This Caramel Apple Monkey Bread is a warm, gooey treat perfect for any occasion. It’s packed with delicious apple bits and drizzled with sweet caramel—what’s not to love?
Making this fun dessert is as easy as pulling apart the dough. I like to serve it fresh from the oven, and trust me, it will disappear quickly! 🍏🍮
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Biscuit Dough: Use refrigerated dairy-free biscuit dough for ease. If you prefer, you can make your own with dairy-free flour, almond milk, and baking powder. This way, you control the ingredients and ensure they’re fresh!
Apples: Granny Smith apples are tart and hold their shape well during baking, making them ideal here. If you want something sweeter, try Honeycrisp or Fuji apples instead—they’ll create a different but lovely flavor.
Coconut Oil: I recommend coconut oil for its rich flavor and moisture. If you don’t have any, you can use vegetable oil or a dairy-free butter substitute. Just make sure it’s melted before mixing!
Coconut Milk: Full-fat coconut milk adds creaminess to the caramel sauce, but you can swap it for almond milk or oat milk if you prefer a lighter sauce. Just ensure you’re using a creamy version for the best results!
How Do I Get the Perfect Caramel Sauce?
The caramel sauce is what takes this monkey bread to the next level, and making it is pretty simple! It’s essential to stir constantly to prevent burning. Here’s how to do it:
- Combine brown sugar, dairy-free butter, and coconut milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat slightly and keep stirring for 3-4 minutes. This helps it thicken!
- Remove from heat and add vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. This will enhance the sweetness and cut through the richness.
Letting it cool slightly will thicken it further, ensuring it drizzles nicely over your monkey bread!
Caramel Apple Monkey Bread (Dairy-Free)
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Monkey Bread:
- 2 cans refrigerated biscuit dough (choose dairy-free variety or use homemade dairy-free biscuit dough)
- 2 large apples (preferably Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup coconut oil or dairy-free margarine, melted
For the Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup dairy-free butter substitute (coconut oil or plant-based butter)
- 1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk or other dairy-free cream alternative
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
How Much Time Will You Need?
This delightful recipe takes about 20 minutes of prep time and about 40 minutes of baking time. Total, you’ll need around 1 hour to prepare and enjoy this delicious dessert hot from the oven!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat and Prepare Your Pan:
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Greasing a bundt pan or another loaf pan with coconut oil or a dairy-free butter substitute ensures your monkey bread will come out easily later. Grease it well!
2. Mix the Cinnamon Sugar:
In a medium bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. This will add that classic cozy flavor to your monkey bread.
3. Prepare the Biscuit Dough:
Cut the biscuit dough into halves or thirds so you have bite-sized pieces. Little hands (and mouths) will love this part!
4. Coat the Biscuit Pieces:
Dip each piece of biscuit dough into the melted coconut oil. Then roll it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until it’s well coated. Set aside the coated pieces on a plate or cutting board.
5. Toss in Some Flavor:
Lightly toss the chopped apples in a little bit of the leftover cinnamon-sugar mixture to give them extra flavor. This will make sure every bite is yummy!
6. Layer the Monkey Bread:
To start assembling, place half of the coated biscuit pieces evenly in the prepared pan. Follow this by scattering half of the chopped apples on top of the dough. Repeat this layering with the rest of the biscuit pieces and apples.
7. Make the Caramel Sauce:
In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together the brown sugar, dairy-free butter substitute, and coconut milk. Stir constantly until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat slightly and continue stirring for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens a bit.
8. Add Flavor to the Caramel:
Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. This will really enhance the flavor of your caramel!
9. Pour the Caramel Over:
Carefully pour the caramel sauce evenly over the assembled monkey bread in the pan. Make sure it drizzles down to coat the dough and apples.
10. Bake It Up:
Pop your pan into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. You want the monkey bread to be golden brown and fully cooked through. If you notice the top browning too quickly, just cover it loosely with foil.
11. Cooling Time:
After baking, take the pan out of the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes. This is important so it doesn’t fall apart when you flip it!
12. Serve and Enjoy:
Carefully invert the monkey bread onto a serving plate. You’ll have a gorgeous, sticky, and gooey dessert right before your eyes! Serve it warm and encourage everyone to pull apart those delightful cinnamon-coated pieces. Yum!
This dairy-free Caramel Apple Monkey Bread is a perfect treat for brunch or dessert gatherings. Enjoy the sweet flavors and gooey texture—you’ll be glad you tried it! 🍏🍮
Can I Use Gluten-Free Biscuit Dough?
Absolutely! If you need a gluten-free option, look for dairy-free gluten-free biscuit dough at the store or make your own using a gluten-free flour blend. Just be sure to follow the baking instructions specific to that flour for the best results!
How Do I Store Leftover Monkey Bread?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you want to keep it longer, refrigerate for up to a week. Just reheat in the microwave or oven to warm it up and bring back some of that gooey goodness!
Can I Add Other Fruits?
Yes! Feel free to mix in other fruits like pears, blueberries, or even nuts for added texture and flavor. Just remember to adjust the quantities based on how fruity you want it to be!
What Can I Use Instead of Coconut Milk?
If you don’t have coconut milk on hand, you can substitute it with almond milk, oat milk, or another dairy-free cream alternative. Just make sure it has a creamy consistency to achieve that rich caramel sauce!
