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White ceramic pie plate with freshly baked monkey bread drizzled with lemon icing.

Best Vegan Monkey Bread (easy + indulgent)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
proofing time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Tracy Halasz

Ingredients

Bread Dough

Brown Sugar Sauce/Coating

  • ½ cup vegan butter/margarine (melted)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon (more to taste)
  • pinch salt

Vegan Frosting/Glaze (Optional)

  • 1 tablespoon non-dairy butter, softened
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar (icing sugar)
  • 2 tablespoons dairy free milk (almond or oat)
  • ½ teaspoon lemon extract (or vanilla extract)
  • lemon zest (optional)

Instructions

  • All purpose refrigerator dough: (make a minimum of 2 hours up to 14 days in advance). I used ~1 ½ pounds (a piece about the size of a melon) for this recipe.
  • Prepare baking dish or bundt pan: Generously grease with butter or non-stick baking spray.
  • Prepare the cinnamon sugar coating: Melt 1-1 ½ tablespoons butter (in a large measuring cup). In a medium bowl stir together the granulated sugar and cinnamon.
  • Shape the dough balls: Pinch off or slice ~ 30 pieces of dough (roughly the size of ping pong balls) for a 9" round baking dish. If your dough is too sticky, rub a bit of butter on your hands while shaping. Roll the dough pieces into 1 - 1 ¼" balls. They don't have to be perfect!
  • Dip the balls into the melted butter to lightly coat them, then roll in the cinnamon sugar. Arrange in the prepared baking dish in a single layer. Any extras can be piled in a second layer (see photo).
  • Cover the dish with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let proof in a warm spot until puffy (~40 minutes) while the oven is preheating.
  • Preheat the oven to 350º F with rack in middle position.

Brown Sugar Sauce and Baking

  • While the oven is preheating, make the brown sugar sauce. Melt the butter (microwave or stove), whisk in the brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until well incorporated.
  • Once the dough balls are puffy, drizzle the brown sugar sauce evenly over the top. Pop into the oven for ~35 minutes* until the edges are bubbling and the top is deep golden. *Place a baking sheet on lower oven shelf to catch any drips.
  • If the top is browning too quickly, cover loosely with a sheet of foil.
  • Remove from oven to a cooling rack.

Vegan Frosting/Glaze

  • While the monkey bread is baking, whisk together all the glaze ingredients.

To Serve

  • Let the monkey bread cool for about 10 minutes then drizzle the frosting/glaze over top. Scoop onto plates or give everyone a fork and gather around the kitchen table while everyone picks off their own pieces and dunks them into frosting. Enjoy!

Notes

For this recipe in a 9" round baking dish, make around 24-30 balls.
Optional pans: For a 7" bundt pan (9x13" pan or similar baking dish), make around ~40-45 balls 1" balls from ~2 pounds of refrigerator dough. *Baking time may increase by ~5 - 8 minutes when baking a multi-layer pull apart. Any leftover, unused dough can be returned to the bucket OR made into individual size monkey bread in large muffin tins.
Releasing the monkey bread: If using a bundt pan or loaf pan, let the bread cool for 5-10 minutes before releasing. When ready, place a serving plate over the bundt pan opening. Using pot holders to protect your hands, flip the pan and plate over (holding them together). Lift the bundt pan off and admire your gorgeous cinnamon pull-aparts! Tip: Don't wait longer than 10 minutes to invert as the sugar hardens and sticks to the pan.
Add ins: For extra crunch (like a sticky bun), add in ½ a cup of chopped pecans or walnuts. Sprinkle on the bottom of the bundt pan, between the layers or on top of the monkey bread dough before pouring on the brown sugar sauce.
Optional Glaze: Vegan Cream Cheese Icing Recipe
Storing: Store any leftover monkey bread, wrapped on the counter overnight or in the fridge for several days. Gently warm in microwave to reheat or enjoy at room temperature.