Easy Mixed Berry Monkey Bread Pie: Your New Favorite Breakfast or Brunch Treat
Prepare yourself for an extraordinary breakfast experience! This delightful Mixed Berry Monkey Bread Pie is, without a doubt, one of the most satisfying treats you’ll encounter. Imagine the comforting warmth of a fresh blueberry cinnamon roll, but with an added burst of juicy mixed berries, all baked into a pull-apart, shareable pie. It’s truly exceptional and worth every single bite. The best part? It’s surprisingly easy to make, transforming simple ingredients into a stunning, aromatic dish that will have everyone reaching for seconds!
This recipe creates a dessert-like breakfast that’s perfect for sharing, whether it’s a lazy weekend morning, a special brunch gathering, or even a cozy evening dessert. While it’s incredibly tempting to devour it all yourself, we highly recommend enlisting at least three other people to share in its deliciousness. Each serving offers a perfect balance of sweetness and fruity tang, making it a wonderfully indulgent yet surprisingly manageable treat, registering at just 7 smart points or 5 personal points per serving, depending on your dietary program. Get ready to bake a masterpiece that tastes as incredible as it looks!
The Irresistible Charm of Monkey Bread
Monkey bread, often called pull-apart bread, is a delightful pastry made from soft, doughy pieces, typically coated in cinnamon sugar, baked together in a Bundt pan or a pie dish, and then drizzled with a sweet glaze. Its name comes from the way you eat it – by pulling off individual pieces with your fingers, just like a monkey. This makes it an incredibly fun and interactive treat, perfect for family breakfasts or casual gatherings. Our mixed berry rendition elevates this classic comfort food with fresh fruit and a vibrant flavor profile, moving beyond the traditional cinnamon and sugar to include a medley of berries and a touch of sweet jam.
Why Our Mixed Berry Monkey Bread Pie Stands Out
While classic monkey bread is a beloved staple, this mixed berry pie version takes it to a new level. The inclusion of fresh, plump blueberries provides a juicy contrast to the sweet cinnamon biscuit pieces. The melted no-sugar-added jam, infused throughout the pie, adds an extra layer of fruity depth and moisture, creating a more complex and satisfying flavor. It’s like a hybrid of a fruit pie, a cinnamon roll, and traditional monkey bread, all rolled into one easy-to-make dish. This recipe is designed to deliver maximum flavor with minimal fuss, making it accessible even for novice bakers. The golden-brown edges, soft interior, and warm, sticky glaze combine to create a truly unforgettable experience.
Essential Ingredients for Your Berry Monkey Bread Adventure
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the accessibility of its ingredients. You won’t need anything fancy, just a few pantry staples and fresh berries to create this show-stopping dish. Let’s dive into what you’ll need and some tips for selecting the best components:
Pillsbury Biscuits: The Foundation of Fluffiness
For this recipe, we recommend a 7.5 oz package of Pillsbury biscuits, ideally from a 4-value pack. These biscuits are key to achieving the soft, fluffy texture of classic monkey bread. If you can’t find the exact 7.5 oz pack, a larger package will work; simply weigh out 7.5 oz of dough to ensure consistency in the final product and nutritional calculations. If using a larger biscuit size, you might need to cut each biscuit into 6 pieces instead of 4 to maintain the ideal pull-apart size and ensure even baking. The brand Pillsbury is suggested for its consistent quality and texture, which performs wonderfully in this type of recipe.
Sweet White Sugar: The Perfect Coating
You’ll need 2 tablespoons of white sugar to create that irresistible crunchy coating for your biscuit pieces. While this amount is calculated for the final nutritional values, having a bit more in the bag for shaking ensures that every piece gets thoroughly coated, contributing to the delightful texture and flavor. The sugar caramelizes slightly during baking, adding to the pie’s golden-brown appeal.
Aromatic Cinnamon: The Heart of Comfort
One teaspoon of ground cinnamon is crucial for that warm, comforting flavor that pairs so beautifully with berries. Cinnamon is a cornerstone of monkey bread, infusing each bite with its distinctive, sweet-spicy aroma. Feel free to adjust the amount slightly to your preference; a little extra can enhance the “cinnamon roll” likeness.
No-Sugar-Added Jam: Fruity Sweetness Without the Guilt
A quarter cup of no-sugar-added jam, melted, is what makes this recipe truly special. We used a raspberry/blackberry blend, which provides a wonderful tart-sweet contrast to the other ingredients. Melting the jam ensures it drizzles smoothly over the biscuit pieces, distributing its fruity goodness evenly throughout the pie. You can experiment with other no-sugar-added jams like strawberry, mixed berry, or even apricot for a different flavor profile.
Fresh Blueberries: Bursts of Juiciness
Half a cup of fresh blueberries adds natural sweetness, moisture, and those delightful bursts of flavor. Fresh berries are preferred for their texture and vibrant taste. If using frozen blueberries, there’s no need to thaw them beforehand; simply add them frozen. Keep in mind that frozen berries might release a bit more liquid during baking, but this generally doesn’t affect the overall outcome of the pie significantly.
White Icing: The Finishing Touch
One tablespoon of white icing, like Betty Crocker, provides the classic sweet glaze that finishes off this monkey bread pie. Drizzling it on immediately after baking allows it to melt slightly and seep into the warm, tender crevices of the pie, enhancing its sweetness and creating a visually appealing finish. If you prefer, you can easily make a simple homemade glaze with powdered sugar and a tiny bit of milk or lemon juice.
Mixed Berry Monkey Bread Pie
Ingredients
- 1-7.5 oz pkg of Pillsbury biscuits, from a 4-value pack. If unavailable, use a larger pack and weigh out 7.5oz; you may need to cut biscuits into 6 pieces instead of 4 for proper sizing and point consistency.
- 2 Tbsp white sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup no-sugar-added jam, melted (a raspberry/blackberry variety works wonderfully)
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 Tbsp white icing, such as Betty Crocker brand.
Instructions
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Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats, lightly spray a round 8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside. This ensures your monkey bread pie won’t stick and comes out perfectly.
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In a large zip-top bag, combine your 2 tablespoons of white sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Seal the bag and shake well to thoroughly mix these coating ingredients. Next, take your Pillsbury biscuits and cut each biscuit into 4 equal pieces.
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Add approximately 10 biscuit pieces at a time to the cinnamon sugar bag. Close the bag tightly and shake vigorously until all biscuit pieces are evenly coated. You might have some cinnamon sugar mixture left over in the bag, which is normal; the extra volume helps achieve a better, more consistent coating for the biscuit pieces. The nutritional points are calculated based on the specified amount of sugar actually used, not the excess in the bag.
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Carefully arrange the coated biscuit pieces in a single layer in your prepared 8-inch baking dish, spreading them out as evenly as possible. This ensures each piece bakes uniformly and gets a chance to absorb the delicious jam and berries.
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Next, melt your 1/4 cup of no-sugar-added jam in the microwave. Heat it for approximately 35-45 seconds, or until it becomes warm and runny, making it easy to drizzle. Once melted, evenly drizzle the jam over your arranged biscuit pieces. Immediately after, sprinkle your 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries generously over the jam-coated biscuits.
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Place the dish in your preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Keep an eye on it; the monkey bread pie is done when the edges begin to turn a beautiful golden brown and the biscuits are cooked through. As soon as you remove the pie from the oven, prepare your white icing. Transfer the icing to a small zip-top bag, snip a tiny hole in one corner, and immediately drizzle it decoratively over the warm pie. The heat will help the icing melt and create a lovely glaze.
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Allow the pie to cool for a few minutes, then cut it into 4 generous slices. Serve warm to enjoy its gooey, fresh-baked goodness. Each delectable slice contains 7 Smart Points or 5 Personal Points. Enjoy this wonderful treat!
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For your information, the nutritional details per serving (excluding the berries, as their point values can vary greatly depending on the program and quantity) are as follows: Calories 201, Total Fat 2.3g, Saturated Fat 0.2g, Total Carbohydrates 43.6g, Fiber 2.1g, Sugars 14g, Protein 3.6g. Please note that these are approximate values.
Additional Info
Tips for Success and Delicious Variations
To ensure your Mixed Berry Monkey Bread Pie turns out perfectly every time, consider these helpful tips. Firstly, always use fresh biscuits for the best texture; stale ones can result in a drier pie. When coating the biscuits, don’t be shy with the cinnamon sugar – a good coating is key to the overall flavor and crust. If you don’t have a zip-top bag, a large bowl works just as well for tossing, though it might be a bit messier. For an extra hint of warmth, you can add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to your cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Feeling creative? This recipe is incredibly versatile! Instead of just blueberries, try a mix of different berries like raspberries, blackberries, or chopped strawberries. A squeeze of lemon zest added to the jam or dusted over the top before baking can brighten the flavors significantly. For a richer, more indulgent glaze, consider a cream cheese icing made with softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and a touch of vanilla extract. You can also sprinkle chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts over the berries before baking for added crunch and flavor. If you’re serving this as a dessert, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream makes it even more decadent.
Serving and Storage Suggestions
This Mixed Berry Monkey Bread Pie is best enjoyed warm, straight from the oven. The warm, gooey center and soft, pull-apart pieces are simply divine. It makes a fantastic centerpiece for a weekend brunch, a delightful addition to a holiday breakfast spread, or a comforting dessert after any meal. Pair it with a fresh cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk for the ultimate experience.
If you happen to have leftovers (a rare occurrence!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, simply place individual servings in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, or warm the entire pie in an oven preheated to 300°F (150°C) for about 10-15 minutes, until heated through. This will bring back its delicious warmth and softness, making it almost as good as fresh. Enjoy this simple yet spectacular recipe!