The best homemade vegan monkey bread that is gooey, delicious, and the perfect sweet breakfast, brunch, or dessert! Made with oat milk and vegan butter, each doughy ball pulls apart and is coated in a bubbly cinnamon sugar topping. No canned biscuit dough in this easy recipe!
The best homemade monkey bread
If you love cinnamon rolls, then you will love monkey bread! Monkey bread is a sweet, gooey, and doughy Bundt cake made from lots of little balls of dough, each coated in a simple cinnamon sugar topping. This tear apart doughy treat is sticky with a fluffy and soft inside.
I absolutely love serving monkey bread at brunch with family or friends. But you can certainly enjoy it as a dessert too. It makes for the best sweet sharing dish! Everyone will love it.
The best part about this recipe is that you don’t need canned biscuit dough like most other recipes on the internet – we make our own vegan dough! This oat milk monkey bread is 100% homemade. Plus, no one will be able to tell it is vegan – it’s that good.
What makes this monkey bread vegan?
This monkey bread recipe is vegan because we use vegan butter in place of real butter and oat milk instead of regular milk. You cannot tell it is vegan (trust me) because it is so doughy, sweet, sticky, and delicious! Better than the real thing.
Ingredients in oat milk monkey bread
Vegan homemade monkey bread is made with oat milk, flour, maple syrup, and a few other simple ingredients. It is easy to make and sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Here is a list of ingredients, so you have everything prepared:
The Dough:
- Oat Milk: First up, we need 1 and 1/2 cups of full-fat oat milk. This is the main “wet” ingredient in our homemade dough.
- Instant Yeast: To help the dough rise, grab 1 package of instant yeast, not dry active yeast.
- Coconut Sugar: For a little sweetness in the dough and to help activate the yeast, add 1/4 cup of coconut sugar.
- Maple Syrup: Plus 1/4 cup of pure real maple syrup.
- Vegan Butter: This makes the dough soft and fluffy. Add in 1/3 cup of melted vegan butter so the dough balls pull apart easily.
- Salt: And add a dash of sea salt.
- All-Purpose Flour: Finally, we need 4 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, plus a little more for dusting.
The Cinnamon Sugar Topping:
- Vegan Butter: First up, we need 1/2 cup of melted vegan butter or regular butter for the cinnamon sugar topping.
- Coconut Sugar: Plus, 1 cup of coconut sugar.
- Ground Cinnamon: And 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for that classic cinnamon roll taste.
The Glaze:
- Powdered Sugar: If you want to add a glaze or dipping sauce, the first ingredient you’ll need is 1 cup of powdered sugar.
- Oat Milk: Plus 3 Tablespoons of oat milk. Add more or less depending on how loose or firm you want the glaze.
- Vanilla Extract: And 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Salt: Finally, a pinch of sea salt goes a long way and is perfect for this glaze.
Easy ingredient substitution suggestions
If you are out of an ingredient or two and need some help with substitutions, here are my recommendations. I don’t recommend substituting more than 2 ingredients, or else the recipe will not be the same.
- Oat Milk: You can use unsweetened almond milk in place of the oat milk. Vanilla or plain will both work. If you are not vegan, use 2% or whole milk.
- Vegan Butter: If you are not vegan, you can use real unsalted butter.
- Coconut Sugar: Use light brown sugar in place of coconut sugar.
- Maple Syrup: You can use honey in place of the maple syrup if needed.
How to make vegan monkey bread
This homemade vegan monkey bread comes together in four easy steps! Here are detailed step-by-step instructions for any level baker.
First, we will make the dough. In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, add oat milk. Microwave in three 20-second increments so it is warm to about 110°F (not hot). Whisk and add instant yeast & coconut sugar. Then whisk in melted butter, maple syrup, and salt.
Next, add one cup of flour and whisk until combined. Add 3 and 1/2 more cups of flour and mix with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until all flour is incorporated. It will be sticky, but it should not be stuck to the bowl. Dust your surface with flour and knead the dough for 5 minutes until it can form a smoother ball.
After that, lightly oil a clean mixing bowl and place the dough ball into it. Cover with a dish towel and place somewhere relatively warm (I love the inside of the microwave). Let proof and sit for an hour to rise, or until it doubles in size.
Third, preheat the oven to 350° and lightly grease a bunt pan or pie dish. While the oven is preheated, mix together melted butter, cinnamon, and coconut sugar in a bowl.
Then, when the dough is done proofing, pull the dough apart and make 30 – 40 balls by rolling them together in your hand – do not overwork the dough. Toss each ball in the coconut sugar coating and coat them really nicely. Layers coated dough balls on top of each other in greased dish. Drizzle any extra coconut sugar coating over the dough balls.
Next, make the glaze or dipping sauce. In a bowl, mix together the glaze ingredients.
Finally, bake homemade vegan monkey bread for 30 – 35 minutes, until puffed up, almost doubled and sugar is bubbly. Remove from oven and let rest only 5 – 7 minutes before flipping out of the dish (otherwise it will stick to the pan). Drizzle with glaze and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to let the dough proof?
Absolutely. You must proof the dough for at least 1 hour so it can rise and the gluten can activate.
Is monkey bread a dessert or breakfast?
Monkey bread is a sweet breakfast, brunch, and dessert! You can enjoy it with friends and family at a brunch or as an after-dinner treat.
Can I use active dry yeast?
No! Do not use active dry yeast. In fact, you must use instant yeast for this monkey bread recipe.
Can I make monkey bread in a dutch oven?
Yes! Grease your dutch oven and follow the same instructions. Keep an eye on the oven and check at the 25-minute mark because it might bake faster.
Can I use regular butter in place of vegan butter?
Yes, if you are not vegan, you can use regular unsalted butter instead of the vegan butter.
What is the best vegan butter for baking?
For baking, I highly recommend Earth Balance vegan butter.
How to store and reheat monkey bread:
Storing: For best results, store leftover monkey bread in the original baking dish by covering it with aluminum foil or transferring it to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating: Place original baking dish in a preheat oven of 350°F and reheat for 10 – 15 minutes until warm and bubble again. For quick reheating, you can tear off sections and microwave for 45 – 60 seconds until warm.
If you loved this sweet recipe, try these next!
- Healthier Cinnamon Rolls with Icing
- Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
- Healthy Coffee Cake
- Vegan Baked Oatmeal
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don’t forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
Vegan Monkey Bread
Ingredients
The Dough:
- 1 ½ cups oat milk*
- 1 pack instant yeast
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup real maple syrup
- ⅓ cup vegan butter*, melted
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled (+ more for dusting)
The Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- ½ cup vegan butter*, melted
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
The Glaze (Optional):
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp oat milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Make Dough: In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, add oat milk. Microwave in three 20-second increments so it is warm to about 110°F (not hot). Whisk and add instant yeast & coconut sugar. Then whisk in melted butter, maple syrup, and salt. Add one cup of flour and whisk until combined. Add 3 + 1/2 more cups of flour and mix with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until all flour is incorporated. It will be sticky, but it should not be stuck to the bowl. Dust your surface with flour and knead the dough for 5 minutes until it can form a smoother ball.
- Proof the Dough: Lightly oil a clean mixing bowl and place the dough ball into it. Cover with a dish towel and place somewhere relatively warm (I love the inside of the microwave). Let sit for an hour to rise, or until it doubles in size.
- Make Coating: Preheat oven to 350° and lightly grease a bundt pan or pie dish. While the oven is preheating, mix together melted butter, cinnamon, and coconut sugar in a bowl.
- Make Monkey Bread: When done proofing, pull the dough apart and make 30 - 40 balls by rolling them together in your hand - do not overwork the dough. You can also just cut the dough pieces then roll by hand. Toss each ball in the coconut sugar coating and coat them really nicely. Layers coated dough balls on top of each other in greased dish. Drizzle any extra coconut sugar coating over the dough balls.
- Make Glaze or Dipping Sauce (Optional): In a bowl, mix together the glaze ingredients. For a tricker dip, reduce the amount of milk and add a little more powdered sugar. For a glaze drizzle, add a dash more oat milk.
- Bake: Bake monkey bread for 30 - 35 minutes, until puffed up, almost doubled and sugar is bubbly. Remove from oven and let rest only 5 - 7 minutes before flipping out of dish (otherwise it will stick to the pan). Drizzle with glaze and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Sara says
Hello,
Hoping you can answer some questions:
Can I sub coconut oil for the butter? Can I sub an all purpose paleo flour? What else could I use for the yeast? I check the link you had and unfortunately the packet has acid, which I have to stay away from?
Margaret says
This recipe was everything!!! So good and just amazing. My entire family loved it and it was fun to make.