Monkey Bread with Cream Cheese Filling

This monkey bread with cream cheese hides a creamy surprise inside each piece of sticky cinnamon-sugar biscuit dough. Refrigerated biscuits keep the prep simple, so the extra effort goes into stuffing the pieces with cream cheese. Like my no yeast cinnamon rolls, this gives you a special breakfast without waiting for dough to rise.

It’s no secret that we’re sweets lovers in this house, although Dan usually lets the rest of us lead the way. My teenage boys go NUTS over this bread! I created it by combining two of my favorite foods, and serving it to unsuspecting people is still my favorite part. They think they’re getting “just” monkey bread, then discover what’s tucked inside.

An indulgent breakfast like this is welcome on occasion, whether it’s a holiday, a leisurely weekend or a weekday that deserves a little something special.

Why This Recipe Works

• The surprise is inside. Each piece of biscuit dough holds a cube of cream cheese. Watching someone discover the filling is almost as fun as eating it yourself.
• The biscuit shortcut keeps it approachable. There’s no dough to mix or knead and no rising time to plan around. Your prep time goes toward filling and assembling the pieces.
• Cream cheese adds balance to the sweetness. Its tanginess pairs so well with the buttery coating, dark brown sugar and cinnamon. You still get all the indulgence of monkey bread, with a creamy center in each bite.
• It’s made for sharing. Turn this stuffed monkey bread onto a platter and let everyone pull off a piece. It’s a fun addition to a holiday brunch or a weekend breakfast with my sweets-loving boys.

Recipe Ingredients

You only need six ingredients to make this monkey bread with cream cheese filling.

• Refrigerated flaky buttermilk biscuits: These are the shortcut that makes this recipe so approachable. I love the flaky buttermilk variety, but another refrigerated biscuit variety can work, too. You’ll need 24 ounces total; check the package weight since tube sizes vary.
• Cream cheese: Use an 8-ounce block, cut into 20 evenly sized cubes. I recommend full-fat cream cheese for a rich, creamy filling. Choose block cream cheese rather than the spreadable kind sold in a tub.
• Dark brown sugar: Adds a deeper molasses flavor to the buttery coating. Light brown sugar works if that’s what you have.
• Granulated sugar: Combines with the brown sugar and cinnamon to sweeten the layers of biscuit dough.
• Cinnamon: A full tablespoon brings that familiar cinnamon-sugar flavor to every layer.
• Butter: I use salted butter here because I love a little salt with all that sweetness. Melt it before assembling so you can pour it evenly over the layers.

How to Make Monkey Bread with Cream Cheese

How to Make Monkey Bread Without a Bundt Pan

No Bundt pan? Use a 9×13-inch baking dish. You’ll get a flatter version of this cream cheese monkey bread, with the same cinnamon-sugar coating and creamy filling.

Grease the dish well and spread the filled dough pieces evenly across the pan, distributing the cinnamon-sugar mixture and melted butter throughout. Bake at 350°F, beginning to check for doneness around 30 minutes. The dough should be golden brown and cooked through, especially in the center.

Serve directly from the baking dish rather than turning it onto a platter.

A one-piece tube pan is another option. Avoid an angel food cake pan with a removable bottom unless it’s leakproof, since the melted butter and sugar can escape through the seam.

Recipe Notes

• Use the biscuit weight, not just the tube count. Package sizes vary, so you’ll need 24 ounces of refrigerated biscuit dough total, divided into 20 pieces.
• Grease all the grooves. Coat the Bundt pan thoroughly, including around the center tube, to help the sticky coating release.
• The dough doesn’t need to seal completely. Leave the top of each cream cheese cube exposed, as shown in the process photos. Place the first layer cheese side up and the second layer cheese side down.
• Check the biscuit dough, not the filling. The cream cheese should remain soft and creamy. The dough surrounding it should be fully baked, with no raw spots.

Monkey Bread Variations

The cream cheese filling is already a fun surprise, but here are a few ways to add something extra.

• Add some crunch. Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts between the two layers of filled biscuit dough.
• Make it chocolatey. Scatter a handful of chocolate chips between the layers before baking.
• Finish with icing. Drizzle a simple powdered sugar icing over the warm bread just before serving. It’s already sweet, so a little goes a long way!
• Add cream cheese frosting. For an optional topping, beat together 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of softened butter, ½ cup powdered sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Spread or drizzle over the warm monkey bread, adding a splash of milk if you prefer a thinner icing. With cream cheese inside and on top, this is an extra-indulgent variation!

FAQ About Monkey Bread

What is monkey bread?

Monkey bread is a pull-apart bread made from small pieces of dough baked together with butter, sugar and usually cinnamon. This version uses refrigerated biscuits with cream cheese tucked inside each piece.

How do you know when monkey bread is done?

The exposed biscuit dough should be golden brown, but check the interior, too. Gently pull apart a piece near the center of the pan. The dough should be baked through with no raw, doughy spots. The cream cheese filling will stay soft, so check the surrounding biscuit dough.

Does monkey bread with cream cheese need to be refrigerated?

Yes. Because this monkey bread contains cream cheese filling, store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Refrigerate within 2 hours of baking. In my house, the bigger challenge is having any leftovers!

Can you freeze monkey bread with cream cheese?

Yes! Let it cool completely, then wrap tightly and place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months for the best quality. You can freeze the whole bread or individual portions. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How do you reheat monkey bread?

Place the monkey bread in an oven-safe dish and loosely cover with foil. Warm at 250°F until heated through, starting to check smaller portions after about 10 minutes. A larger portion will take longer.

For a quick individual serving, microwave in 15-second intervals until the biscuit dough and cream cheese center are warm.

What to Serve With Monkey Bread

When this monkey bread is the sweet centerpiece of breakfast, I like to keep the rest of the meal simple. Scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage and fresh fruit round out the table.

For brunch, pair it with broccoli and eggs and a homemade vanilla iced latte.

More Sweet Breakfast Recipes

If your house is full of sweets lovers like mine, here are a few more breakfast treats to try!

• Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
• No Yeast Cinnamon Rolls
• Apple Coffee Cake
• Banana Crumb Muffins

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