There is something mighty comforting about a slow cooker dessert that asks so little and gives back so much. This old-fashioned style treat leans on the kind of practical pantry cooking many of us grew up with, using a bag of frozen dinner rolls and a few sweet staples to make a sticky, cinnamon-scented pull-apart bread that feels right at home on a chilly afternoon, at a church supper, or when the grandkids come barreling through the door hungry for something special.
Serve this warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream, or just as it is with a cup of coffee or cold milk. It also makes a lovely brunch addition beside fresh fruit, bacon, or sausage, especially when you want something sweet on the table without fussing over the oven.
Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Caramel Monkey Bread Using Frozen Dinner Roll Dough
Servings: 8
Ingredients
24 frozen yeast dinner roll dough balls
1 stick butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 box (3.4 oz) dry butterscotch pudding mix
1 tbsp cinnamon
Directions
1. Lightly coat the slow cooker insert with nonstick spray or a thin film of butter so the finished bread releases more easily.
2. Add the frozen dinner roll dough balls to the slow cooker in an even layer.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together the brown sugar, dry butterscotch pudding mix, and cinnamon until well combined.
4. Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the frozen rolls, then drizzle the melted butter all across the top.
5. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, until the rolls are puffed and cooked through and the sauce is bubbling around the edges. Avoid lifting the lid too often, since slow cookers need that steady heat.
6. Let the monkey bread rest for 10 minutes with the lid off, then scoop or carefully invert onto a serving plate and serve warm.
Variations & Tips
Pecans added: If your family likes a little crunch, scatter 1/2 cup chopped pecans between the rolls before cooking. They toast gently in the buttery sugar and make the whole thing taste a bit like sticky buns.
Extra cinnamon flavor: For a warmer spice note, increase the cinnamon to 1 1/2 tablespoons. This is especially nice during the colder months when you want the kitchen to smell like an old-fashioned bakery.
Check for doneness: Slow cookers can vary quite a bit, so start checking around the 3-hour mark. The rolls should look puffed and no longer doughy in the center, and the sauce should be melted into a rich caramel around them.
Easy serving tip: This is best eaten the same day while still warm and soft. If you have leftovers, spoon them out and warm individual portions in the microwave for a few seconds to loosen the caramel again.