Peppermint Bark Monkey Bread

Peppermint Bark Monkey Bread is the perfect holiday breakfast sweet bread! Everyone will enjoy gathering around the festive pull apart wreath and dipping little pieces of freshly baked bread in warm chocolate sauce! It’s an easy recipe that’s sure to become one of your Christmas favorites!

Thanks to my friends at Rhodes Bake N’Serv for sponsoring todays post! As always, all opinions are my own. #Rhodes #FrozenDough

Is it just me or is life getting crazier and crazier? When I was a new mother a friend suggested I be at the crossroads in my kids lives. I’ve tried really hard to take that advice to heart. I try to be home from running errands or whatever I’m doing so I can be there when the kids get home from school. I try to be home and on weekends. Being with them is my favorite thing in the world.

It seems like lately though, I’m at the crossroads and all we really have time for is waving to each other. We’re always in hustle to move on to the next activity, appointment, job, etc. Ya, I’m home when they arrive, but am I really available? There’s a difference between being home, and being available and attentive.

Life’s speeding by, my oldest is almost eighteen. He’s a senior in highschool, and yes I’m wiping tears off my keyboard. So for now, I’m trying really hard to create moments that allow us, even require us, to slow down and enjoy each other.

We LOVE gathering around the kitchen table and telling stories, catching up on each others day, and giggling together. Peppermint Bark Monkey Bread is one of those breakfasts, treats, snacks, side dishes, or treats that allows us to sit and enjoy each other. It’s more than just gobbling breakfast down, it’s sitting a pulling off a piece of monkey bread, visiting, grabbing another chunk, and on to a few more stories!

Now that is exactly the kind of recipe I want to make anytime, but especially during the holidays. It’s almost feels like time stands still for just a few minutes. I’m in love with everything about that!

On to the recipe! Rhodes rolls are my favorite bread to use in my monkey bread. It’s every bit as delicious as homemade bread without all of the extra work. Now that’s my kind of shortcut!

I always have a bag of Rhodes rolls in my freezer which means I can make monkey bread anytime without having to go to the grocery store. Just be sure to use each bag of monkey bread before the expiration date. Expired rolls might not rise properly. Not to worry though, once you get hooked on their rolls you’ll find yourself going through bags of them in no time at all.

To make Peppermint Bark Monkey Bread you’ll need 12 Rhodes rolls. Let them thaw in a greased pan just until they’re soft enough to cut with a pair of scissors.

Wrap the outside of a 10″ spring-form with aluminum foil. Those pans aren’t completely sealed on the bottom and might leak a little bit as the monkey bread bakes. Wrapping it in foil and baking it on a baking sheet will help eliminate spills.

Grease the inside of spring-form pan with non-stick baking spray. I also laid a precut piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan. Set a ramekin in the center of the pan to help shape the monkey bread into a wreath.

Cut rolls in quarters and place evenly around the ramekin.

Sprinkle with crushed candy canes and sugar.

Sprinkle white chocolate chips over the top. Gently move rolls around to all some of the sugar and candy canes to coat the rolls.

Drizzle with butter and peppermint extract. Cover with greased plastic wrap and either refrigerate until morning, or let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.

Once monkey bread has doubled in size it’s almost ready to bake. Sprinkle the reserved sugar and crushed candy canes over the top and THEN bake!

Remove from oven. Let rest for about 5 minutes. Run a rubber scraper around the edges of the pan to loosen monkey bread.

Flip bread out of pan, then flip again so the top side is up and place on a serving plate. Drizzle with white chocolate and sprinkle with extra crushed candy canes if desired.

Fill ramekin with chocolate dipping sauce. This dipping sauce is easy to make. Microwave whipping cream, chocolate chips, and butter in the microwave for one minute 10 seconds. Let sit for a minute, then whisk until smooth. Add a dash of salt if desired.

Set ramekin in the center of the wreath.

Gather around and serve Peppermint Bark Monkey Bread while it’s still warm! After the bread has cooled a bit those candy canes will start to set up a bit and it will get a little crunchy on the bottom. That’s delish too, but if you want it soft serve while it’s still warm.

If you need to serve it later you can always warm it up for a minute in the microwave!

Seriously, who wouldn’t want to gather around this Peppermint Bark Monkey Bread and dive head first into that dish of chocolate sauce?

My family sat at the table grabbing a chunk of pull apart bread, telling stories, and giggling for quite a while last night. It was such a bummer when the monkey bread was gone, and we remembered the kids had finals today! School always ruins all the fun!

Enjoy Peppermint Bark Monkey Bread! Enjoy your kids! Heck, just enjoy! Oh and check out my Cheesy Bacon Ranch Monkey Bread and Easy Cranberry Orange Monkey Bread recipes for more ideas!