Easy Air Fryer Monkey Bread

Welcome to the definitive guide for crafting the most irresistible, sticky-sweet air fryer monkey bread with biscuits. This recipe promises a treat that will have your taste buds singing! If you’re new to the world of making desserts in your Ninja Foodi or any air fryer, prepare to be amazed. It’s an incredible alternative to traditional oven-baked monkey bread, offering all the delightful flavors without the need to heat up your entire house.

Air fryer monkey bread stands out as a fantastic choice for both breakfast and dessert! Its speed and simplicity make it perfect for whipping up a small batch, ideal for a cozy family treat or an unexpected gathering. Experience this gooey delight in your air fryer tonight, and let us know your thoughts! It’s truly one of our favorite easy air fryer recipes.

Ninja Foodi Monkey Bread: The Ultimate Small Batch Treat

For years, we’ve cherished making monkey bread with refrigerated biscuits, a go-to treat for impromptu guests or a festive brunch during the holidays. With just a handful of primary ingredients, it comes together effortlessly. However, sometimes the thought of baking an entire bundt pan for just our small family of four feels excessive. That’s precisely where the air fryer version shines!

This method allows you to prepare a perfectly sized batch, ensuring freshness and minimizing waste. If you own one of these “magic machines,” we highly encourage you to give this recipe a try. You might even find yourself wanting to share its deliciousness with others – if you can resist eating it all yourself! 😉

Expert Tip: For optimal results, preheating your air fryer is crucial. Just as you would an oven, starting with a hot basket ensures your food cooks evenly and achieves that coveted crispy exterior. Learn how to properly preheat your air fryer for the best outcome. For quick reference, keep our printable free air fryer cooking time chart handy on your fridge.

Crafting Monkey Bread in Your Air Fryer with Refrigerated Biscuits

The foundation of this air fryer monkey bread recipe, much like its oven-baked counterpart, relies on large refrigerated biscuits. We typically opt for “Grands” style biscuits, which are larger than standard ones, providing more substantial pull-apart pieces. Both store-brand and Pillsbury varieties work beautifully. For an even sweeter and richer outcome, you could also experiment with refrigerated cinnamon rolls, keeping in mind they will yield a distinctly different, yet equally delicious, result.

You’ll need a suitable pan to cradle your gooey creation within the air fryer basket. Since monkey bread is inherently sticky and tends to bubble, placing it directly into the air fryer’s mesh basket isn’t advisable. A dedicated air fryer-safe baking pan will be an invaluable tool, and you’ll find it incredibly useful for many other air fryer culinary adventures.

Essential Ingredients for Air Fryer Monkey Bread:

1. An air fryer pan, sized to fit your appliance.
2. One roll of large refrigerated biscuits (Grands or similar). Alternatively, use refrigerated or even thawed frozen cinnamon rolls for a different twist.
3. Brown sugar: This provides a deeper, caramel-like sweetness and contributes to the sticky texture.
4. Granulated sugar: Balances the sweetness and helps create the coating.
5. Ground cinnamon: The quintessential spice for that warm, inviting flavor.
6. Melted butter: Essential for creating the luscious, gooey sauce that coats every piece of monkey bread.

Can You Use Frozen Cinnamon Rolls Instead of Biscuits?

Absolutely! Using frozen cinnamon rolls is a fantastic alternative, especially if you enjoy a more intense cinnamon flavor and often an included cream cheese frosting. When opting for frozen rolls, remember they will require some thawing time before you can easily slice them. Brands like Rhodes cinnamon rolls are excellent choices, as they store well in the freezer, allowing you to pull out just the right amount for a smaller batch. Once thawed, proceed with cutting them into quarters and coating them, just as you would with biscuits.

How to Make a Simple Frosting for Monkey Bread

A delightful glaze elevates monkey bread from great to extraordinary. Creating a simple frosting is incredibly easy: just measure out 1 cup of powdered sugar into a small bowl. Gradually whisk in milk, a tablespoon at a time, until you achieve your desired consistency. For a thinner, drizzly glaze, add a bit more milk; for a thicker, more opaque frosting, use less. You can further enhance the flavor by stirring in a splash of vanilla extract, or for a unique twist, a hint of coconut extract works wonderfully too.

Exciting Variations to Elevate Your Monkey Bread

While classic monkey bread is a treat in itself, there are many ways to customize it to your liking. Chopped nuts, for instance, are an optional but highly recommended addition. They introduce a pleasant textural contrast and a nutty depth of flavor. For this recipe, we often use chopped walnuts because their milder crunch integrates beautifully, creating a satisfying crumble on top. You can also experiment with pecans or almonds.

The signature sticky-sweet sauce is effortlessly made and ensures every single piece is coated in irresistible goodness. Don’t hesitate to amp up the flavor profile even further, perhaps by incorporating seasonal spices or extracts, similar to how we crafted our delightful pumpkin monkey bread.

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Bites: Perfect Portions

Just like our traditional oven-baked easy monkey bread recipe, the key to its pull-apart nature lies in preparing individual “bites.” You’ll want to cut each biscuit into quarters. While you can opt to roll these quarters into neat little balls, leaving them as irregular pieces works just as well and often adds to the rustic charm. As mentioned, cinnamon rolls can also be used following the same method; both approaches are delicious, but the latter yields a distinctly sweeter profile, especially if they come with a pre-made frosting packet.

What Can You Use Instead of a Bundt Pan for Monkey Bread?

One of the beauties of making monkey bread in an air fryer is the flexibility with bakeware. You don’t need a specific bundt pan, which is often too large for an air fryer anyway. I frequently use an 8×8 disposable aluminum pan, which is convenient for easy cleanup. For air frying, a dedicated air fryer pan (often silicone or non-stick metal) is ideal and performs exceptionally well. Truly, almost any oven-safe pan that fits comfortably inside your air fryer basket will work. Just ensure it has high enough sides to contain the gooey sauce as it cooks.

Air Fryer Monkey Bread with Cinnamon Rolls: A Sweeter Twist

For those who crave an extra layer of sweetness and spice, using refrigerated or frozen cinnamon rolls (ensure they are defrosted first) is a superb option. Quartering them and tossing them in a bowl with additional sugar and cinnamon, or shaking them in a freezer bag, intensifies their flavor. This step ensures every surface of the cinnamon roll pieces is thoroughly coated, leading to an even more indulgent outcome.

Whether you choose biscuits or cinnamon rolls, a crucial tip is not to leave the dough pieces on the countertop for too long after coating them. If they become too sticky before baking, they may clump together and lose their signature “pull-apart” quality once cooked. You want each piece to remain somewhat distinct before going into the air fryer.

• You can customize the spice level: feel free to skip the cinnamon entirely and simply toss the biscuit pieces gently in sugar if you prefer a less spiced flavor profile. The customization is entirely up to your preference.
• When assembling, layering is key.
• If you opt to include nuts, start by placing a small layer at the bottom of your pan, then add the coated biscuit pieces, and finish with another scattering of nuts on top. Nuts are, of course, entirely optional.

Regardless of your pan choice, generously spraying it with a non-stick cooking spray is absolutely essential. This step is critical, especially if your goal is to easily invert the monkey bread onto a serving plate once it’s perfectly baked.

How to Make Air Fryer Pull-Apart Bread: Step-by-Step Instructions

Achieving perfectly gooey, pull-apart monkey bread in your air fryer is straightforward. Follow these steps for a delightful result:

• Preparation: Begin by cutting each refrigerated biscuit into four equal pieces. You can choose to roll these into small balls or leave them as irregular quarters – both work well for the pull-apart effect. In a medium bowl, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Add the biscuit pieces to this mixture and toss them thoroughly until each piece is nicely coated.
• Pan Assembly: Generously spray the inside of your air fryer-safe pan with non-stick cooking spray. If using nuts, spread a thin layer at the bottom of the pan. Next, arrange the coated biscuit pieces in the pan, layering them evenly. If you want more nuts, sprinkle another layer over the biscuits.
• Sauce Creation: In a small, separate bowl, combine the melted butter and brown sugar. Stir them together until well blended. Drizzle this rich, sticky sauce evenly over the biscuits in the pan, ensuring every piece gets a generous coating.
• Air Frying – Initial Cook: Preheat your air fryer to 330°F (165°C) for 5 minutes. Carefully place the assembled pan inside the preheated air fryer basket. Cook for 10 minutes.
• Air Frying – Covered Cook: After the initial 10 minutes, carefully lift the pan out of the air fryer (it will be hot!) and cover it loosely with aluminum foil. Return the covered pan to the air fryer and continue cooking for an additional 15 minutes, or until the biscuits in the center of the pan are cooked through and no longer sticky when poked. The foil helps prevent the top from burning while the interior bakes.

Finishing Touches and Serving: While the monkey bread cools slightly, prepare your icing by mixing powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Once cooked, place a serving plate over the top of the pan and, using oven mitts or pot holders, carefully flip the pan over so the monkey bread slides out onto the plate. Pour the prepared icing generously over the warm monkey bread and serve immediately. While it’s perfectly acceptable to serve it straight from the pan, adding that extra layer of sweet glaze and perhaps some more nuts truly elevates the experience. Remember, the pan will be hot, so exercise caution when handling it.

The non-stick spray is your best friend here! When you place a plate over the top and carefully flip the pan using pot holders, the monkey bread should slide right out, beautifully intact. Then, it’s time to pour that luscious powdered sugar frosting over the top and let everyone enthusiastically dig into this delectable treat.

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Recipe

By Justine

Sticky sweet air fryer monkey bread will make your mouth water! If you haven’t made dessert in your Ninja Foodi yet you’re in for a treat.

Prep:
15 mins

Cook:
25 mins

Servings:
6

Equipment

• 1 air fryer
• 1 air fryer pot or suitable baking pan

Ingredients

• 1 roll refrigerated biscuits (large or Grands type; thaw frozen rolls/cinnamon rolls first)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1-2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 cup nuts, chopped (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut biscuits into 4ths. In a bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon, then toss biscuit pieces in this mixture until nicely coated.
2. Spray the inside of your air fryer pan with non-stick spray. Lay down an optional layer of chopped nuts at the bottom.
3. Add the coated biscuits into the pan, then top with more nuts if desired.
4. In a small bowl, combine melted butter and brown sugar. Stir them together until smooth, then spoon this mixture evenly over the biscuits in the pan.
5. Preheat your air fryer to 330°F (165°C) for 5 minutes. Carefully place the pan inside and cook for 10 minutes.
6. Carefully lift out the hot pan and cover it loosely with aluminum foil. Return to the air fryer and continue cooking for 15 minutes, or until the middle biscuits are no longer sticky.
7. For the icing, mix together powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Place a serving plate over the top of the pan and carefully flip it over so the monkey bread slides out. Pour the icing over the top and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz,
Calories: 250kcal,
Carbohydrates: 32g,
Protein: 2g,
Fat: 14g,
Saturated Fat: 6g,
Cholesterol: 21mg,
Sodium: 75mg,
Potassium: 84mg,
Fiber: 2g,
Sugar: 27g,
Vitamin A: 236IU,
Calcium: 34mg,
Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Other Irresistible Air Fryer Dessert Recipes You’ll Love

Once you discover the magic of air frying for desserts, you’ll want to explore even more! If you’re looking for other fantastic air fryer desserts, we have a growing collection that’s sure to satisfy any sweet craving. For a unique twist on this classic, you can even make monkey bread in a smoker! We recently tried it, and it was an absolute showstopper, earning rave reviews from everyone who tasted it.

• Indulge in our air fryer cake, an ooey-gooey masterpiece often filled with a rich chocolate “lava” center. It’s surprisingly easy to achieve a perfectly moist cake in the air fryer.
• For a quick breakfast or a sweet snack, our air fryer donuts are a must-try. They’re lighter than traditional fried donuts but just as delicious.
• And if you haven’t yet experienced the joy of our air fryer cookies, you are truly missing out! They bake up soft, chewy, and perfectly golden in minutes.

Of course, our classic oven-baked traditional monkey bread or the decadent chocolate monkey bread are always amazing choices for those who prefer the conventional method.