Making Memories (and Monkey Bread!) at St. Monica’s

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There is nothing quite like the smell of warm cinnamon and brown sugar wafting through the halls to bring everyone together. This week, our residents at St. Monica’s Senior Living gathered for a hands-on baking session that was as much about sharing stories as it was about the delicious treats.

On the menu? Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread (also known as the classic "Monkey Bread").

From cracking open the biscuit cans to shaking up the cinnamon-sugar bags, it was a team effort. We had rolling pins going, biscuits being snipped into perfect bite-sized pieces, and plenty of laughter as we prepped our masterpiece.

More Than Just a Recipe

While the end result was a golden, gooey success, the best part of the morning was the conversation. As we worked the dough and prepped the glaze, our residents shared wonderful stories of their own family kitchens, holiday traditions, and their favorite "secret" ingredients from years past. It truly was a "sweet" time for the soul!

Bake It at Home: Pillsbury™ Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

Want to recreate that wonderful aroma in your own kitchen? Here is the simple, crowd-pleasing recipe we used:

• Prep Time: 25 Minutes

• Total Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes

• Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 2 cans (16.3 oz each) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Southern Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• 3/4 cup salted butter or margarine, melted

• Optional: Chopped walnuts (as seen in our photos!)

Instructions

1. Prep the Oven: Heat your oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup fluted tube (Bundt) pan.

2. The Sugar Shake: In a large, 1-gallon plastic food-storage bag, mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon.

3. Cut & Coat: Separate the dough into biscuits; cut each into quarters. Drop them into the bag and shake until every piece is well-coated.

4. Layer: Arrange the pieces in the pan. If you have extra cinnamon sugar, sprinkle it over the top.

5. The Glaze: Mix the brown sugar and melted butter. Slowly pour the mixture evenly over the biscuit pieces.

6. Bake: Bake for 47 to 52 minutes until golden brown and no longer doughy in the center.

7. Serve: Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it upside down onto a serving plate. Pull apart and enjoy while warm!

Our Mission in Every Bite

At St. Monica’s Senior Living, our mission is to create a community where every resident feels a deep sense of belonging and purpose. Whether we are sharing a laugh over a bag of cinnamon sugar or reminiscing about family kitchens of the past, these moments of "Life Engagement" are at the core of our care. We believe that staying active, social, and creative—especially when there’s a warm treat involved—is the key to a vibrant and fulfilling life.

Thank you to all our residents who made this such a special morning. We can’t wait to see what we’ll cook up next!