Vegan Caramel Monkey Bread! Gooey, sweet, fluffy homemade pull apart bread with vegan caramel sauce. Let the dough rise overnight, then put it together quickly in the morning for a decadent breakfast.
Have you ever had Monkey Bread before? I’m not sure where it came from, but it’s also called “pull apart bread”, and it’s basically the most delicious thing ever. It’s like a giant cinnamon roll, except here, we are using vegan caramel!
I can totally see why it’s called Monkey Bread. When I made it the other week for my kids, the 3 of them (plus a few friends) where picking at it like little monkeys and eating it. So fun, and I definitely got the best mom ever award that day! They’ve been begging me to make it ever since.
How do you make Vegan Caramel Monkey Bread?
First, you make the sticky, sweet dough and let it rise. You can either let it rise in the fridge overnight, or for about 2 hours at room temperature.
Make your caramel sauce on the stove in 5 minutes, and then roll the dough into little balls. Layer it in a pan (I used a pie pan, but if you have a bundt pan, use that!).
Bake for 25-30 minutes, the balls should be a little golden brown on top. This is what it will look like out of the oven and before you invert it:
Now flip it over and invert it onto a serving plate large enough to hold it. This is what it will look like once you flip it over: Delicious, ooey, gooey caramel monkey bread!
You can either let everyone pick at it like I did, or cut off larger pieces and serve with more caramel sauce.
If you make this recipe, let me know how it goes! Rate it, leave a comment and tag a photo @noracooksvegan on Instagram. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction.
Vegan Caramel Monkey Bread
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 2 1/4 teaspoons dry active yeast (1 packet)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup soy milk
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter, melted (I use earth balance)
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
For the Vegan Caramel:
- 1/2 cup vegan butter
- 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk (the thick white part)
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- pinch of salt, optional
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a mixing bowl, add the warm water and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes, it should get a bit foamy on top. Now add the rest of the dough ingredients, and mix. Knead a little with your hands to combine. It should be sticky. Cover with a towel and set aside to rise for about 2 hours, then stick it in the fridge to cool.
- Make the caramel: Melt the vegan butter in a small pan over medium heat. Now add the coconut milk and brown sugar, and stir. Bring to a boil and stir constantly for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add a sprinkle of salt, if desired.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a bundt or pie pan.
- Assemble: Punch the cold dough gently to release the air bubbles. Pull apart and shape into 1 1/2 inch balls. In prepared pan, layer 1/4 cup caramel, dough balls, 1/4 cup caramel, dough balls and pour 1/4 more cup caramel on top. Reserve the remaining caramel.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top pieces are starting to get golden. Cool for 5-10 minutes, and then invert carefully onto a serving plate. Drizzle extra caramel on top, if desired, and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Monkey bread will taste best the same day it's made.
- You can prep this the night before by allowing the dough to rise in the fridge overnight.
Very delicious! The caramel sauce was so good. We added a sprinkle of cinnamon on top to make them like caramel cinnamon rolls. I did have an issue when baking in the pie pan. I forgot to account for the expansion of the dough, so it started to overflow the pan and some of the caramel sauce dripped out towards the end of baking. I’d either stick with the Bundt pan or put an aluminum foil-lined sheet tray underneath to catch any overflow.
Amazing dough recipe. So soft and fluffy. I will use this dough recipe again and again, thank you! The caramel was not really caramelly for me personally since it was made differently from how I usually make caramel. Still a mind blowing recipe!
Hi Monika. Thanks for sharing your great feedback and review! I’m glad you loved the bread! Happy baking!
I have made this for my family a few times over the years and they always devour it!
I would like to know, though, how much the dough should grow during rising? My dough doesn’t seem to rise very well and turns out quite dense.
Thanks!
The dough should about double. Let it rise in a warm place perhaps to help. I’m so glad your family enjoys the recipe and I hope this helps!
A family favorite! My husband requested it for his birthday, and we’ve made it for many family celebrations.
Nora, your recipes are tried and true, I’m so grateful for your hard work putting these together! Thank you!
Hi Emily. Thank you for your kind comments and review, they mean a lot to me! I’m thrilled to hear you are loving my recipes! Happy cooking!
Yum! My family devoured this incredibly sweet and satisfying bread!!!! Going to have to make this again soon. I love all of your recipes btw!
Hi Chantel! Thank you for using my recipes! I’m glad you loved the bread. I appreciate you taking your time to share your review!
I made this recipe and my family adored it! How should I store the left over caramel sauce?
Oh great! In a covered container in the fridge is best. Give it a stir every time you use it, and you can also warm it up a bit to get it thin again, as it will thicken up.
Can you substitute gluten free flour?
I have honestly never tried it here. It may work, but I can’t be sure!
I used to make regular monkey bread all the time and this is the first time I made it vegan. My family said it was the best moment bread I ever made and I agree!! Absolutely delicious!
Oh I’m so glad you and your family loved it! My kids beg me to make this, it’s one of their favorite things ever. Thank you!
If letting the dough rise overnight, is it OK to make the caramel sauce the night before, as well?
Yes, you can make it the night before. Simply warm it up and whisk it to get it smooth and thin again.
Hi! There is a way to substitute the butter? Maybe coconut oil or a mix of oil? I can’t time vegan butter where I live. Thank you!! Can’t wait to try this bread!!!
I’m pretty sure coconut oil would work. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
I more so have a question – can you use other milk substitutes like hemp milk?
Yes, another non-dairy milk will work fine.
I just made this and I am blown away! So easy and super delicious! Thank you 🙂
Thank you, I’m so glad you like the monkey bread!
Outstanding as always.
But it’s large so make sure there are a lot of people around to eat it or you will have this far to handy to pick at for a couple days… 🙂
Hello,
Ran across this recipe and I gave it a try…. it was delicious!!! Perfect for my sweet tooth and vegan!
Thank you! So yummy, my kids are obsessed with monkey bread. 🙂
Thanks for the recipe! I plan on making it again in the near future. I let us rise overnight and it resulted in more of a dense biscuit than soft light and airy. My family still loved it though!
Thanks Jess! Glad everyone enjoyed it.
This monkey bread is amazing, the kids go crazy for it.