Published: · Modified: by Jessy Freimann · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Orange Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread is an easy and delicious twist on a family favorite recipe. It can totally be made ahead and is perfect to enjoy at brunch or any family gathering!
Orange Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
This post contains Affiliate Links. Please see the disclaimer here.
Pillsbury Monkey Breadis a favorite in many American families, both for it's easy preparation and it's ooey-gooey cinnamon-sugary goodness! Also known as pull apart bread, it's made with cut up refrigerated biscuits and once it's ready you can reach in and pull each sticky delicious piece apart which makes it fun for kids.
So one day I was daydreaming of food, as you do (or as I do anyway) and I was thinking about the various refrigerated dough/biscuits/cinnamon roll standbys that are out there. More specifically, I was thinking about my husband's penchant for Pillsbury™ Orange Rolls with Orange Icing(please note, this is not a sponsored post, I just really like this product!).
Though I tend to be more of a traditional cinnamon roll kind of gal, I'm not one to turn down an orange roll. Throwing a can of those puppies in the oven became a quick and easy way to let this man know I love him, particularly in the early part of our relationship when we rarely woke before 10am on a non-work day (and I'm not even talking about the very beginning when we both worked at a restaurant and spent many nights living it up until dawn in NYC- waking before noon was unheard of in those days!).
Back to my food-filled daydreams, it was at that moment that it occurred to me: why not use Orange Rolls to make an easy monkey bread?! I mean, what usually happens when great things combine forces? The answer is usually great things. This case was no exception.
You still have the same ooey-gooey goodness, but with the most delicious and distinct orange flavor.Speaking of flavor, I think the addition of the orange zest and the fresh squeezed juice really elevates this and makes it taste extra special, as any good Christmas morning food should!
Tips for making this recipe for monkey bread with orange rolls
- If you want, you can totally this together the night before, although it's so quick and easy to make, there's really no need.
- This is versatile enough to serve as the primary component for a light breakfast or among many delicious dishes if you're planning a more grand brunch with family.
- I used plastic bags to mix together the sugar mixture and coat the orange roll pieces. This helped eliminate extra mess and dishes.
- If you have an extreme sweet tooth you can totally drizzle the finished monkey bread with the glaze that comes with the roll. I found it to already be quite sweet so I didn't do this.
- Be sure to spray the bundt pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking when you invert it.
Helpful tools:
Orange Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
Jessy Freimann
Orange Cinnamon Roll Monkey Breadis an easy and delicious twist on a family favorite recipe. It can totally be made ahead and is perfect to enjoy at brunch or any family gathering!
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Rest time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 50 minutes mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 orange, you'll use the zest and ½ cup of the juice)
- 2 cans refrigerated Pillsbury™ Orange Cinnamon Rolls
- ½ cup salted butter, melted (1 stick)
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray the bundt pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a plastic zipper bag combine granulated sugar, cinnamon and orange zest. Shake until well combined (I also used my fingers to break up and evenly distribute the orange zest).
In a separate bowl whisk together butter, brown sugar and orange juice until fully combined. Set aside (keep the whisk with it because it might separate and you can whisk it again before adding it later).
Cut each orange roll into quarters and lightly roll each quarter so that it doesn't fall apart.
Place all the orange roll pieces into the zipper bag with the sugar mixture. Seal it well and shake until each piece of dough is fully coated in the sugar mixture.
Place the entire contents of the bag into the prepared bundt pan.
Pour the butter mixture evenly over the contents of the bundt pan. It will look too liqiud-y but it's not- the dough with absorb all that delicious buttery mixture.
Bake for 30-40 minutes. Allow it to cool for around 10-15 minutes and then Turn it onto a plate and serve immediately. If not serving right away, cool completely and cover with plastic wrap until you're ready to serve.
Notes
- Freshly squeezed orange juice is best.
- This can be made or prepped the night before.
- If you want it to be extra sweet you can drizzle the orange icing over the top once you've plated the Monkey Bread- I find that it doesn't need it. Instead, I opted to stir a little bit of the icing into my coffee!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
If you tried this recipe please comment and rate it 🙂 I love hearing your feedback and answering your questions!
Other great Brunch recipes options:
- Grandma Hinz’s Apple Pancakes
- Egg Stuffed Bread
- Sweet Potato and Chorizo Hash
You can find a full index of my recipeshere.
Don’t forget to follow The Life Jolie onPinterestfor more recipe inspiration!
Or if Pinterest isn’t your style,bookmark this post!
Let’s keep the conversation going- join myFacebook group!
« Pasta Pomodoro
Black Cherry Lemonade Bourbon Slush »
Reader Interactions
Comments
Taylor says
I've never had an orange roll before but this looks so delicious! My family's Christmas morning routine is baking Pillsbury cinnamon rolls after we open presents - it's the one time of year I let myself indulge in such a sugary breakfast but the traditions make it worth it haha
Reply
Jessy says
Thank you- that sounds similar to my family's routine growing up!
Reply
Margi says
I'm 80 now and when I was 23 and pregnant with my 2nd child I got a craving for orange rolls. Put daughter in stroller and pushed her on 2 lane road to small market 1 mile from home. Long before 2 car families. Walked back with 2 cans, cooked both and before the day was out had eaten 14 of the 16 rolls. Now that's a craving! This is still my favorite roll and just made these. Looked yummy going in.
Reply
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery says
Confession: when I saw the top photo, I thought this was some kind of strange ring of Chinese Orange Chicken, hahaha! Orange rolls sound SO much better! I've never actually heard of orange rolls, though I can imagine exactly what they taste like - a nice change from the expected cinnamon roll. These look like a perfect Christmas breakfast. :)
Reply
Jessy says
Bahahaha that's awesome!I mean, I would totally eat a ring of Orange Chicken as well but I think I'd opt for monkey bread!
Reply
Dannii says
I have never heard of monkey bread before, but anything with orange in it gets the thumbs up from me.
Reply
Jessy says
Give it a try- it's dangerously addictive!
Reply
Sandi (@fearless_dining) says
This looks like an incredible idea for breakfast...love that sticky gooey sweetness.
Reply
Jessy says
Nothing like a good glaze :)
Reply
sue | theviewfromgreatisland says
OMG you had me at that awesome glaze!
Reply
Jessy says
Nothing like a good glaze :)
Reply
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Wonderful looking monkey bread!!
Reply
Jessy says
Why thank you!
Reply
Carolyn says
Monkey bread is so yummy! I can't wait to try this recipe!
Reply
Jessy says
Enjoy!
Reply
Karen says
Question: I’m not an early bird and have to have a prepared ‘something breakfasty’ Every other Fri. By 9:00 am 😳 When you say can be made ahead, even with orange buttery glaze? Or add that to sugared pieces before baking??
Reply
Jessy Freimann says
Hi Karen- I would say do the biscuit pieces (cutting, rolling and tossing in the sugar mixture) ahead and put them into the grease pan. Cover it and refrigerate the night before. Then pull it out first thing the next day. Make the butter, brown sugar and orange juice mixture that morning, pour it over and bake it off. I'd say check it at the baking time in the recipe but know that it may need a few extra minutes as it will have been in the fridge all night. I think it'll turn out great! Technically, you could make the whole thing the night before and turn it out onto a plate, cover and leave it on the counter overnight, but it's really best fresh from the oven. Don't hesitate if you have any other questions and I hope you love it :)
Reply
Shelley says
Sounds great. Plan on making. Question - If I cut the recipe in half, do I need to adjust the cooking time?
Reply
Jessy Freimann says
Hi Shelley- I'd encourage you to check it periodically about half way through. Good luck!
Reply
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
