Easy Homemade Orange Spiced Monkey Bread: A Zesty, Gooey Breakfast Treat
Get ready to elevate your morning routine with a truly exceptional breakfast or brunch centerpiece: **Orange Spiced Monkey Bread**. This isn’t just any monkey bread; it’s a symphony of warm spices and bright citrus, creating an unbelievably ooey-gooey, sweet, and comforting pull-apart treat that will have everyone reaching for more. Imagine soft, fluffy biscuit pieces, lovingly coated in a fragrant blend of fresh orange zest, cinnamon, ground cloves, and sugar, then drenched in a homemade orange syrup and baked to a golden-brown perfection. It’s the kind of dish that fills your home with an irresistible aroma and your heart with pure joy.
The Comforting Flavors of Home: Orange, Cinnamon, and Cloves
For me, the combination of oranges, cinnamon, and cloves is deeply nostalgic. Growing up, my grandmother would always greet us with warm cups of orange spiced tea during the winter months, especially after we’d spent hours playing outside in the cold. That comforting, homey scent and taste stuck with me, inspiring this unique monkey bread recipe. I knew those same beloved flavors would transform a classic monkey bread into something truly special – a perfect blend of sweet, zesty, and warm that truly speaks to the soul. It’s a recipe designed to bring warmth, comfort, and deliciousness to your kitchen, just as those childhood memories do for me.
This Orange Spiced Monkey Bread is more than just a recipe; it’s an experience. Each tender piece of biscuit dough, infused with the vibrant zest of oranges and the cozy embrace of cinnamon and cloves, bakes into a delightful golden structure. The homemade orange syrup seeps into every crevice, ensuring that each bite is not only soft and fluffy but also wonderfully sticky and sweet. It’s a spectacular pull-apart treat that encourages sharing, making it ideal for family breakfasts, holiday brunches, or simply a weekend indulgence.
On a lighter note, whenever I bake this, my kids excitedly exclaim, “Monkey Brains!” To which I always reply, “It’s monkey bread!” It makes me wonder, are my kids the only quirky ones who call it “monkey brains,” or do your little ones have their own unique names for this fun, interactive dish too? Either way, the enthusiasm it generates is undeniable!
Why You’ll Love This Orange Spiced Monkey Bread Recipe
- **Irresistibly Gooey:** The generous orange syrup creates a wonderfully sticky and moist texture that makes every bite heavenly.
- **Bright & Aromatic:** Fresh orange zest and juice infuse the bread with a vibrant citrus flavor, perfectly balanced by warm spices.
- **Easy to Make:** Starting with refrigerated biscuit dough simplifies the process, making this recipe accessible even for beginner bakers.
- **Perfect for Sharing:** Its pull-apart nature makes it an ideal treat for family gatherings, brunches, or potlucks.
- **Comforting & Nostalgic:** The blend of cinnamon, cloves, and orange evokes cozy feelings and cherished memories.
- **Versatile:** While delicious on its own, it pairs wonderfully with coffee, tea, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Essential Ingredients for Your Zesty Monkey Bread
To create this delightful Orange Spiced Monkey Bread, you’ll need a selection of simple yet impactful ingredients. The beauty of this recipe lies in how these common items come together to form something truly extraordinary.
- **Refrigerated Biscuit Dough:** Two large 16.3-ounce cans are your starting point. These provide the soft, fluffy base for our pull-apart bread, saving you time and effort. Look for flaky layers or buttermilk varieties for the best texture.
- **Fresh Oranges:** You’ll need two navel oranges for their zest and juice. Fresh zest provides an incredible burst of citrus aroma, while fresh-squeezed juice is essential for the vibrant syrup. Don’t skimp on quality here; ripe, juicy oranges make all the difference.
- **Granulated Sugar (White Sugar):** Used primarily for the coating mixture, providing sweetness and a slight crunch.
- **Light Brown Sugar:** This is the star of our homemade syrup, adding a rich, caramel-like depth and ensuring a perfectly gooey texture.
- **Unsalted Butter:** Essential for both the rich syrup and greasing the bundt pan, butter adds unparalleled flavor and moistness.
- **Ground Cinnamon:** A generous amount of cinnamon pairs beautifully with the orange and cloves, creating that quintessential warm spiced flavor.
- **Ground Cloves:** Just a touch of ground cloves deepens the spice profile, adding an aromatic complexity that really makes this monkey bread stand out.
The Right Tools for the Job: Your Bundt Pan and More
Beyond the ingredients, having the correct equipment will ensure your Orange Spiced Monkey Bread comes out perfectly. A crucial piece of equipment is a bundt pan. While there are countless beautiful and intricate bundt pan styles available, for monkey bread, I strongly recommend sticking to a plain, classic bundt pan, much like this one on Amazon. Why? The simple, shallow ridged shape of an old-school bundt pan is ideal because it allows the finished bread to hold together better when inverted and ensures the most even coating of that luscious syrup. More complex designs, while pretty, can sometimes make it harder to remove the sticky monkey bread and might lead to uneven syrup distribution or sticking.
Other helpful tools include: a zester (for oranges), a sharp knife or kitchen shears for cutting biscuits, mixing bowls, a small saucepan for the syrup, and measuring cups and spoons.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Orange Spiced Monkey Bread
Let’s walk through the simple steps to create this delectable orange spiced monkey bread. Following these instructions carefully will guarantee a perfect, gooey outcome every time.
1. Prepare Your Oranges and Zest
Begin by zesting two navel oranges. Use a microplane or fine grater to remove only the bright orange outer layer, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath. This zest is crucial for the intense orange flavor in your coating mixture. You’ll also need about ⅓ cup of fresh-squeezed orange juice for the syrup later, which typically comes from one orange. This means you’ll have one “naked” orange leftover at the end – perfect for a snack, a glass of juice, or adding to a fruit salad!
2. Create the Orange Spiced Sugar Coating
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves, and the zest from both oranges. Whisk these ingredients together until well combined. The aroma alone will be intoxicating! Set this fragrant orange spiced cinnamon sugar mixture aside.
3. Prepare Your Bundt Pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease your recommended plain bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray or softened butter. Ensure every nook and cranny is coated to prevent the sticky monkey bread from adhering later. You can even dust it lightly with flour after greasing for extra insurance.
4. Cut and Coat the Biscuits
Open your cans of refrigerated biscuit dough. On a clean cutting board, cut each biscuit into approximately 4-6 pieces. I find a pair of kitchen shears makes this task quick and easy, but a sharp knife works perfectly fine too. The goal is to have small, uniform pieces that will cook evenly and be easy to pull apart.
Now, take each biscuit piece and roll it thoroughly in the orange spiced sugar mixture you prepared earlier. Ensure each piece is completely coated, as this is where much of the flavor and delightful texture comes from. Once coated, place the pieces evenly into your greased bundt pan. Try to distribute them as evenly as possible without compacting them too much, allowing space for the dough to expand.
5. Prepare and Pour the Orange Syrup
In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ cup of butter, and the ⅓ cup of fresh-squeezed orange juice. Heat this mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted, the sugar is dissolved, and the mixture just comes to a boil. This hot syrup is what will create that wonderfully sticky, flavorful glaze all over your monkey bread.
Carefully pour the hot orange syrup evenly over the biscuit pieces in the bundt pan, ensuring it coats as many pieces as possible and seeps down into the crevices.
6. Bake to Golden Perfection
Place the bundt pan in your preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the monkey bread is gloriously golden brown on top and cooked through. To check for doneness, a skewer inserted into the center should come out clean, and the internal temperature should reach around 200-210°F (93-99°C).
7. Cool and Serve
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes. This cooling period is crucial as it allows the syrup to set slightly, making the bread much easier to invert and preventing it from falling apart. After 10 minutes, place a serving platter with a slight lip or raised edge over the top of the bundt pan. Carefully but swiftly invert the pan onto the platter. The monkey bread should slide out easily, with all that delicious syrup pouring over it.
A quick note on serving: When you turn out the monkey bread, expect a generous amount of warm, sticky syrup! Using a platter with a lip is highly recommended to catch any delicious overflow. While having the glaze drip off the platter might look appealing for photos, in real life, it can lead to a sticky mess that’s a pain to clean up. Embrace the gooeyness, but prepare for it!
Orange Spiced Monkey Bread
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Ingredients
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- zest of 2 oranges
- 2 16.3 ounce cans refrigerated biscuits
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175°C) and generously prepare a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray or butter and flour. Set aside.
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In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, and cloves with the zest from 2 oranges. Mix well and set aside.
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Cut each refrigerated biscuit into 4-6 pieces using kitchen shears or a knife. Dredge each piece of biscuit dough thoroughly in the orange spiced cinnamon sugar mixture. Place the coated pieces evenly in the prepared bundt pan.
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In a small pan, combine the brown sugar, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, butter, and fresh orange juice. Heat just until the mixture comes to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour this hot syrup evenly over the biscuit pieces in the bundt pan.
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Bake the monkey bread at 350 degrees F (175°C) for 35-40 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown on top and cooked throughout. To ensure it’s fully cooked, a skewer inserted should come out clean. Allow the pan to cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack before carefully turning out onto a serving platter with a slight lip to catch the delicious syrup.
Tips for Monkey Bread Perfection
- **Fresh Zest is Key:** Always use fresh oranges for zesting. Bottled orange flavorings won’t deliver the same bright, authentic taste.
- **Grease Generously:** Don’t be shy with the cooking spray or butter in your bundt pan. This is crucial for easy release of the sticky bread.
- **Even Coating:** Make sure each biscuit piece gets a good roll in the sugar-spice mixture. This ensures maximum flavor and a delightful crust on every bite.
- **Don’t Overcrowd:** Arrange the biscuit pieces loosely in the bundt pan. They need room to expand and cook evenly.
- **Cooling is Important:** The 10-minute cooling period allows the syrup to slightly firm up and prevents the monkey bread from collapsing when inverted. Be patient!
- **Use a Sturdy Platter:** As mentioned, a platter with a lip is your best friend when serving, preventing that delicious syrup from running off the edge.
Serving Suggestions for Orange Spiced Monkey Bread
This Orange Spiced Monkey Bread is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways:
- **Breakfast or Brunch Star:** It’s a show-stopping centerpiece for any morning meal, especially during holidays or special occasions. Serve alongside scrambled eggs, bacon, and fresh fruit.
- **Dessert:** Warm from the oven, with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream, it transforms into an indulgent dessert.
- **Afternoon Treat:** Enjoy a piece with your afternoon coffee or tea. The bright citrus and warm spices make it a perfect pick-me-up.
- **Potlucks and Gatherings:** Its pull-apart nature makes it an excellent communal dish that’s fun for everyone to enjoy.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
If by some miracle you have any leftovers of this delicious monkey bread, you can store them to enjoy later:
- **Storage:** Keep the monkey bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The texture might become a bit chewier over time, but the flavor will still be wonderful.
- **Reheating:** To enjoy it warm and gooey again, reheat individual portions in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or warm larger portions in an oven preheated to 275°F (135°C) for 10-15 minutes, until heated through and soft.
More Monkey Bread Delights
If you’ve fallen in love with the magic of monkey bread, you absolutely must try my Blackberry Monkey Bread. It’s another fantastic variation that’s bursting with fruity flavor and just as fun to eat!
Pin This Recipe for Later!
Don’t let this incredible recipe get lost! Pin it to your favorite breakfast or dessert boards so you can easily find it whenever a craving for something sweet, zesty, and utterly comforting strikes. Share the joy of Orange Spiced Monkey Bread with friends and family!
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Thank you for stopping by and happy baking!