This gooey vegan monkey bread is dairy-free and made with plant milk and vegan butter. Each dough ball is coated in cinnamon-sugar goodness, making it perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert—no canned dough needed!
Homemade vegan monkey bread recipe
If you love cinnamon rolls, you’ll love monkey bread! It’s a sweet, gooey Bundt cake made from soft dough balls coated in cinnamon sugar. Sticky on the outside and fluffy inside, it’s so good!
This recipe is 100% vegan. We use plant milk and vegan butter instead of dairy. But.... you won’t believe it’s vegan—it tastes amazing!
Monkey bread is perfect for holiday brunches like Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving. It’s fun to share with family and friends. Plus, this recipe uses homemade dough, not canned biscuits. It’s easy and so worth it!
Why I love this vegan recipe:
- Easy to Make: Perfect for any skill level!
- Vegan: No eggs or dairy here.
- Gooey & Doughy: Soft dough balls coated in sticky cinnamon sugar.
- Perfect for Sharing: A fun finger food for brunch or dessert.
- No Canned Dough: Made with homemade, fluffy dough.
- Try these Vegan Blueberry Pop Tarts or these Air Fryer Apples next!
The ingredients:
This vegan monkey bread uses simple ingredients like oat milk, flour, and maple syrup to create a soft, gooey treat. Here's what you'll need:
- Oat Milk: Use full fat for the softest dough. You can also use another plant-based milk like almond milk.
- Instant Yeast: Helps the dough rise. Make sure it’s instant, not active dry.
- Coconut Sugar: Adds sweetness and activates the yeast.
- Maple Syrup: For extra sweetness and flavor.
- Vegan Butter: Keeps the dough soft and easy to pull apart.
- Salt: A pinch of sea salt balances the flavors.
- All-Purpose Flour: The base of the dough—don’t substitute other flours like almond or oat flour.
- Ground Cinnamon: For the classic cinnamon flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds the best flavor to your monkey bread.
The equipment:
Making this vegan monkey bread is super easy! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Bundt Pan or Cake Pan
- Whisk
- Sharp Knife or Dough Cutter
- Optional: Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
Step-by-step how to make vegan monkey bread
This homemade vegan monkey bread is simple to make! Here’s how to do it step-by-step:
Step One: First, make the dough. In a large microwave-safe bowl, add oat milk. Microwave in three 20-second increments to warm to about 110°F (not hot). Whisk in instant yeast and coconut sugar. Then, whisk in melted butter, maple syrup, and salt.
Step Two: Add one cup of flour and whisk until combined. Add 3½ more cups of flour and mix with a spatula or spoon until all the flour is incorporated. The dough will be sticky but not stuck to the bowl. Dust your surface with flour and knead the dough for 5 minutes until it forms a smooth ball.
Step Three: Lightly oil a clean bowl and place the dough ball inside. Cover with a dish towel and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 hour until it doubles in size.
Step Four: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a Bundt pan or pie dish. In a bowl, mix melted butter, cinnamon, and coconut sugar for the coating.
Step Five: Once the dough has risen, pull it apart into 30–40 balls. Roll each one in your hands, then coat in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Layer the coated balls in the greased dish, drizzling any leftover coating on top.
Step Six: Bake for 30–35 minutes until puffed and bubbly. Let the monkey bread cool for 5–7 minutes before flipping it out of the pan.
Step Seven: Drizzle with glaze if you like, and enjoy this warm, gooey treat!
Expert recipe tips:
- Grease the Pan Well: For easy removal, make sure to grease your Bundt pan (or cake pan) generously with butter or olive oil spray.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: When rolling the dough into balls, handle them gently. Overworking the dough can result in dense monkey bread.
- Let the Dough Rise: Be patient and allow the dough to rise for the full hour. This ensures the bread is light and fluffy.
- Use Full-Fat Oat Milk: For a rich and soft texture, opt for full-fat oat milk in the dough. This makes a huge difference in the final result!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of milk?
Yes, you can substitute oat milk with other plant-based milks like almond milk or soy milk. However, oat milk gives the dough a nice richness, so it's recommended for the best texture.
Can I add nuts or raisins to the recipe?
Absolutely! Feel free to customize the recipe by adding your favorite nuts, raisins, or other mix-ins before baking. I recommend layering them in with the dough balls.
Can I use active dry yeast?
No! Do not use active dry yeast. You must use instant yeast for this monkey bread recipe.
What can I use if I don’t have a Bundt pan?
If you don't have a Bundt pan, a regular cake pan or pie dish will work just fine! Just make sure to grease it well to avoid sticking.
Can I make this monkey bread ahead of time?
You can prepare the dough and let it rise the night before. Store it in the fridge and let it come to room temperature before rolling into balls and baking.
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 the original baking dish in a preheated oven at 350°F and reheat for 10–15 minutes until warm and bubbly again. For quick reheating, you can tear off sections and microwave for 45–60 seconds until warm.
If you loved this monkey bread, try these vegan recipes next!
- Healthier Cinnamon Rolls with Icing
- Vegan Blueberry Pop Tarts
- Eggless Brownie Skillet Recipe
- Vegan Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Vegan Molten Lava 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!
📖 Recipe
Vegan Monkey Bread Recipe
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 teaspoon 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 tablespoon ground cinnamon
The Glaze (Optional):
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoon oat milk
- 2 teaspoon 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 + ½ 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 bread tin 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.
Bake:
- Bake monkey bread for 30 - 35 minutes, until puffed up, almost doubled and sugar is bubbly. Remove from oven and let rest for only 5 - 7 minutes before flipping out of dish (otherwise it will stick to the pan). Drizzle with glaze and enjoy!
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.
Notes
Nutrition
I only recommend products I love and use myself. In full disclosure, I may receive a small compensation for purchasing a product I recommend. Thank you for supporting Healthful Blondie!
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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.
Hannah says
My daughter and I made this and it was delish! So fun.
Shelly says
Note to all readers: this is great but SO much better with brown sugar vs. coconut. I used brown last year for New Year's morning and it was incredible. Decided to follow the recipe as written this year and it's not great. Brown sugar wins.