Gorilla Bread is classic monkey bread with an amazing twist. Every ball of sweet, cinnamon dough is filled with cream cheese. This kicked up keto monkey bread is the ultimate brunch indulgence! This delicious keto brunch recipe is low carb, keto, gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.
I grew up making Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread. It's one of the first things I remember making. I would open a can of biscuit dough, cut each circle into four pieces, dip each in butter, roll them in cinnamon sugar, and put layers of them in a bundt pan. This is more commonly known as Monkey Bread.
After I got married I became a Paula Deen fan. Her Gorilla Bread is basically my Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread marrying a Cheesecake. Amazing.
Like the other delicious recipes I have memories of from childhood I just had the make this one healthier. I used the same dough from my Keto Cinnamon Rolls and Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns but stuffed each piece with cream cheese. I was afraid the cream cheese would ooze out but it didn't. Each piece of the gorilla bread is lightly sweetened, flavored with cinnamon, and filled with cream cheese.
How to Make Keto Gorilla Bread
Don't be intimidated looking at the ingredient list in the recipe carb. There aren't nearly as many ingredients as it seems because there are a lot of repeats. You use butter and cream cheese in each part.
First Step: Butter a pie plate or small bundt pan and sprinkle with sweetener, cinnamon, and pecans.
Second Step: Make a basic mozzarella based dough. The trick to these is to have the cheese super gooey before mixing in the other ingredients. If not it can taste cheesy.
Third Step: Brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle with sweetener and cinnamon. Cut the dough into 24 small squares. Put a cube of cream cheese in each square.
Fourth Step: Roll each square of dough around the cream cheese to form a ball. Dip each into melted butter and then the sweetener and cinnmon.
Fifth Step: Place the dough balls into the pie plate on top of the pecans.
(Optional) Sixth Step: Make a simple caramel sauce.
The caramel sauce is optional. I've made this with and without it. Without it is lightly sweetened like a breakfast pastry. With it, it is more like a dessert.
(Optional) Seventh Step: Drizzle the caramel sauce over the dough balls.
Final Step: Bake the keto gorilla bread. Cool for 5 minutes and then invert it on a platter and serve immediately.
Do I need a bundt pan for gorilla bread?
Traditionally this is baked in a bundt pan but I was afraid my bundt pan was too big. I really want one of the cute little 6-cup, 8-inch bundt pans to make this recipe in. So I just went ahead and baked it in a pie plate. It worked fine but I do think bundts are pretty.
Can I freeze keto monkey bread?
Recipes made with mozzarella dough freeze okay but not great. It is best to eat them right away. If you would like to freeze this anyway simply reheat until warm in the microwave or oven. Don't overdo it in the microwave or they will get rubbery.
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Ingredients
Topping/Filling Ingredients:
- 1 tsp butter
- ½ cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup pecans
- 7 oz cream cheese
- 2 tbsp melted butter
Dough Ingredients:
- 8 oz mozzarella
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 oz cream cheese
- ⅔ cup almond flour
- 2 tbsp coconut flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla
Caramel Sauce Ingredients: (optional)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- ¼ cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- ½ tsp vanilla
- pinch salt
Instructions
Prep:
- Preheat the oven to 350. Spread 1 teaspoon of the butter in the bottom of a pie plate. Mix the ½ cup sweetener with the cinnamon. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of this in the buttered pie plate. Set aside the rest. Sprinkle the pecans on top.
- Put the mozzarella and one ounce of cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave one minute. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds. Stir. At this point, all the cheese should be melted. Microwave 30 more seconds until uniform and gloopy (it should look like cheese fondue at this point). Add the rest of the dough ingredients and the cheese to a food processor. Mix using the dough blade until a uniform color. If you do not have a food processor you can mix in a medium bowl with a wooden spoon but you may need to dump it onto wax paper and knead it by hand to thoroughly incorporate the ingredients. Once it is a uniform color wet your hands and press it out into a 9×12 ish rectangle on a piece of parchment.
Optional Caramel Sauce:
- Combine the first three sauce ingredients and cook over medium-low heat until bubbly, slightly thickened, and lightly browned. This will takes about 5 minutes. It will thicken further during baking. Remove from the heat and add the salt and extract. Set aside.
Assembly:
- Cut the dough into 24 pieces. Cut the cream cheese into 24 pieces. Sprinkle each piece of dough with ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon sweetener. Place a cube of cream cheese in the center of each, wrap and seal the dough around the cream cheese. Dip the dough ball in butter. Roll it in the cinnamon sweetener. Put it in the prepared pie plate. Repeat with all 24 pieces. (If you have extra sweetener sprinkle it on top. If you run out of the sweetener before you are done just mix up a little more).
- Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top, if using.
- Bake at 350 45-50 min until the rolls are golden brown and the sweetener is bubbling. Cool for 5-10 minutes. Invert onto a serving plate and serve immediately.
Notes
- The caramel sauce is optional. I've made this with and without it. Without it is lightly sweetened like a breakfast pastry. With it, it is more like a dessert.
- Leftovers are best warm. I ate this for breakfast for almost a week. I would microwave a few pieces in the microwave for 30 seconds and enjoy with my coffee.
Nutrition
Originally Published May 25, 2016. Revised and Republished May 7, 2020.
Emily Coe says
Great recipe-easy to follow.
Mich says
After reading the comments, I'm confused. One mentioned flax, but there is no flax in the recipe that I see. The other is a comment saying that there is no baking powder, but the recipe that I see says 1 TBSP (which seems like quite a lot). I'm not sure if I'm seeing the correct recipe.
Taryn says
I have tweaked this over the years. The recipe is as stated without flax and with baking powder.
Becky says
I was wondering about making the night before and then baking it the next day. Has anyone ever tried that? I want to have it on Christmas morning!
Kelly Charbula says
This looks so yummy. I’d like to make it for Christmas tomorrow morning. Can pre- grated/ shredded mozzarella be used for this?
Also is the coconut flour necessary? I really don’t like it’s taste and texture.
Taryn says
Yes to shredded mozz. You can omit the coconut flour, just add additional almond flour.
Leslie says
This looks delish! Can I sub the THM baking blend for the almond, flax, etc? Would it be equal parts? Thanks!
Taryn says
Yes, use a little less.
Kelly Charbula says
This looks amazing. I have 2 questions:
1. I don’t use flax so how much extra Almond flour? Your recipe just says extra.
2. I don’t have a microwave. Are there instructions for melting the cheese on the stovetop?
Taryn says
1. Use an extra 1/4 cup almond flour to replace the 1/4 cup flax.
2. Here are instructions to melt the cheese on the stovetop: https://joyfilledeats.com/low-carb-skillet-pizza/
Jenn says
You're a keto wizard! Such a cool variation on a classic recipe and I can't wait to try it!! Thanks!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Oh how fun! This would make perfect breakfast or dessert!
Rebekah says
What kind of mozzarella do you use?
Taryn says
Just regular inexpensive mozzarella found in blocks in the dairy section like Sorrento, Polly'O, etc.
Debbie says
I stay away from sugar and any kind of artificial/natural sweeteners. Wondering if you have tried this without the sweetener.
Taryn says
No. You could make it a savory dish by using herbs and sea salt. I'm not sure how it would taste just eliminating the sweetener.
Patti says
This looks YUMMY! Thanks for posting it. 😀
Regina says
What could you substitute for the THM baking blend or your local baking mix and THM gentle sweet sweetener?
I'm on a pretty tight budget and live in the middle of nowhere so I'm trying to find things to substitute that don't cost an arm and a leg or have to travel two hours to buy.
Thanks.
Taryn says
Hi Regina, My coconut, almond, flax blend is very economical. I'm not sure you will find something cheaper that is suitable for THM. There are many places online you can order the ingredients. For the sweetener, there may be other sweeteners you can find locally but they may not be cheaper. This chart might be helpful if you try to find one locally: https://trimhealthymama.com/#usefulinfo
ilonka says
oOOHH my goshh this came out soooo freaking good!!!!i loove monkeybread but because of my lowcarb way of eating i couldt replace it with a taste look a like.this gorilla bread i love it more!thank you thank you!you made my mothersday even more special with this recipe❤
Janet says
Is this fresh mozzarella or a block?
Taryn says
A block.
Jennifer says
This looks amazing!!!! I tried your cinnamon waffles earlier in the week as well.
I am wanting to follow you on pintrest but can't see you find the follow button. Any ideas???
Amy says
Could I use Swerve sweetener in place of the blend?
Taryn says
I think so.
lorena says
should this recipe have baking powder ? I made this and it didn't rise.
Taryn says
Hi Lorena, I didn't use baking powder when I made them. Mozzarella doughs tend to be more dense and firmer than a wheat and yeast dough.
Debbie says
Can I have the recipe please?
Taryn says
Hi Debbie, the recipe is right in the post. There is a printable version too. If you are on mobile you need to click the 'read more' button to get to the recipe. If you scroll down slowly you should see it. Let me know if that doesn't work!
Deb Vaughn says
I'm a bit confused as to how many this serves? What is considered a serving for THM? Thank you! I can't wait to try this.
Taryn says
H Deb, I'm not an expert on serving size. I would eat two or three pieces. I had two for a snack or dessert or three for breakfast. By pieces I mean one dough ball that is stuffed with cream cheese.
Alissa says
This looks absolutely delicious! We will definitely be trying this soon! Thanks 🙂
Brenda says
I am unsure of the melted cheese part, am I melting both cheese's?
Taryn says
Hi Brenda,
You melt the mozzarella and 1 oz of the cream cheese. Make sure it is really melted well. The other 7 oz of cream cheese are cut into cubes to fill the dough.
Kim Seguin says
Do you think that this could be made ahead and then baked later? Make in the morning and baked after supper?
Taryn says
Yes. I think that would work. Let me know if you try 🙂