Apple Pie Monkey Bread

Have you ever had Monkey Bread? It was one of my favorite desserts when I was little. It is like a giant sticky bun, but even easier because it usually starts with a refrigerated bread dough or pastry. It is sticky and sweet and so delicious and kid-friendly!

With so much hustle and bustle this time of year, it is great to have a really simple dessert in your repertoire for last minute company or when you are just cooking up so many other things that you need to take a short cut for dessert. I know that I have tons of cookies to bake this weekend, so there is no time for elaborate desserts, which made this apple pie version of monkey bread perfect for our Saturday night treat. While this is not exactly like monkey bread because it is not covered in the sweet sauce, it reminds me of it because it has the same texture and pull apart like consistency of monkey bread.

This recipe requires very little ingredients and can be made ahead of time and baked while you are sitting down to dinner. You can use either homemade apple pie filling or store bought, it is up to you depending on what you have on hand. My Dad makes apple pie filling and cans it, which is always a great idea so you always have some in the pantry!

You could also substitute a different pie filling and when I made this I actually made a cherry one as well. I really liked the cherry, but the apple was a bigger hit with my other family members.

I hope this easy dessert graces your table sometime during this holiday season!

Apple Pie Monkey Bread
Adapted from: Spend with Pennies

Ingredients:
1 can apple pie filling or 21 oz. of homemade apple pie filling
1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Note: This only makes a small casserole dish. It was the perfect amount for our family of three but if you are cooking for more, I would double it!

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Pour your apple pie filling into a casserole dish in a flat layer. Open the crescent rolls, but do not unroll them! Keeping them in the cylinder shape, cut the dough into thin discs and lay on top of the apples. You should have about 16 discs of dough. Sprinkle with 1 tbsp. of the brown sugar and 1/2 tsp.of the cinnamon. Bake for 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Remove pan from the oven and flip your crescent discs to the other side. Sprinkle with the remaining brown sugar and cinnamon and put back in the oven for another 10-12 minutes, or until this side is golden brown. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped topping!

Enjoy!