Name: Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 packages refrigerated biscuit dough, such as Pillsbury Grands; Christmas sprinkles, 1/4 cup or as needed; Hershey Kisses, unwrapped (any flavor), 24 pieces; 1 cup granulated sugar; 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon; 1 cup unsalted butter; 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

There’s just something magical about pulling apart a warm, gooey bread that bursts with cinnamon sweetness and a surprise chocolate center. This Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe is the kind of treat that fills the kitchen with festive smells and gets everyone reaching for seconds—and thirds!

A close-up of a bundt-shaped monkey bread with a shiny golden brown surface made of many small, soft dough pieces stuck together. The dough clusters show a slightly sticky texture with some green bits inside, likely herbs. The bread is covered with small, colorful sprinkles in red, green, and white colors that are scattered not only on top but also around the base on a white round plate placed on a wooden surface with a white marbled background and some blurred green festive decorations behind. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

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

Honestly, this Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe feels like a cozy holiday hug in dessert form. I love how it combines that classic pull-apart bread experience with the surprise of melted chocolate inside each bite. It’s a guaranteed hit whether you’re serving family, friends, or festive brunch guests.

Fun Surprise: Each little ball hides a melted Hershey Kiss, so every bite is a delightful chocolatey surprise.
Easy Assembly: Using refrigerated biscuit dough keeps things quick and stress-free without sacrificing taste.
Festive Flair: Christmas sprinkles add a pop of color and holiday cheer that kids and adults adore.
Perfect for Sharing: The communal pull-apart nature of monkey bread makes it an unbeatable festive centerpiece.

The image shows a close-up side view of a golden brown monkey bread loaf made of small, sticky dough balls tightly packed together. The surface of the bread is glossy with a shiny, caramel-like texture, and it is sprinkled with festive red, green, and white sprinkles that are scattered on the bread and around its base. The bread sits on a round silver tray that reflects some light, and in the background, there is a soft-focus of holiday decorations, including pine cones and greenery. The surface beneath the tray is a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Everything in this recipe works together to create that warm, comforting holiday flavor you want. From buttery cinnamon coating to pockets of melty Hershey’s chocolate, each ingredient plays an essential role. Also, opting for refrigerated biscuit dough means you’re just minutes away from magic—trust me, it saves so much time!

Flat lay of two stacks of unwrapped golden biscuit dough rounds, a small scattering of colorful Christmas sprinkles, several shiny silver Hershey’s Kisses, a small white bowl filled with granulated white sugar, a small white bowl filled with warm brown packed sugar, a small white bowl holding rich ground cinnamon, and a small white bowl with melted golden butter, all arranged symmetrically with perfect spacing on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Refrigerated biscuit dough: This is your shortcut to fluffy, buttery bread without any of the fuss of making dough from scratch.
Christmas sprinkles: Adds festive color and a fun, crunchy texture that really brightens up the presentation.
Hershey Kisses (unwrapped): I recommend using any flavor you like – classic milk chocolate works beautifully, but peppermint or caramel kisses add a special twist.
Granulated sugar: Combined with cinnamon, it gives the dough balls that irresistible sweet-crunch exterior once baked.
Ground cinnamon: Cinnamon is the heart of this recipe, bringing that warm holiday spice aroma and taste.
Unsalted butter: Creates the luscious caramel sauce when combined with brown sugar, soaking perfectly into the bread.
Brown sugar (packed): This caramelizes with butter, giving a rich, deep sweetness that’s so addictive.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love playing with this recipe to suit different tastes or occasions. One thing I do often is swap the Hershey Kisses for other small chocolates or even caramel bits. You can also experiment by adding chopped nuts for some extra crunch, or use gluten-free biscuit dough if you have dietary restrictions in the family.

Chocolate Flavor Swap: I once used peppermint Hershey Kisses, and it gave the bread a cool, festive zing that everyone raved about.
Nutty Upgrade: Adding chopped pecans between the dough balls brought a lovely texture contrast I now keep in my back pocket for holiday brunches.
Gluten-Free Version: Using a gluten-free biscuit dough works great if you're accommodating guests with sensitivities—just make sure you don’t skip the cinnamon sugar mix for flavor.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Dough Balls

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously spraying your bundt pan with non-stick spray. This is key to getting the monkey bread out in one glorious, gooey piece. Then, cut each biscuit into quarters with a pizza slicer for speed—a total game-changer! Flatten each piece just slightly, add your sprinkles, and tuck a Hershey Kiss right in the middle before rolling it all back into a little ball. This is half the fun, trust me.

Step 2: Coat the Dough Balls with Cinnamon Sugar

Here’s a little hack: mix your granulated sugar and cinnamon in a large zipper bag. Toss the dough balls in batches until they’re fully coated—this helps make cleanup easier and ensures every bite is sugary perfection. Once coated, place each ball carefully into your prepared bundt pan. Layering them snugly will help the monkey bread hold together in that irresistible pull-apart way.

Step 3: Make and Pour the Butter-Brown Sugar Sauce

Heat your butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan over medium heat until melted and bubbly. This sauce will seep into the bread while it bakes, creating pockets of rich caramel flavor. Pour it evenly over the dough balls in your bundt pan—don’t skip this step, it’s what makes the bread so indulgently sticky and delicious.

Step 4: Bake and Flip with Confidence

Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the top is a deep, golden brown. When it’s done, let it cool for about 10 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly—making it easier to flip. Then place a plate over the bundt pan and flip it over in one swift move, revealing your beautiful, glistening monkey bread. I always add a few extra sprinkles on top for that final festive touch.

Top Tip

Based on my many attempts at perfecting this Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe, trust me when I say little details make a huge difference! Don’t rush the flipping step, and don’t skimp on the cinnamon sugar coating.

Use a pizza slicer: It’s quick and lets you cut all biscuits evenly, so the dough balls bake uniformly.
Sprinkle inside and out: Add sprinkles inside the dough for bursts of color that surprise as you dig in.
Don’t skip the cooling time: Letting it rest 10 minutes helps the bread hold its shape when you flip it out.
Use a bundt pan with a removable bottom if possible: Makes flipping easier and your presentation flawless.

How to Serve Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe

Christmas Monkey Bread - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually sprinkle a handful of extra holiday sprinkles on top right after flipping—it makes the bread look joyful and brightens the table. A light dusting of powdered sugar is another lovely option if you want a snowy effect. For a grown-up twist, you could drizzle a little caramel or white chocolate over the top.

Side Dishes

Monkey bread is a treat on its own, but I often serve this Christmas version alongside hot coffee or cocoa. It also pairs wonderfully with a fresh fruit salad or some scrambled eggs if you’re making a festive brunch. A dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream turns this into a decadent dessert too!

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I’ve tried serving the monkey bread right on the platter with fairy lights around for sparkle. Another fun idea is placing little festive flags or toothpicks into the balls for easy grabbing at a Christmas gathering. Wrapping the whole bundt pan in clear cellophane with a big bow makes it a wonderful edible gift.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. The bread keeps its softness for up to two days—though I warn you, it rarely lasts that long around here! If you notice it’s drying out, heating it briefly in the microwave with a damp napkin helps restore moistness.

Freezing

I’ve frozen leftover monkey bread successfully by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil before popping it in the freezer. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently in the oven for best results.

Reheating

Reheat individual portions in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds or warm the whole bundt pan foil-wrapped in a 325°F oven for roughly 10 minutes. This way, you get that fresh-baked softness all over again with gooey chocolate centers intact.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use homemade dough instead of refrigerated biscuit dough?

Absolutely! Homemade dough can work beautifully, but remember it might change the texture and bake time a bit. Using biscuit dough is just a convenient shortcut.

What other chocolates can I use instead of Hershey Kisses?

You can substitute with small chocolates like Rolos, mini peanut butter cups, or even chopped chocolate chunks. Choose something that melts well inside the bread.

Can I make this recipe vegan or dairy-free?

For a vegan or dairy-free version, look for plant-based biscuit dough and substitute the butter with a vegan margarine or coconut oil. Check your chocolate choice to ensure it’s dairy-free too.

How do I prevent the monkey bread from sticking to the pan?

Make sure to thoroughly grease your bundt pan with non-stick spray or butter. Using a bundt pan with a removable bottom can also make flipping much easier and prevent sticking. Allow the bread to cool slightly before flipping it out for best results.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe is one of those joyful kitchen moments that turns into a tradition without even trying. It’s fun to make, festive to look at, and downright delicious to eat—plus that melty chocolate surprise in each bite is pure holiday magic. I can’t recommend it enough for your next Christmas morning or holiday gathering. Grab that bundt pan and those Hershey Kisses—you’re in for a treat!