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 (approximate for filling plus garnish); Hershey Kisses, unwrapped, 24 pieces (any flavor); 1 cup granulated sugar; 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon; 1 cup unsalted butter; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

There's nothing like the smell of warm cinnamon and chocolate mingling in the kitchen during the holidays. When I make this Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe, it instantly feels like Christmas morning magic in every bite. It's sweet, sticky, and absolutely irresistible, making it a perfect centerpiece for any festive breakfast or brunch.

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

This Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe is one of those festive treats that’s as fun to make as it is delicious to eat. I love it because it combines buttery, cinnamon-sugar coated dough bites with that surprise of melty chocolate inside — a total crowd-pleaser that everyone asks for year after year.

Surprise Chocolate Centers: The Hershey Kisses baked right inside give a gooey, melty burst of chocolate in every bite that feels so indulgent.
Perfect Shareability: It’s made in a bundt pan so you can pull apart each piece — perfect for family gatherings or holiday parties.
Easy Prep: Using refrigerated biscuit dough means no fuss with yeast or rising times, making it beginner-friendly and quick.
Festive and Fun: Adding Christmas sprinkles brings a cheerful look and adds to the holiday vibe, making it a feast for both eyes and taste buds.

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

Each ingredient in this Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe plays a key role in delivering those irresistible flavors and textures. The refrigerated biscuit dough gives you soft, pillowy bites without extra effort, while cinnamon and sugars create that classic sweet-spicy coating. And those Hershey Kisses? They’re the surprise treasure that brings everything together.

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: Pillowy soft and pre-made for convenience — no yeast needed!
Christmas sprinkles: A festive touch that adds color and fun without changing taste.
Hershey Kisses (unwrapped): Melts into gooey centers inside each bite — chocolate is always a win.
Granulated sugar: Combines with cinnamon to give that classic sweet coating.
Ground cinnamon: Essential warm spice that makes the bread feel cozy and holiday-ready.
Unsalted butter: Creates the rich, sticky sauce that coats the bread perfectly.
Brown sugar: Adds deep caramel notes to the butter sauce, enhancing flavor complexity.

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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 around with this recipe to make it my own or fit my family’s preferences. It’s a great base for customizations — whether you want extra crunch, a different type of chocolate, or even a non-chocolate surprise inside. You can absolutely make this your festive signature bread!

Chocolate Variation: Once, I swapped out regular Hershey Kisses for peppermint-flavored ones — such a refreshing twist that made the bread taste even more Christmassy!
Nutty Addition: Adding chopped pecans or walnuts to the cinnamon sugar mix gives a delightful crunch and a warm, nutty flavor.
Gluten-Free Option: While I personally haven’t tested it yet, using gluten-free biscuits and adjusting baking time slightly should work well for dietary needs.
Extra Gooey Sauce: For a more caramel-like drizzle, try adding a tablespoon of corn syrup to the butter and brown sugar sauce.

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

Step 1: Prepping Your Oven and Pan

Start by preheating your oven to 350℉ and greasing your bundt pan generously with non-stick spray. I always double-spray just to be safe because this sticky bread doesn’t want to get stuck! Set it aside while you prepare the dough balls.

Step 2: Forming the Dough Balls with a Surprise

Take your refrigerated biscuit dough and cut each biscuit into quarters — a pizza cutter is a handy tool here to do multiple biscuits quickly and evenly. Flatten each piece just a bit, add a few Christmas sprinkles, and place an unwrapped Hershey Kiss in the center. Roll it gently into a ball sealing the chocolate inside. Repeat with all the dough pieces. This step is where the magic really starts!

Step 3: Coating the Dough Balls in Cinnamon Sugar

Mix your granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a big resealable plastic bag. Adding the dough balls a few at a time, shake the bag so they get completely covered in that cinnamon-sugar goodness. This makes sure every bite gets that warm, crunchy crust we love.

Step 4: Layering in the Bundt Pan and Adding Sauce

Transfer the coated dough balls to your bundt pan, layering them evenly. Next, melt the butter with the brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until smooth and bubbly, then pour it all over the dough balls. This luscious sauce caramelizes beautifully as it bakes.

Step 5: Baking and Serving

Bake the monkey bread for 30-40 minutes until it’s golden brown and the top is deeply caramelized. I like to watch it around the 35-minute mark to avoid over-baking. Once out of the oven, let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before carefully flipping onto a serving plate. A few more sprinkles on top add that final festive flair. Then, it’s time to dig in!

Top Tip

After making this recipe several times, I’ve learned some key tricks that helped me nail the perfect Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe every time. These tips take the guesswork out and make it foolproof for friends and family.

Seal the Chocolate Well: Make sure to pinch the dough completely around the Hershey Kiss so none peek out during baking and melt directly onto the pan.
Use a Pizza Cutter: Quartering biscuits with a pizza cutter is faster and neater, especially when you have lots to prepare.
Watch Your Bake Time: Ovens vary, so start checking around 30 minutes to avoid burning the sugar sauce — you want that deep brown, not bitter burnt.
Let It Rest: Cooling for 10 minutes before flipping helps the sauce set slightly so your bread holds together better on the plate.

How to Serve Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe

Christmas Monkey Bread - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I keep the garnishes simple and festive — extra Christmas sprinkles really brighten up the top and make it sparkle. Sometimes, I dust a little powdered sugar right before serving for that snowy effect. A light drizzle of white chocolate can also amp up the holiday feel.

Side Dishes

This monkey bread pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa. For a full holiday brunch, I like serving it alongside scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and fresh fruit. The sweetness of the bread balances the savory flavors perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

A few Christmases ago, I served this monkey bread in mini bundt pans for individual servings at a holiday party — it was such a hit! Wrapping a festive bow around each mini pan makes a charming edible gift too. Another fun idea is serving it with little bowls of whipped cream or fruit preserves on the side for dipping.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I wrap the leftover monkey bread tightly in plastic wrap and store it at room temperature for up to two days. Reheating gently helps bring back that soft, gooey texture. If it lasts longer than that (rare in my house!), I pop it in the fridge to extend freshness.

Freezing

This recipe freezes surprisingly well. After baking and cooling, I wrap the monkey bread in foil and then place it in a freezer bag. When I’m ready to enjoy, I thaw it overnight in the fridge and then warm it in the oven to refresh the gooey texture.

Reheating

My favorite way to reheat the monkey bread is at 300℉ for about 10-15 minutes. This method warms through the inside without drying the outside. Avoid the microwave for reheating — I found it tends to make the bread soggy or rubbery.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute the Hershey Kisses with other chocolates?

Absolutely! I've tried this recipe using peppermint or caramel-filled Hershey Kisses, and it adds a fun twist. You can also use mini chocolate chips or wrapped chocolates that melt well, but be mindful of the size to ensure they fit inside the dough balls.

Do I need to use a bundt pan or can I use another pan?

A bundt pan works best because it creates those fun pull-apart layers and holds the sauce beautifully. However, if you don’t have one, a deep round cake pan or springform pan can work. Just be prepared for a slightly different texture and shape.

Is it okay to prepare the monkey bread the night before?

Yes! You can assemble the entire bread the night before, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Before baking, let it sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes, then bake as directed. This can help with busy mornings during the holidays.

Can I use gluten-free biscuits for this recipe?

While I haven’t tested gluten-free biscuits myself, many readers have successfully used gluten-free refrigerated biscuits. Just keep an eye on baking time as gluten-free dough can brown faster or bake differently.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Monkey Bread with Hershey Kisses Recipe has become my go-to holiday treat because it brings everyone together with laughter, sticky fingers, and happy smiles. It’s simple enough that anyone can make it but extraordinary enough to feel truly special. I can’t recommend giving this a try enough—I promise it’ll become a tradition you look forward to each year, just like I do.