These are so good you might want to ‘slap your own self ‘ in the head !!
Cream Cheese and Chocolate Filled Monkey Bread is baked in a 9″ x 13″ pan. Unlike typical monkey bread, there’s only one layer rather than several and the pieces are bigger. Think of these as ‘cinnamon roll meets monkey bread’!
A friend of mine is in the hospital and I brought two plates of my monkey bread to share with the nurses. They gave it rave reviews and several blamed me for their lack of will-power. (Actually, I didn’t do so well in the will power department myself.)
Oven at 350F (175C) Greased 9″ x 13″ pan
Bake for 35 minutes – or until top is golden and center biscuits are fully cooked.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 (16 oz.) packages of LARGE biscuits, such as Pillsbury ‘Grands’ Biscuits, found in the dairy case
Cream Cheese Filling
- 2 ( 8 oz.) packages of cream cheese – softened
- ½ tsp. almond extract
- 1 ½ tsp. sugar
- chocolate chips, such as Nestles ++ You’ll need about 1/2 cup or more ++ I recommend using dark chocolate
Chopped Nuts, White Sugar & Cinnamon … to be sprinkled over filled biscuits
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Caramel Sauce
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter – cut into cubes
- ¾ cup PACKED brown sugar
METHOD ++ See photos at bottom of post !
Open 2 packages of large refrigerated biscuits – allow to warm up a bit. Soften 2 packages of cream cheese by bringing them to room temperature OR by microwaving each UNWRAPPED block of cream cheese on high for about 10 seconds.
In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with ½ tsp. almond extract and 1 ½ tsp. white sugar until combined.
Place about a 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips in a small bowl.
Here’s how I formed the biscuits; take out four at a time. Cut each biscuit in half. Fold the cut halves together to form a circle. (See photo below). Using your palms, flatten each biscuit half until you have a 3″ circle. Drop 2 heaping measuring teaspoons in the middle of each flattened biscuit and place several chocolate chips on top. ++ I used about 4 for each, but next time I’m going to add more!!
Bring the edges together to form something resembling a ball. The shape does NOT matter, so don’t be fussy. Place biscuit balls into a greased 9” x 13″. Repeat….
++ I allowed the biscuits to rest a few minutes so the dough could rise a bit. While dough is resting, sprinkle with 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans. In a small bowl mix ½ cup white sugar with 2 tsp. ground cinnamon. Sprinkle sugar/cinnamon mixture over biscuits.
Place ½ cup (1 stick) butter, cut into cubes, and ¾ cup PACKED brown sugar in a small microwavable bowl. Heat on high for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat for another 30 seconds. Mix butter and brown sugar well with a fork or a whisk. Pour over biscuits.
Bake in a 350F (175C) oven for 35 minutes. Biscuits should be golden brown and center biscuits should be fully cooked.
Invert onto a serving platter…. it IS a bit tricky. Immediately remove pan. There will be bits of yummy melted brown sugar and butter left – scrape it out before it cools and put it in the nooks and crannies between the biscuits. (If no one is looking, you have my permission to just eat it!) ; o )
++ If you don’t have a large enough serving platter, use a cookie sheet.
Cream Cheese and Chocolate Filled Monkey Bread is soooo good when eaten fresh from the oven – and I was pleasantly surprised to see how good these were a day later. Enjoy!
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[…] If you don’t want to use a bundt pan, try a 9 x 13 pan instead. Not only do you get a more evenly and quicker baked dessert, the ball portions can be made bigger too. (via My Yellow Farmhouse) […]
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Will power and monkey bread do not go hand-in-hand, I’m afraid, Cecile. Like fudge, I have no will-power where monkey bread is concerned. That’s why I’ve only made it once. BUT, this recipe is so tempting and your opening photo is calling me. It’s the cream cheese. Given my choice of Danish, I always reach for the cheese. Hmmm. Zia will be visiting. I should make one for her. Yeah, that’s the ticket. It will be for her. 😉
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Me too – I always opt for the cheese Danish!! As always, I loved what you wrote… that’s right… ‘the monkey bread will be for your dear Zia’…. and you will only have one piece. SURE !!!! You know what – I’d suggest, perhaps, making half the recipe. It makes a lot. Of course, your friends and neighbors will benefit if you prepare the recipe as written, ’cause then you can share it. (If you are able to….!!!)
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Half-recipe? You’re kidding right? If I’m going to do it, we’re going whole hog! 🙂
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John – I just love you!!!
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You’ve totally left me drooling. I just wish I could taste it! Thanks for sharing!
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I could’ve made you some of these for after you finished cleaning your deck – as a reward!
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Marisa – the state of Massachusetts is different from the province of Quebec in that we don’t have such large expanses of flat land. Massachusetts, as well as all the states in ‘New England’ has flat land, of course, but it’s more hilly and mountainous than Quebec. (Although Quebec does have wonderful mountains!) I live in western Massachusetts – about 2 hours from Boston. Boston’s a lovely city but I actually like Montreal – and Quebec City – better!
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I can just imagine how good this is when slightly warm from the oven.
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Looks marvelous 🙂
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Thank you so much Marisa. You know, when we lived in Malta we had a good friend named Marisa. Where do you live?
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lol!! Hi Cecile, I live in Montreal. Where do you now call home ?
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I now live in western Massachusetts BUT I was married to a French Canadian & our twin sons were born in Montreal – in Longueil ! We lived in Europe for eight years and at the same time we had a farm in St. Antoine de Tilly – about a half hour away from Quebec City. I sold our beloved farm two years after my husband died. I was up in that area just a few weeks ago visiting family and dropped by our farm to see how the ‘new’ owners are faring. Small world, isn’t it!?!
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A small world indeed!!! I am so sorry to hear about your husband. It must have been difficult to sell your farm…how is Massachusetts different from Montreal ?
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This sounds crazy good! Looks amazing too!!
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I was really happy with how this came out… so happy, in fact, that I had a hard time not eating more…. after I’d eaten four of them!! ; o )
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Well they look so amazing! I pinned them and would love to try! I would eat the whole pan! lol
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You are tempting me with this recipe. It looks so decadent and oh so yummy. I would eat more than my share.
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Thanks for taking the time to comment – I’m really pleased with how well these turned out!!
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This looks like a delicious tray of sweet bread. Great to make for a family gathering. 🙂
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It makes a lot, which is great for a family !! I can’t wait to make it again!!
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