pan.
    • Mix the flaxseed meal and water and set aside so that it can gel a bit.
    • Boil the water and add the bran and mix. Set aside to let it settle to 125 degrees to 130 degrees.
    • In a large bowl mix 2 cups of the flour with the yeast, sugar and salt. Mix in the warm bran and water mixture.
    • Add the dates and enough flour to make a soft dough. You will probably use all the flour. Don't worry if you don't.
    • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough until smooth and elastic.
    • Add a little bit of flour as you roll and knead if it is sticky. You will see some date pieces all over the dough and that is fine.
    • Make a ball with the dough, cover with a clean dish towel and let rest 10 minutes.
    • Divide the dough in half and then half again. Make 5 balls out of each of the 4 divisions so that you have 20 balls.
    • Dip each ball in the melted butter and place in the bundt pan. Place each ball around the bottom layer.
    • Sprinkle half of the chopped pecans on the balls. Deliberately build the next layer around the edge of the pan. This will keep the shape of the bundt pan.
    • Sprinkle the rest of the pecans. Cover the pan with a clean dish cloth and let rise in a warm area for 60 minutes.
    • Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
    • Remove from the oven and slowly pour the maple syrup all over the cake while it is still in the pan. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes.
    • Remove from pan and let cool completely on the wire rack. You can pour more maple syrup over the top of the Monkey Bread but it is not necessary. It all depends on your sweet tooth. The syrup soaks in.

    Notes

    You can freeze this vegan monkey bread.
    Almost all baked goods freeze really well. It does keep in the fridge for about 5 days though.
    If you choose to freeze the monkey bread then make sure it's in an airtight freezer container or you can use freezer bags. I still double bag baked goods.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2RollsCalories: 205kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 5gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 166mgPotassium: 225mgFiber: 5gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 275IUVitamin C: 0.7mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1.6mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Catherine Brown

      August 28, 2018 at 5:41 am

      5 stars
      Mmmmm, love these ingredients! Kudos on the bran cereal in there too! Do you use the flakes or the crumbles? And of course dates are fabulous!

    2. Anvita

      August 28, 2018 at 7:15 am

      I like the list of ingredients in this bread. Will try it sometime. Makes a perfect breakfast.

    3. Ginny McMeans

      August 28, 2018 at 9:28 am

      I use the crumbles/buds Catherine. I'm so glad you love the recipe!

    4. Suee33

      August 14, 2019 at 7:55 am

      Sorry can you share a brand of Crumbles /buds????

    5. Ginny McMeans

      August 14, 2019 at 9:00 am

      No problem Suee33. Kellogg's All Bran Buds or Nature's Path organic Smart Bran are both pretty easy to find.

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    For years I dabbled in cooking vegan food, but since I became a mom it has become more important for me than ever. What I’m after is a great collection of healthy and not time-consuming vegan recipes that make the whole family look forward to meals together.

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