Nothing quite says festive indulgence like a warm, gooey treat bursting with chocolate and cinnamon. This Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe is my go-to for holiday breakfasts that feel extra special and a little bit magical.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
From the moment I pulled this monkey bread out of the oven, I knew it was a holiday classic in the making. The combination of warm cinnamon sugar, melty Hershey Kisses, and soft biscuit dough is just irresistible. Plus, it’s so fun to make—I love how it brings everyone into the kitchen and gets you into the festive spirit.
- Delicious Layers of Flavor: The cinnamon sugar and melted chocolate from the Hershey Kisses create the perfect sweet, gooey bite every time.
- Easy to Make: Using refrigerated biscuit dough keeps prep quick without sacrificing that homemade feel.
- Perfect for Sharing: It’s a crowd-pleaser that looks festive and tastes like a warm holiday hug—great for family or friends.
- Customizable Fun: You can switch up sprinkles, Hershey Kiss flavors, or cinnamon sugar ratios to suit your taste or occasion.

Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient plays a special role here, working together to create layers of texture and sweetness. The biscuit dough is your soft base that soaks in all those buttery, sugary flavors, while the Hershey Kisses bring a melty surprise inside each bite.
- Refrigerated biscuit dough: Saves time and gives you soft, pillowy bites that bounce back after baking.
- Christmas sprinkles: Adds a festive, colorful touch—feel free to pick your favorite colors or shapes!
- Hershey Kisses: Melts beautifully inside the dough balls for a chocolatey surprise; I love using classic milk chocolate, but flavors like peppermint or caramel are fun too.
- Granulated sugar: Mixes with cinnamon to coat the dough and add crunchy sweetness.
- Ground cinnamon: Essential for that warm holiday spice kick that pairs perfectly with chocolate.
- Unsalted butter: Melts with brown sugar to create the sweet, sticky sauce that binds the monkey bread together.
- Brown sugar: Adds rich caramel notes to the buttery sauce for that signature gooey texture and flavor.
Make It Your Way
I love playing around with this Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe to keep it feeling fresh every year. It’s easy to tweak depending on who’s joining me in the kitchen or what flavors I’m craving.
- Variation: Once, I swapped classic Hershey Kisses for peppermint-flavored ones—such a chill, festive twist that everyone adored.
- Diet Tweaks: To make it a bit lighter, I’ve tried using reduced-fat butter and less brown sugar, and honestly, it still satisfies the sweet tooth nicely.
- Seasonal Flavors: Adding chopped nuts or dried cranberries mixed in with the dough balls creates extra texture and festive flair.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
Step 1: Prep the Pan and Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 350℉ and greasing your bundt pan with a good non-stick spray. This step is crucial to avoid any sticking later on. Then, take your refrigerated biscuit dough and cut each biscuit into quarters. I love using a pizza slicer here—it makes chopping a bunch quick and clean. Flatten each piece slightly so it can wrap nicely around a Hershey Kiss.
Step 2: Wrap the Kisses and Add Sprinkles
Now for the fun: add a few Christmas sprinkles on each quarter, then pop an unwrapped Hershey Kiss right in the center. Roll the dough around the kiss and sprinkle, shaping it into a neat little ball. This ensures the chocolate surprise is tucked safely inside, melting perfectly as it bakes.
Step 3: Coat with Cinnamon Sugar
Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon together in a big zip-top bag. Toss a handful of dough balls into the bag and shake until they’re all perfectly coated with the cinnamon sugar mix. This sweet, spiced coating is a major reason this monkey bread tastes like holiday magic.
Step 4: Arrange and Drizzle with Sauce
Place the cinnamon-sugar coated dough balls into your prepared bundt pan in a single layer. Next, melt the butter and brown sugar together over medium heat until smooth and bubbly. Pour this sticky, caramel-like sauce evenly over the dough balls, which helps them clump beautifully once baked.
Step 5: Bake and Cool
Bake your monkey bread for 30-40 minutes, watching for a deep, golden brown color on top. That caramelization is your flavor jackpot! When it’s done, give it about 10 minutes to cool before flipping it onto a serving plate. You want it warm but not burning-hot, so the gooey texture stays intact when you tear it apart.
Top Tip
Over the years, I learned a few tricks that make this Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe foolproof and even more delicious. You’ll want to keep these in mind when you bake it yourself.
- Use a Non-Stick Bundt Pan: This makes flipping the monkey bread out much easier and keeps every gooey bite intact.
- Don’t Overbake: Keep an eye on the color. Overcooking can dry out the biscuit dough, so take it out as soon as it’s golden and bubbly.
- Wrap Kisses Tight: Make sure your dough completely seals around each Hershey Kiss to prevent chocolate from leaking during baking.
- Cool Before Flipping: Allowing the monkey bread to cool for 10 minutes helps the caramel sauce set slightly, so it doesn’t all drip away when you unmold.
How to Serve Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
Garnishes
I usually sprinkle extra Christmas sprinkles on top just before serving for an extra pop of color and festive fun. Sometimes a dusting of powdered sugar also adds a snowy effect that guests love.
Side Dishes
Pair this monkey bread with a hot cup of coffee or a creamy latte for a perfect holiday morning. If you’re serving it as part of brunch, simple scrambled eggs or a fresh fruit salad balance the sweetness nicely.
Creative Ways to Present
For a party, I love serving the monkey bread right in the bundt pan, surrounded by small bowls of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. You can also wrap the whole thing in colorful parchment and tie it with a festive ribbon for a beautiful edible gift.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover monkey bread stores best in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. I usually cover it tightly with plastic wrap to keep it soft and moist; the chocolate filling helps keep it from drying out too quickly.
Freezing
You can freeze baked monkey bread by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil before thawing overnight in the fridge. I like to freeze it before baking, too—just build it in the pan, freeze fully, then bake from frozen with a few extra minutes added.
Reheating
To reheat, I pop slices in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or rewarm the whole loaf in a 300℉ oven for about 10 minutes. This helps revive the gooey texture without making the dough tough.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Homemade biscuit dough will work beautifully and add a fresh-from-scratch flare. Just make sure your dough isn’t too sticky and can be easily rolled around the Hershey Kisses without tearing.
Seal each dough piece tightly around the unwrapped Hershey Kiss, pressing edges firmly. Also, don’t overfill the dough ball so it can close completely. If you notice gaps, pinch the dough edges to prevent leaks.
Yes, vegan versions are possible! Use plant-based biscuit dough and substitute butter with a vegan alternative like coconut oil or vegan margarine. For the chocolate, choose dairy-free Hershey’s or other vegan chocolate drops.
Stir chopped nuts into the cinnamon sugar mixture for coating. Nuts inside the monkey bread will toast during baking but to avoid burning, use a moderate amount and consider adding a sprinkling on top halfway through baking for extra crunch without risking bitterness.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe has become a cherished holiday tradition in my kitchen because it combines ease, festive fun, and pure deliciousness all in one. I’m confident you’ll find the same joy in baking and sharing it—it just might become your family’s new favorite way to start the season. So go ahead, grab those biscuits and Hershey Kisses, and let the warm, sweet aroma fill your home!
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Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This festive Christmas Monkey Bread is a delightful pull-apart treat made with refrigerated biscuit dough, festive sprinkles, and Hershey Kisses hidden inside each bite. Coated in cinnamon sugar and topped with a rich butter and brown sugar glaze, it’s perfect for holiday gatherings and celebrations.
Ingredients
Dough Balls
- 2 packages refrigerated biscuit dough (such as Pillsbury Grands)
- Christmas sprinkles (amount as desired)
- Hershey Kisses, unwrapped (any flavor, about 24 pieces)
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Butter Sauce
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350℉. Grease a bundt pan thoroughly with non-stick spray and set aside to prepare for assembling the monkey bread.
- Prepare Dough Balls: Cut each biscuit into quarters and slightly flatten each piece. Add a few Christmas sprinkles and place one unwrapped Hershey Kiss in the center, then roll the dough around the kiss into a ball. Repeat this process with all biscuit quarters.
- Coat Dough Balls: In a large resealable zipper bag, mix together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon by shaking the bag. Add a few dough balls at a time to the bag and shake gently until they are fully coated with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Remove the coated dough balls and place them evenly into the prepared bundt pan.
- Make Butter Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter with the packed brown sugar, stirring occasionally until fully combined and smooth.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the warm butter and brown sugar sauce evenly over the cinnamon sugar coated dough balls in the bundt pan. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the top is deeply browned and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the monkey bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then place a serving plate over the bundt pan and carefully invert it to release the monkey bread onto the plate. Sprinkle additional Christmas sprinkles on top as desired and serve warm to enjoy.
Notes
- Using a pizza slicer helps to quickly quarter multiple biscuits at once, making preparation faster.
- Ensure the Hershey Kisses are well wrapped by the biscuit dough to prevent melting out during baking.
- Serve the monkey bread warm for the best gooey texture and flavor.
- You can use other types of chocolate or candy inside the dough balls as a fun variation.
- Make sure to coat all dough balls evenly in cinnamon sugar for consistent flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
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