Sweet Sticky Pull-Apart Bread (Printable Version)

Tender dough balls coated in cinnamon sugar and butter baked to perfection in a bundt pan.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2¼ teaspoons instant dry yeast
03 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon salt
05 - ¾ cup warm milk
06 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs

→ Coating

08 - 1 cup granulated sugar
09 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
10 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

→ Optional Glaze

11 - 1 cup powdered sugar
12 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
13 - ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

# Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add warm milk, melted butter, and eggs. Mix until a soft dough forms and knead for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
02 - Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm environment until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
03 - In a small bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, keep melted butter ready for dipping.
04 - Deflate the dough and divide it into 40 pieces, about 0.7 ounces each. Roll each piece into a smooth ball.
05 - Dip each ball into melted butter, then roll thoroughly in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Layer coated balls evenly into a well-greased bundt pan.
06 - Cover the bundt pan and allow the dough to rise until slightly puffed, about 20 to 30 minutes.
07 - Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Bake the assembled dough balls for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden brown and fully cooked.
08 - Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle glaze over warm bread before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's technically pull-apart bread, so everyone feels like they're breaking the rules by eating with their hands.
  • The dough is forgiving and doesn't require fancy shaping skills, just small balls and a bundt pan.
  • It transforms your kitchen into something that smells like a bakery, and the payoff is worth every minute.
02 -
  • Room temperature matters more than you'd think—yeast is lazy in cold kitchens, so find the warmest corner and give it time.
  • Don't overbake; monkey bread continues cooking slightly after you pull it out, and you want those balls tender, not dry.
03 -
  • If your kitchen is cold, turn the oven on for 30 seconds, turn it off, and use that warmth for rising—it makes a real difference.
  • Brush the bundt pan generously with butter or oil before layering; this is where most sticking happens, and prevention beats regret.
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