Irresistible Orange Spiced Monkey Bread: Your New Favorite Ooey-Gooey Sweet Treat!
Prepare your taste buds for an explosion of citrusy sweetness and warm spices with this incredible Orange Spiced Monkey Bread! This isn’t just any breakfast pastry; it’s a delightful, pull-apart masterpiece that promises an “ooey-gooey” experience with every bite. Imagine soft, fluffy biscuit pieces, generously coated in a vibrant mix of orange zest, cinnamon, and ground cloves, then bathed in a homemade orange syrup before being baked to golden-brown perfection. It’s the ultimate morning treat that’s perfect for sharing, or simply enjoying by yourself with a cup of coffee.
The unique flavor combination in this monkey bread holds a special place in my heart. Growing up, winter mornings after playing outside were often greeted with my Grandmother’s comforting orange spiced tea. That cozy blend of bright citrus, warm cinnamon, and a hint of clove always felt like a warm hug. It was this cherished memory that sparked the idea for an Orange Spiced Monkey Bread – a recipe designed to capture that same sense of warmth and homely comfort in a deliciously sweet, shareable form. I knew these familiar flavors would translate beautifully into a decadent pull-apart bread, and I was right!
Why You’ll Love This Orange Spiced Monkey Bread Recipe
- Incredibly Easy: Using pre-made biscuit dough makes this recipe surprisingly simple and quick to prepare, perfect for busy mornings or last-minute brunch plans.
- Irresistible Flavor: The combination of fresh orange zest, warm cinnamon, and subtle cloves creates a truly unique and comforting taste profile that’s a step above traditional monkey bread.
- Perfect Texture: Each piece is soft, tender, and coated in a sticky, sweet syrup, making it wonderfully “ooey-gooey” and satisfying.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Monkey bread is naturally fun to eat – just pull it apart! It’s a fantastic centerpiece for any breakfast, brunch, or holiday gathering.
- A Touch of Nostalgia: For those who love the classic flavors of orange and warm spices, this recipe evokes a sense of home and comfort.
Sidenote: Any time I make this delicious treat, my kids all squeal, “Monkey Brains!” Of course, I always correct them, “It’s monkey bread!” I can’t help but wonder if it’s just my silly bunch, or if other families out there have their own playful nicknames for this pull-apart delight. Either way, it’s a fun family tradition that adds a little extra joy to our mornings.
Essential Ingredients for Orange Spiced Monkey Bread
To bring this delightful Orange Spiced Monkey Bread to life, you’ll need a handful of accessible ingredients that pack a punch of flavor. Here’s a closer look at what goes into this delicious creation:
- Two Large Cans of Biscuits: The star of the show! Using refrigerated biscuit dough is the secret to making this monkey bread quick and easy. Opt for a classic flaky or buttermilk variety for the best texture.
- Fresh Oranges: Two vibrant oranges are essential. You’ll use the zest from both to infuse the biscuit coating with bright citrus notes, and fresh-squeezed juice from one for the luscious homemade syrup. Navel oranges work wonderfully for their rich flavor and easy juicing.
- White Sugar: This is combined with the spices and orange zest to create the delightful coating for the biscuit pieces.
- Brown Sugar: A key component of the rich, caramel-like syrup. Its molasses notes add depth and a wonderful stickiness.
- Butter: Because what’s a delicious sweet bread without butter? It makes the syrup incredibly rich and helps the monkey bread achieve that irresistible golden hue.
- Ground Cinnamon: A generous amount of cinnamon is crucial for that warm, inviting spice. It pairs perfectly with the orange and cloves.
- Ground Cloves: Just a touch of ground cloves adds a deep, aromatic warmth that complements the cinnamon and orange without overpowering them. It’s the subtle secret weapon for that comforting, spiced flavor.
The Right Tool for the Job: Your Bundt Pan
You’ll also need a bundt pan for this recipe. While there are countless beautiful and intricate bundt pan styles out there, for monkey bread, I highly recommend sticking with a plain, old-school bundt pan, much like this classic one available on Amazon. Why the recommendation for simplicity? The traditional shallow, ridged shape of a classic bundt pan is ideal for monkey bread. It allows the individual biscuit pieces to hold together beautifully once baked, creating that signature pull-apart texture. More importantly, it ensures the syrup evenly coats every nook and cranny, resulting in a perfectly caramelized and incredibly sticky, sweet exterior on all sides. A more elaborate design might trap too much syrup or make it harder to release the bread cleanly.
Bringing the Flavors Together: A Step-by-Step Guide
Crafting this Orange Spiced Monkey Bread is a fun and rewarding process. Let’s walk through each step to ensure your monkey bread turns out perfectly gooey and delicious.
1. Zest Your Oranges with Care
You’ll begin by zesting two navel oranges. The zest is where all the wonderful aromatic oils and bright citrus flavor are concentrated, so don’t skip this step! A microplane zester works best for getting fine, flavorful zest without incorporating any bitter white pith. You’ll need approximately ⅓ cup of fresh-squeezed orange juice for the syrup later, which typically comes from about one orange. This means you’ll have one zested, but otherwise whole, orange left over for snacking or another recipe – a delicious bonus!
2. Prepare the Orange Spiced Coating
Once your oranges are zested, it’s time to create the aromatic coating for your biscuit pieces. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the white sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and the fresh orange zest. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined and the zest is evenly distributed throughout the sugar mixture. The aroma alone will be delightful! Set this aside for now. This flavorful blend is what gives our monkey bread its signature spiced orange essence.
3. Cut and Coat the Biscuits
Next, open your cans of refrigerated biscuits. Each biscuit needs to be cut into smaller, bite-sized pieces – typically 4 to 6 pieces per biscuit, depending on their original size. I find a pair of kitchen shears to be incredibly handy for this task, offering quick and clean cuts. However, a sharp knife will work just as well.
Once cut, take each individual biscuit piece and roll it thoroughly in your prepared orange spiced sugar mixture. Ensure each piece is generously coated. This coating is crucial for both flavor and creating that delightful sticky texture. As you coat them, gently place the pieces into your greased bundt pan, distributing them as evenly as possible.
4. Crafting the Homemade Orange Syrup
With your biscuit pieces ready in the pan, it’s time to make the magical syrup that transforms this into true monkey bread. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, the remaining cinnamon, butter, and your freshly squeezed orange juice. Heat this mixture over medium heat, stirring continuously, just until it comes to a gentle boil and all the sugar has dissolved. This creates a rich, fragrant, and slightly thick syrup that will caramelize beautifully during baking.
Once the syrup is ready, carefully pour it evenly over all the biscuit pieces in the bundt pan. Make sure to distribute it as best as you can, allowing it to seep down into all the cracks and crevices. This ensures every piece gets its fair share of that delicious, sticky glaze.
5. Bake to Golden Perfection
Now, slide your bundt pan into the preheated oven. Bake the monkey bread at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) for approximately 35-40 minutes. Keep an eye on it – you’re looking for a beautiful golden-brown color on top, and the bread should be cooked all the way through. To check for doneness, you can insert a skewer or thin knife into the center; if it comes out clean, your monkey bread is ready.
6. The Grand Reveal: Serving Your Monkey Bread
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes before attempting to invert it. This cooling period is important as it allows the syrup to set slightly, preventing the bread from sticking to the pan and making for a cleaner release.
When you’re ready, place a serving platter upside down over the bundt pan. With one swift and confident motion, flip the pan and platter together. The monkey bread should gracefully slide out onto the platter, showcasing its golden, syrupy glory.
A Note on Serving: When you turn out the monkey bread, expect a generous amount of delicious, sticky syrup! To avoid a messy cleanup, I highly recommend choosing a serving platter with a good lip or a slightly raised edge. While I sometimes photograph with the glaze artfully dripping off the platter for dramatic effect, in real life, this can be quite a pain to clean up. A platter with a rim will contain all that delightful stickiness, making serving much easier and more enjoyable. Serve it warm for the ultimate ooey-gooey experience!
Orange Spiced Monkey Bread
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Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- zest of 2 oranges
- 2 16.3 ounce cans biscuits
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/3 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
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In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the white sugar, cinnamon and cloves with the zest from 2 oranges.
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Cut each biscuit into 4-6 pieces. Dredge each piece of biscuit dough in the cinnamon sugar and place the coated pieces in the bundt pan.
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In a small pan, heat the brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and orange juice just until it comes to a boil. Pour the syrup evenly over the biscuits.
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Bake the monkey bread at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and cooked throughout. Allow the pan to cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a serving platter.
Serving Suggestions and Variations
This Orange Spiced Monkey Bread is a showstopper on its own, but here are some ideas to elevate your serving or try new flavor combinations:
- Warm & Fresh: Always serve monkey bread warm. It’s when the syrup is soft and gooey, and the biscuits are at their most tender.
- Brunch Centerpiece: It’s perfect for a weekend brunch alongside fresh fruit, yogurt, bacon, or sausages.
- Coffee or Tea Pairing: The warm spices and citrus notes pair beautifully with a hot cup of coffee, a robust black tea, or even a soothing chai latte.
- Garnish Options: A dusting of powdered sugar, an extra sprinkle of orange zest, or a few candied orange peels can add a touch of elegance and extra flavor.
- Vanilla Glaze: For even more indulgence, you could drizzle a simple vanilla glaze over the top after it’s cooled slightly. Just whisk together powdered sugar, a splash of milk or orange juice, and a dash of vanilla extract.
- Nutty Crunch: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the bottom of the bundt pan before adding the biscuit pieces for a delightful crunch.
- Ginger Twist: A tiny pinch of ground ginger added to the spice mixture or syrup can deepen the warmth and complement the orange beautifully.
Storing Your Leftover Monkey Bread
While it’s rare to have leftovers of this delightful treat, it’s good to know how to store it properly.
- Room Temperature: If you plan to eat it within a day, cover the monkey bread tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil at room temperature. This will help keep it moist and gooey.
- Refrigeration: For longer storage (up to 3-4 days), it’s best to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheating: To enjoy its fresh-baked goodness, gently reheat individual portions in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or place the entire monkey bread (if still mostly intact) in an oven preheated to 300°F (150°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. This will bring back that irresistible gooey texture.
If you love monkey bread as much as I do, you might also enjoy my Blackberry Monkey Bread. It offers a different, yet equally delicious, fruity twist on this classic pull-apart treat!
This Orange Spiced Monkey Bread is truly a standout recipe. Its unique blend of sweet orange, warm cinnamon, and subtle cloves creates a comforting and irresistible flavor profile that will quickly become a family favorite. Whether you’re making it for a special occasion or just a cozy weekend morning, its ease of preparation and crowd-pleasing appeal make it a perfect choice. So go ahead, gather your ingredients, and get ready to pull apart a piece of pure bliss!
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