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Close-up of cinnamon rolls topped with white icing and glazed with syrup.
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5 from 1 vote

Protein Monkey Bread Recipe

This air fryer monkey bread is packed with protein, thanks to blended cottage cheese! It's sticky, sweet, and super fun and easy to make. Serve with a cream cheese glaze for the perfect finishing touch.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time22 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: protein monkey bread
Servings: 8
Author: Lee Funke

Ingredients

Icing

  • 2 tablespoons of cream cheese softened
  • ¼ cup 2% blended cottage cheese
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 300℉.
  • Place the blended cottage cheese, flour, baking powder, and sea salt in a large bowl. Using a silicon or wooden spoon, stir until combined. Then, using your hands, press together until a ball has formed.
    A clear bowl with a light blue spatula contains clumps of mixed flour and butter, forming a crumbly dough, on a textured gray surface.
  • Transfer the dough to a floured work surface. Knead together until smooth. You may need to sprinkle more flour over the top, so it is not super sticky.
    Close-up of two balls of dough on parchment paper, ready for baking.
  • Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll into a log about 6 inches long. Cut each log into 5 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Set aside.
    A white plate with 20 evenly spaced raw dough balls on a textured surface.
  • Place the brown sugar and cinnamon into a small bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Roll each ball in the melted butter, then transfer to the cinnamon sugar and roll in the cinnamon sugar. Set aside.
    A hand rolls a dough ball in a bowl of brown sugar topping.
  • Line the air fryer with parchment paper. We recommend using a round parchment paper insert. If you do not have one, you may need to layer two pieces of paper to make a bowl shape. Place all of the balls into the insert. They will be touching.
    Golden brown breaded balls arranged in a circular air fryer basket.
  • Air fry for 20 to 25 minutes. There will be a little bit of liquid on the bottom when they are done. It is the brown sugar melting.
    Golden brown bread rolls packed tightly in a round container with parchment paper.
  • Make the frosting: While the monkey bread is cooking, add all the ingredients to a bowl and use an electric mixer to mix the ingredients together. Be sure the cream cheese is softened, or you will end up with lumpy frosting.
  • Rest for 10 minutes before serving with the frosting. You can pour the frosting over the monkey bread or use it as a dip.
    A round cinnamon pull-apart bread topped with cream cheese icing on parchment paper. Nearby are a bowl of icing and a dish of cinnamon.

Notes

  • Greek yogurt can be used in place of the blended cottage cheese. It will change the texture slightly.
  • We used a 4 qt. air fryer for this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g