Caramel Roll Pull-Aparts (Monkey Bread)

Caramel roll pull-aparts are simple pull-apart rolls made with frozen bread dough and topped with a gooey caramel sauce. Save this recipe!

We have the ultimate breakfast bread recipe to share with you—caramel roll pull-aparts. This recipe is so simple. It starts with a 5-ingredient homemade caramel sauce poured into a 9 x 13 pan and then topped with pieces of frozen bread dough. After a short rise time, these delectable rolls are baked together to make the tastiest caramel roll monkey bread – you can grab a little or a lot!

They are excellent to make ahead of time and serve when you have company. You can even make and freeze several pans in advance for large gatherings. This is especially helpful during the holidays. You will want to save this recipe!

At breakfast family get-togethers, we typically have a batch of these pull-aparts ready to go, along with our Mom’s tea ring (a divine cinnamon roll ring with maple frosting).

Ingredients

Here are a few notes about the ingredients for the best outcome each time you make these pull-aparts.

2 loaves frozen bread dough – we use Rhodes frozen bread dough loaves, which normally come in an orange bag in the grocery store’s freezer aisle.

1/2 cup margarine – we recommend margarine instead of butter. Otherwise, you may not end up with a smooth caramel sauce.

1 cup brown sugar – light brown sugar. Use fresh brown sugar, not hard and clumpy brown sugar, for best results.

1 large package vanilla pudding mix – make sure to use cook and serve vanilla pudding instead of instant pudding. This is important. We’ve made this mistake before, and the caramel turns out almost rubbery.

2 tablespoons milk – 1% or 2% milk.

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon – ground cinnamon.

Supplies & Favorite Tools for Making Pull-Aparts

• Medium-sized mixing bowl
• Mixing spoon and spatula
• 9 x 13 metal pan
• Baking spray
• Cookie sheet or large cutting board
• Serving tray or storage container

How to Make Caramel Roll Pull-Aparts

Follow these simple steps to make this delicious breakfast bread.

Step 1 | Preheat oven to 350°F

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then prepare a 9 x 13 pan by lightly greasing it with baking spray.

Step 2 | Make the caramel sauce

Mix all the ingredients for the sauce together in a medium-sized bowl. This includes the melted margarine, brown sugar, vanilla pudding, milk, and ground cinnamon.

Step 3 | Cut or tear the first loaf and place in pan

Next, take one loaf of bread dough and tear it into small chunks. (Or use a kitchen scissors to cut the dough apart.) Add them in a single layer to the greased 9 x 13 pan.

Step 4 | Pour caramel mixture over bread dough pieces

Pour the caramel mixture over the first loaf of frozen bread dough.

Step 4 | Cut or tear the second loaf and place on caramel

Next, tear or cut the second loaf of bread dough into chunks and place on top of the caramel mixture.

Step 5 | Allow to rise

Allow the bread dough to rise until it doubles in size.

Step 6 | Bake for 20 minutes at 350°F

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. The top of the bread will be golden brown. You can also check by pulling up on a few of the pieces of bread (from the middle). Make sure it looks baked and not doughy.

Step 7 | Place cookie sheet on top of pan and flip to release

Finally, place a cutting board or cookie sheet over the 9 x 13 pan. Flip the pan over to release the caramel pull-aparts. (Or store them in the baking pan, covered once cool, until ready to serve.)

Step 8 | Serve immediately or store (and enjoy!)

We recommend serving these caramel roll pull-aparts warm, if possible. They are gooey and delicious right out of the oven (cooled slightly, of course!). You can also serve them with butter, but not necessary.

If you plan to store or freeze the rolls right away, you can add them directly to a storage container after they’ve cooled completely.

More About This Recipe

• Easy and tasty: This caramel roll pull-apart recipe is simple to make using frozen bread dough and a yummy caramel sauce.
• Sweet and gooey: Enjoy delicious caramel sauce dripping over sweet bread dough pieces that you can easily pull apart.
• Shareable treat: These rolls are great for sharing with family and friends. You can have a little or a lot, whatever you like!
• Prepare ahead: Make these ahead of time and keep them ready in the freezer. Perfect for when you have guests over or just want a tasty treat.
• Warm and yummy: They taste amazing right out of the oven (cooled slightly, of course!), and you can even serve them with butter for extra goodness.

Tips for Making Caramel Roll Pull-Aparts

Here are a few tips for perfect caramel pull-aparts every time.

• Choose quality dough: Opt for frozen bread dough like Rhodes, typically found in orange bags in the freezer aisle.
• Margarine for smoothness: Use margarine instead of butter in your caramel sauce for a smoother texture.
• Fresh brown sugar: Ensure your brown sugar is fresh and not clumpy, as it impacts the caramel’s consistency.
• Cook and serve pudding: When using vanilla pudding, use cook and serve (not instant) for a perfect caramel texture.
• Serve warm: These pull-aparts are at their gooey best when served warm, but still delicious after being cooled.

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More Bread Recipes

• Caramel Pull-Aparts in the Bread Machine
• Bread Machine Buns
• Banana Bread
• Cheesy Onion Pull-Apart Bread

More Breakfast Recipes

• Oven Baked Bacon
• Ham & Cheese Omelet Bake
• Easy Egg Bites
• Pumpkin Waffles

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Caramel Roll Pull-Aparts (Monkey Bread)