Banana Monkey Bread Recipe
Hey there, my friend 👋 This banana monkey bread is going to be amazing.
The reason I use nutmeg is because it gives the sweet dough coating an incredibly rich, fresh taste.
And you know what? If you follow my special steps, you can save 11 minutes in the preparation time.
Why You Will Love This Banana Monkey Bread Recipe
This banana monkey bread is an overload of sweetness and flavors that will blow your mind.
It has soft, fluffy pieces of dough coated in a sweet banana mixture with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s a super easy recipe that anyone can make – kids, adults, first-timers or pros.
This monkey bread is insanely sweet and gooey, with bites that just melt in your mouth. The aroma will make you tap dance.
The sweetness isn’t overpowering, it’s perfectly balanced with the banana, cinnamon and nutmeg flavors.
Once you taste this, you’ll be craving banana monkey bread everywhere.
Ingredients Needed to Make This Banana Monkey Bread
These are the ingredients you need:
For the Dough:
- 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (7g) rapid rise yeast
- 1 cup (240ml) warm milk
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (55g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp salt
For the Banana Coating:
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, melted
Alternative Ingredients
If you don’t have certain ingredients, try these alternatives:
| Main Ingredient | Alternative |
| All-Purpose Flour | Bread Flour or Whole Wheat Flour |
| Milk | Almond Milk or Oat Milk |
| Brown Sugar | Coconut Sugar or Maple Syrup |
| Cinnamon | Apple Pie Spice or Pumpkin Pie Spice |
| Nutmeg | Ground Ginger or Allspice |
Step-By-Step Instructions
Here are the basic steps:
- Make the dough by combining the warm milk, yeast, melted butter, sugar and salt. Then knead in the flour.
- Let the dough rise for 1 hour.
- Make the banana coating by mashing the bananas and mixing with the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and melted butter.
- Roll the dough into balls and dunk them in the banana coating.
- Layer the coated dough balls in a bundt pan.
- Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
- Invert the monkey bread onto a plate and enjoy warm.
Expert Tips
- Use very ripe bananas for maximum sweetness and flavor
- Don’t overmix the dough to keep it soft and fluffy
- Let the coated dough balls sit for 10 minutes before baking so the coating thickens
- Let the monkey bread cool for 5 minutes before inverting onto a plate
- Reheat any leftovers so the monkey bread stays soft and gooey
Utensils Needed
These are what you’ll need:
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups/spoons
- Bundt pan
- Non-stick spray
- Oven
- Cooling rack
- Serving plate
What to Serve with It
This banana monkey bread is amazing on its own, but you can also serve it with:
- A dusting of powdered sugar
- Caramel or chocolate sauce for dipping
- Fresh fruit like bananas or strawberries
- A dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the dough up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate until ready to assemble and bake. Let it come to room temperature before coating with banana mixture.
What if I don’t have a bundt pan?
No problem. You can bake this in a 9×13 inch baking pan instead. The baking time may need to increase slightly.
Can I use a bread machine for the dough?
Yes, you can use a bread machine for the dough. The dough can be made in a bread machine on the dough cycle. Then roll it into balls and proceed with the recipe.
How should I store leftovers?
Store any leftover monkey bread in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave to re-soften it.
Can I make this monkey bread vegan?
Yes, you can substitute the milk for non-dairy milk, use vegan butter or coconut oil, and replace the eggs if needed to make this vegan.
Banana Monkey Bread Recipe
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups/spoons
- 10-12 cup bundt pan
- Non-stick baking spray
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 3 cups 375g all-purpose flour
- 1 packet 7g rapid rise yeast
- 1 cup 240ml warm milk
- ¼ cup 50g granulated sugar
- ¼ cup 55g unsalted butter, melted 1 tsp salt
For the Banana Coating:
- 3 ripe bananas mashed (about 1 cup)
- ½ cup 100g brown sugar
- ½ cup 100g granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup 225g unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, yeast, melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar and salt. Let sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
- Add in 2 1/2 cups of the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3-4 minutes, adding more flour as needed until it becomes a smooth, elastic dough.
- Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or towel. Let rise for 1 hour.
- Make the banana coating: In a medium bowl, mix together the mashed bananas, brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and melted butter until combined.
- Grease a 10-12 cup bundt pan very well with non-stick baking spray.
- Once risen, punch down the dough and divide into 1.5 inch balls, you should get around 30 balls.
- One by one, roll each ball in the banana coating mixture until fully coated. Place coated balls into the prepared bundt pan, layering them in a circular pattern as you go.
- Let the coated balls rest for 10 minutes to allow the coating to thicken slightly.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the monkey bread for 30-35 minutes until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
- Invert the monkey bread onto a plate or platter and serve warm. Use a butter knife or fork to gently pull apart and enjoy the gooey pieces.
Notes
- If the top is browning too quickly while baking, loosely cover with foil.
- Feel free to add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans to the banana coating for extra crunch.
- Letting the coated dough balls rest before baking allows the coating to thicken into an even gooier texture.
- Reheat any leftover monkey bread in the oven at 300°F for 10-15 minutes to re-soften.
