Monkey Bread Recipe

Womens hand holding a piece of monkey bread.

No ratings yet

Soft, sticky, and cinnamon-scented—this healthy monkey bread is made with a simple yogurt dough and naturally sweetened with banana, dates, and maple syrup.

Prep Time15

Cook Time25

Total Time40

Course: Baking, Snack, Dessert

Cuisine: American, Kid Friendly

Keyword: Monkey Bread, Monkey Bread Recipe, Healthy Monkey Bread

Servings: servings

Calories: 187kcal

Author: Stacey

Ingredients

Dough

2 cups wholemeal flour wholewheat
1 ½ cups Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coating

2 Tablespoons coconut oil (melted) (or butter)
2 teaspoons cinnamon (ground)
¼ cup dates (finely chopped)

Sticky Sauce

2 Tablespoons peanut butter (or almond butter)
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
1 medium banana (mashed) (or ½ cup apple sauce)
1 pinch salt

Instructions

Preheat the Oven to 180°C (350°F) line a cake tin or baking dish.
Make the Dough:In a large bowl, mix the yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add the the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix until a soft dough forms. Knead for a minute or two until smooth.
Form Dough Balls:Break off small pieces of dough and roll into 1-inch balls (think golf ball size -ish) kids love helping with this part!
Coat the Dough Balls:Mix the cinnamon and coconut sugar in a bowl. Dip each dough ball in melted coconut oil or butter, then roll in the cinnamon mixture.
Layer in the Pan:Place the coated dough balls into your baking dish, stacking them loosely.
Add the Sticky Sauce:Whisk together the almond/peanut butter, maple syrup, applesauce, and salt until smooth. Pour evenly over the dough balls.
Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until puffed and golden. Let cool slightly before removing from the pan.

Notes

Wholemeal (whole wheat) flour: Adds a lovely nutty flavour and extra fibre. You can also use half wholemeal and half all-purpose (plain) flour for a softer texture. I have made this recipe with gluten-free flour, and it worked well. The dough balls were soft and delicious when warm, but did have a tougher texture as they cooled.
Greek yogurt: Use full-fat plain Greek yogurt for best results; dairy-free yogurt also works.
Maple syrup: Adds gentle sweetness—swap for honey (for kids over 1) or omit for younger babies.
Coconut oil or butter: Both give great flavour; choose whichever you prefer.
Peanut butter: Almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter all work well.
Banana or applesauce: These provide natural sweetness and moisture.
Roll the dough evenly so the filling spreads nicely and you get consistent swirls.
Bake until golden; the pieces should pull apart easily but still be fluffy in the middle.
If you want to make it a little special for guests, try the optional glaze of butter and brown sugar for extra shine and flavour.
Serve with Greek yogurt and soft fresh fruit or a little vanilla ice cream is delicious.

Nutrition