Easy Air Fryer Monkey Bread

Get ready to indulge in our absolutely irresistible, sticky-sweet air fryer monkey bread with biscuits. This recipe promises to be a game-changer for your dessert or breakfast routine! If you’ve been hesitant to try making treats in your Ninja Foodi or any air fryer, prepare for a delightful surprise. This method brings you all the joy of a classic easy monkey bread recipe, but with the added convenience of not having to heat up your entire kitchen.

Ninja Foodi Monkey Bread: The Quick & Easy Way

We’ve been crafting this delightful monkey bread with refrigerated biscuits for years, a testament to its enduring appeal. It’s a fantastic, fuss-free treat to serve when unexpected guests arrive or for a festive brunch during the holidays with family. With only a handful of essential ingredients, you can effortlessly whip up this crowd-pleaser in almost no time.

However, there are many times when an entire bundt pan of monkey bread is simply too much for our small household of four. That’s precisely where this brilliant air fryer adaptation shines! It allows you to create a perfect small batch, satisfying those sweet cravings without overdoing it. If you own one of these “magic machines,” we highly encourage you to experience the convenience and deliciousness for yourself, and perhaps share a little joy with others. 😉

Crafting Monkey Bread in Your Air Fryer with Biscuits

Just as you would if baking this delicious treat in a traditional oven, we highly recommend using refrigerated “Grands” biscuits. These are typically larger and puffier than standard refrigerated biscuits, contributing to a more substantial and satisfying pull-apart texture. However, feel free to use any store-brand or Pillsbury large refrigerated biscuits – they work wonderfully too. For those with an even sweeter tooth, using refrigerated cinnamon rolls can result in an exceptionally rich and decadent outcome.

You’ll only need a single, dedicated air fryer-safe pan to bring your monkey bread creation to life. It’s essential to remember that this recipe is delightfully gooey, so placing the biscuit pieces directly into your air fryer basket isn’t an option. Rest assured, this specific air fryer pan will prove incredibly useful for a multitude of other air fryer recipes in the future!

Key Ingredients for Your Air Fryer Monkey Bread:

1. An air fryer pan: This is the specific type we used and highly recommend.
2. Large refrigerated biscuits: Opt for Grands or a similar large variety for the best texture.
3. Brown sugar: This provides a deeper, richer sweetness and caramel notes to the sauce.
4. Granulated sugar: Essential for that classic sweet coating.
5. Ground cinnamon: The aromatic spice that defines monkey bread’s comforting flavor.
6. Melted butter: Crucial for creating the signature gooey, sticky texture that makes each piece irresistible.
7. Optional: Chopped nuts for added texture and flavor, and powdered sugar and milk for a simple glaze.

Can You Use Frozen Cinnamon Rolls Instead of Biscuits for Monkey Bread?

Absolutely, you can! Using frozen cinnamon rolls is a fantastic alternative for making air fryer monkey bread, offering an even sweeter and richer profile. Just remember that they will require some thawing time before you can effectively slice them as needed for this recipe. Rhodes cinnamon rolls, for example, are an excellent choice because they store well in the freezer, allowing you to pull out precisely the quantity you need at any given time. Ensure they are soft enough to cut into quarters easily.

How Do You Make a Simple Glaze for Air Fryer Monkey Bread?

Creating a luscious, pourable glaze for your monkey bread is incredibly straightforward. All you need is 1 cup of powdered sugar and a little milk. Start by measuring out the powdered sugar into a small bowl. Then, gradually whisk in just enough milk, adding a teaspoon at a time, until you achieve a smooth, pourable glaze consistency. For a thinner glaze, add a touch more milk; for a thicker, more opaque frosting, use less. From there, you can customize the flavor: a splash of vanilla extract is a classic choice, or for something unique, a hint of coconut extract can be absolutely delicious.

Delicious Variations to Elevate Your Monkey Bread

While classic air fryer monkey bread is phenomenal on its own, adding a few variations can truly take it to the next level in terms of texture and flavor. Chopped nuts are an optional but highly recommended addition. For this particular recipe, we often use chopped walnuts. Their slightly softer crunch and rich flavor complement the sweet, gooey biscuits beautifully, adding a delightful textural contrast that creates a wonderful crumble on top.

The signature sticky-sweet sauce is effortlessly made and absolutely essential, ensuring every single piece of pull-apart bread is coated with pure deliciousness, making it utterly irresistible. You can even amplify the flavor profile further, similar to how we crafted our seasonal pumpkin monkey bread, by incorporating other spices like nutmeg or allspice for a warm, inviting twist. Consider adding chocolate chips, raisins, or even dried cranberries for bursts of flavor.

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Bites: Perfect Portions

Whether you’re making our traditional oven-baked easy monkey bread recipe or this air fryer version, the first step involves cutting each biscuit into fourths. These smaller pieces are what create those delightful, easy-to-pull-apart “bites.” You can absolutely use cinnamon rolls and follow this identical method; while I love both variations, the cinnamon roll version tends to be inherently sweeter, offering a different kind of indulgence.

Creative Pan Alternatives for Monkey Bread

A bundt pan is the classic choice for monkey bread, but it’s certainly not the only option, especially when making smaller batches in an air fryer. I often don’t use that traditional round pan, particularly for air fryer recipes. In the past, I’ve successfully used an 8×8 disposable aluminum pan, which works quite well for easy cleanup. For this air fryer recipe, we utilized a dedicated air fryer-safe pan, which proved to be incredibly effective. The good news is that almost any oven-safe, air fryer-compatible pan or dish will work, as long as it fits comfortably inside your air fryer basket. Don’t let specialized bakeware deter you from enjoying this fantastic treat!

Air Fryer Monkey Bread with Cinnamon Rolls: A Sweet Twist

As mentioned, you have the flexibility to use either refrigerated biscuits or frozen cinnamon rolls for this recipe. If opting for frozen cinnamon rolls, remember they need to be thoroughly defrosted before you can proceed. Once thawed, you’ll want to quarter them, just like with biscuits. Tossing these quartered pieces in a bowl with additional sugar and cinnamon, or even using a freezer bag for a quick shake, will infuse them with even more delightful sweetness and spice, creating layers of flavor.

Both methods—using biscuits or cinnamon rolls—yield fantastic results. The key is to work efficiently and not leave the biscuit or cinnamon roll pieces on the countertop for too long, especially once coated. If they become overly sticky, they might cling together excessively, preventing that characteristic pull-apart texture once baked. You want each piece to separate easily, offering individual bites of gooey goodness.

• You can customize the coating: if you prefer less spice, you could skip the cinnamon entirely and just gently toss the biscuit pieces in granulated sugar. This part is entirely up to your personal taste preferences.
• Now, let’s talk about layering the ingredients in your pan.
• If you decide to incorporate nuts, place a portion at the bottom of the pan before adding the biscuit pieces, and then sprinkle the remaining nuts generously over the very top. Of course, nuts are completely optional, but they do add a wonderful crunch and depth of flavor.

A crucial step for successful removal and presentation is thoroughly spraying the inside of your air fryer pan with a non-stick cooking spray. This is an absolute must, particularly if you plan to invert the monkey bread onto a plate for serving once it’s perfectly baked and glazed. A well-greased pan ensures a clean release.

Mastering Air Fryer Pull-Apart Bread: Step-by-Step

Imagine the transformation: from neatly arranged biscuit pieces covered in a sweet mixture (as seen in the top image), to a beautifully golden-brown, pull-apart bread ready for glazing (as shown at the bottom). Let’s walk through the simple steps to achieve this delectable outcome.

• Prepare the Biscuits: Begin by cutting each refrigerated biscuit into four equal pieces. You can choose to gently roll these into small balls for a more uniform look or leave them as irregular pieces for a rustic charm. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Add the cut biscuit pieces to this mixture and toss them thoroughly until each piece is nicely coated with the cinnamon-sugar blend.
• Layer the Pan: Generously spray the inside of your air fryer-safe pan with a non-stick cooking spray. If you’re including nuts, spread a thin layer of chopped nuts at the bottom of the pan. Then, evenly arrange the coated biscuit pieces over the nuts (or directly onto the sprayed pan if omitting nuts). Sprinkle any remaining chopped nuts over the top of the biscuits.
• Create the Caramel Sauce: In a small, microwave-safe bowl, combine the melted butter and brown sugar. Stir these two ingredients together until they form a smooth, luscious caramel-like sauce. Carefully spoon this sticky sauce evenly over the biscuits in the pan, ensuring all pieces get a generous coating.
• Preheat and Initial Cook: Preheat your air fryer to 330 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 165 degrees Celsius) for 5 minutes. Once preheated, carefully place the pan with the monkey bread into the air fryer basket. Cook for an initial 10 minutes.
• Cover and Finish Cooking: After the first 10 minutes, carefully lift the pan out of the air fryer (it will be hot!) and gently cover it with aluminum foil. This foil covering helps prevent the top from browning too quickly while allowing the inside to cook thoroughly. Return the covered pan to the air fryer and continue cooking for an additional 15 minutes, or until the biscuits in the very center of the pan are no longer sticky and are cooked through.
• Prepare the Icing: While the monkey bread is finishing cooking, prepare your icing. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 1-2 tablespoons of milk until the mixture is completely smooth and reaches your desired pourable consistency.
• Serve with a Flourish: Once the monkey bread is done, carefully remove the hot pan from the air fryer. Place a serving plate upside down over the top of the pan. Using oven mitts or pot holders, carefully and confidently flip the pan and plate together, allowing the monkey bread to slide out onto the plate. Pour the prepared icing generously over the top of the warm monkey bread and serve immediately. While it’s perfectly delicious served straight from the pan, adding that extra layer of sweet glaze and a few more nuts is, for us, an absolute must!

The importance of that non-stick spray cannot be overstated here! When you place a plate over the top and use pot holders to carefully flip the hot pan, the monkey bread should effortlessly slide right out in its beautiful, pull-apart form. Then, pour your powdered sugar frosting over the top, and let everyone eagerly dig in to this delightful creation.

More Irresistible Air Fryer Dessert Recipes You’ll Love

If you’ve fallen in love with the ease and deliciousness of air fryer monkey bread, you’ll be thrilled to explore our other fantastic air fryer dessert recipes. The air fryer truly opens up a world of possibilities for quick and delightful sweet treats. And for a unique twist on this breakfast/dessert idea, consider making monkey bread in a smoker! We recently tried it, and it was an absolutely massive hit with everyone who tasted it.

• We’ve perfected an air fryer cake that’s incredibly ooey-gooey, often filled with a rich chocolate “lava” center – pure indulgence!
• For a classic treat, you absolutely must try our air fryer donuts. They’re surprisingly easy to make and taste just like your favorite bakery treats.
• And if you haven’t yet discovered our air fryer cookies, you are truly missing out on a simple pleasure. They bake up perfectly soft and chewy every time.

Of course, for those who appreciate tradition, our oven-baked traditional or rich chocolate monkey bread recipes are equally amazing and worth a try for any occasion.

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