[2] What most people know as monkey bread today in the United States is actually the Hungarian dessert arany galuska ("golden dumpling").

[4] In 1972, a cookbook published by Betty Crocker included a recipe for arany galuska, which they referred to as "Hungarian Coffee Cake".

As it became more popular in America, arany galuska came to be confused with monkey bread in which the balls of dough are not dipped in cinnamon and sugar but only in butter.

According to food historian Gil Marks, she arranged for monkey bread to be served to President Reagan on the night before his testimony before Congress for the Iran-contra hearings.

As legend goes, Ronald Reagan said, “Mommy, I may go to prison, but I’ll always remember this monkey bread.”[6] The bread is made with pieces of sweet yeast dough (often frozen), which are baked in a cake pan at high heat after first being individually covered in melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar.