A warm serving of apple monkey bread topped with icing, sitting on a white plate over a blue checkered tablecloth.
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Easy Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread Everyone Will Love

Byshharding

Got extra apples from the garden? This apple monkey bread, made with convenient Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, bakes into individual portions of warm, gooey apples, soft cinnamon roll chunks, and sweet brown sugar sauce—topped with icing. It’s a quick, crowd-pleasing recipe that makes your fresh apples the star of a cozy treat. And the best part? It’s so simple that you’ll feel like a baking pro in no time.

Pinterest pin of a close-up of apple monkey bread with icing drizzled on top, with a red apple and cinnamon sticks in the background.

There’s something about the smell of apples and cinnamon baking that instantly makes the house feel warm and cozy. I made this apple monkey bread on a whim one chilly afternoon when I had a couple of garden apples to use up and a can of cinnamon rolls in the fridge. It came out even better than I hoped—sweet, gooey, and just the right size for sharing (or not!).

It’s a simple way to turn your homegrown fruit into something sweet and special—no fussing with pastry dough required. This recipe has become one of our go-to treats for making the most of apple season. And the best part? You can get creative with it, adding your own twists and flavors to make it uniquely yours.

Ingredients Needed

Ingredients for apple monkey bread are arranged on a white marble surface.

To make this easy apple monkey bread, you’ll need:

  • Refrigerated cinnamon roll dough (like Pillsbury Grands)
  • A large fresh apple, peeled and chopped
  • Brown sugar
  • Butter
  • Vanilla extract
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Icing (comes with the cinnamon rolls)

That’s it—just a few simple ingredients for a warm, gooey fall treat!

We used a mini bundt cake pan with 6 cavities, but a regular muffin pan works just as well if that’s what you have on hand.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Red and yellow apples partially sliced on a wooden cutting board with a serrated knife, flour scattered on the light countertop.

Peel and chop your apple: Grab a nice firm apple from your garden (or the fruit bowl) and peel it. Then chop it into small chunks—nothing fancy, just bite-sized pieces that will soften up nicely in the sauce.

Time to warm things up—your kitchen is about to smell amazing.

A saucepan filled with chopped apples simmering in a thick brown sugar and cinnamon sauce, sitting on a white marble surface.

Make the apple filling: In a small saucepan, toss in your chopped apples, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Simmer everything over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes or until your apples are soft and swimming in a thick, caramel-like sauce. Try not to eat it straight from the pan (we know it’s tempting).

Prep the cinnamon rolls:Open your can of cinnamon rolls and set the icing aside—we’ll need it later for that sweet magic. Cut each roll into bite-sized pieces. They don’t need to be perfect—this is monkey bread, not rocket science.

Mini bundt pan filled with raw apple monkey bread mixture—chopped cinnamon roll dough and apple filling layered in each cavity, ready for baking.

Layer the goodness :Grease the mini bundt pan, if that’s what you’ve got). Drop half the dough pieces into each well. Spoon a generous amount of the apple mixture onto the plate. Then top with the remaining dough and another spoonful of the glorious brown sugar sauce.

Two baked apple monkey breads placed on a decorative white and gold plate, without icing.

Bake to golden perfection: Pop the pan into the oven and bake for 16–20 minutes or until the tops are golden and your house smells like fall. Let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes before gently loosening the edges and removing the mini monkey bread.

A warm serving of apple monkey bread topped with icing, sitting on a white plate over a blue checkered tablecloth.

Add the finishing touch: Drizzle the icing over each warm little bundle of joy. Serve immediately and watch them disappear.

Pinterest pin of Glazed Apple Monkey Bread served on a white plate with text. Text overlay reads: Easy Apple Fritter Monkey Bread

Tips For Making Apple Monkey Bread

  • Catch drips—save your oven! Bake your pan on a sheet tray or place another pan below in the oven to catch any bubbling sugar that might overflow.
  • Grease generously. Whether you’re using a mini bundt or muffin pan, coat it well with non-stick spray or shortening. It helps the gooey bread come out cleanly.
  • Dice the apples into small pieces: Cutting the apples into bite-sized pieces ensures they soften fully and are evenly distributed throughout every pull-apart cluster.
  • Use fresh or premade dough.
  • Canned cinnamon roll dough is a great shortcut, but homemade dough is just as good if you have time to make it.
  • Customize with mix-ins: Want more texture? Stir in chopped nuts or raisins into the sauce before baking.
Pinterest pin of glazed apple monkey bread with icing dripping down the sides. Text overlay reads: Easy Apple Fritter Monkey Bread.

These little tweaks will help your apple monkey bread come out gooey, easy to remove, and irresistibly delicious. Ready to bake?

Apple monkey bread is served on a white plate, accompanied by a glass bottle of milk in the background.

This apple monkey bread is a cozy, no-fuss treat that’s perfect for using up your garden apples. With gooey cinnamon apples, buttery dough, and a sweet drizzle of icing, it’s a recipe the whole family will ask for again and again. Whether you’re baking for a fall gathering or just craving something warm and comforting, this simple dessert hits the spot. Be sure to download the recipe and pin this post so you can easily find it next time apple season rolls around!

Apple monkey bread served on a white plate with icing drizzled on top.

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread

Our easy apple monkey bread combines chopped apples, gooey cinnamon roll dough, and a rich brown sugar sauce to create individual pull-apart treats. It’s the perfect way to turn fresh apples into a cozy, dessert.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 436
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls
  • 1 Large Apple peeled and chopped
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. Butter
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Equipment

  • Peeler
  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Saucepan
  • Spoon or spatula
  • Mini bundt pan (6-cavity) or muffin pan

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Simmer apples, butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla on the stovetop over medium-low heat for 10 minutes or until the apples are soft and the sauce has thickened.
  3. Open the can of cinnamon rolls and set aside the icing for later. Cut each cinnamon roll into small pieces.
  4. In a mini bundt pan, divide half of the cinnamon roll dough between the six wells, and top with a generous spoonful of apples and brown sugar sauce.
  5. Place the remaining half of the cinnamon roll dough pieces on top of the apples and top with another spoonful of brown sugar sauce.
  6. Bake for 16-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
  7. Allow the monkey bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then run a knife around the edges to loosen them from the pan. Carefully remove the monkey bread from the pan and place them on a serving platter or individual plates.
  8. Drizzle the icing over each of the monkey breads and serve warm.
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With over 50 years of hands-on gardening experience and a background in plant biology, ecology, and botany, I bring both practical know-how and scientific insight to every post. I've spent decades nurturing gardens, always striving to work in harmony with nature, not against it. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned grower, I'm here to offer real-world advice, time-tested tips, and inspiration to help your garden thrive.