Bananas Foster Monkey Bread is a fun treat that combines soft, gooey bread with sweet banana flavor and a touch of cinnamon. It’s so easy to pull apart and enjoy!
Honestly, who can resist a dessert that’s both playful and delicious? I love serving it warm with a scoop of ice cream on top—talk about a perfect dessert moment! 🍌🍞
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Biscuit Dough: Using refrigerated biscuit dough makes this recipe super simple. If you want a homemade touch, you can use your own biscuit dough or even puff pastry, but that will change the texture.
Bananas: Ripe bananas provide the best sweetness and flavor. If your bananas aren’t ripe, you can bake them in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes to speed up the ripening process!
Dark Rum: This ingredient gives a classic touch to the dish. If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, simply omit it or use a bit of vanilla extract for flavor instead.
Banana Liqueur: This is optional, but it enhances the banana flavor. If you don’t have it, you can replace it with orange juice or just increase the vanilla extract a little.
How Do You Make Sure Your Monkey Bread is Perfectly Gooey?
The key to getting that delicious gooeyness is in the sauce. Make sure you melt the butter and gradually stir in the sugars over medium heat. Keep mixing until it’s bubbling and smooth—this will create a rich caramel-like sauce!
- Don’t rush the melting process; it ensures an even texture.
- Pour the hot sauce evenly over the biscuit pieces so every bite gets that yummy flavor.
Bananas Foster Monkey Bread
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Monkey Bread:
- 3 cans refrigerated biscuit dough (about 8 oz each)
- 3 ripe bananas, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
For the Sweet Sauce:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 1/4 cup dark rum (optional, for authentic Bananas Foster flavor)
- 1/4 cup banana liqueur (optional, enhances banana flavor)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
How Much Time Will You Need?
This delicious dessert will take about 15 minutes of prep time, followed by 35-40 minutes in the oven. Allow for an extra 10 minutes of cooling before serving. You’ll be enjoying this delightful, gooey treat in just under an hour!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Prepping the Pan:
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven is warming up, take a bundt pan and lightly grease it with butter or a non-stick spray. This will help your monkey bread come out easily later on!
2. Preparing the Biscuit Dough:
Open the cans of refrigerated biscuit dough and cut each biscuit into quarters. You can use kitchen scissors or a knife—just make sure each piece is about the same size to ensure even baking.
3. Mixing the Sugar and Cinnamon:
In a large mixing bowl, combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Mix them well together. This will give each bite of the monkey bread that sweet, cinnamon flavor!
4. Coating the Dough:
Take the quartered biscuit pieces and toss them into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Make sure every piece is coated nicely for that extra sweetness.
5. Layering the Ingredients:
Now, it’s time to assemble! Layer half of the coated biscuit pieces into the bundt pan. Add a layer of sliced bananas on top of the biscuit layer. Then sprinkle the remaining biscuit pieces on top and finish with another layer of banana slices. Yum!
6. Making the Sweet Sauce:
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Once melted, stir in the brown sugar, optional dark rum, banana liqueur (if using), vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Stir continuously for about 3-4 minutes, until the mixture is bubbling and smooth—this will be the caramel sauce!
7. Pouring the Sauce:
Carefully pour the hot sauce evenly over the layered biscuit and banana pieces in the bundt pan. It’s going to soak into the bread as it bakes, creating that gooey goodness!
8. Baking Time:
Place your bundt pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. Keep an eye on it; you want it to be golden brown and fully cooked through.
9. Cooling and Inverting:
After baking, remove the monkey bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 5-10 minutes. When ready, place a serving plate on top of the bundt pan and carefully invert it. The monkey bread should slide right out, and the delicious sauce will drizzle over the top!
10. Time to Serve:
Enjoy this delightful Bananas Foster Monkey Bread warm, pulling apart the gooey, caramelized pieces. It’s perfect as a fun dessert or brunch treat!
This dessert combines the delightful flavors of classic Bananas Foster into a fun, shareable monkey bread that everyone will love. Enjoy making and devouring this sweet treat!
Can I Use Whole Bananas Instead of Sliced for This Recipe?
While you can technically use whole bananas, slicing them into rounds allows for even distribution throughout the monkey bread and better caramelization. It’s recommended to stick with the sliced bananas for the best texture and flavor!
What Should I Do If I Don’t Have Bundt Pan?
No bundt pan? No problem! You can use a standard round cake pan or a loaf pan instead. Just make sure to adjust the baking time, as it may take a bit longer in a deeper pan—check for doneness with a toothpick!
Can I Make this Monkey Bread in Advance?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough and layer it in the bundt pan, then cover it and refrigerate it overnight. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before pouring the sauce and baking!
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To reheat, just pop individual pieces in the microwave for a few seconds—warm monkey bread is always a treat!
