Although the origin of this dish is unknown, it has been suggested that it originated in Germany or Denmark, while others claim that it was invented by a baker from New York. The German name for this pastry is "Schweinekrapfen", meaning "pig's dumplings" (it is unclear whether or not the name refers to those consumed by monkeys). The Danes have a similar pastry named "Æbleskiver", which translates as "apple slices". This may be related to the use of apples in the American version. Monkey bread was popular in the United States around 1970 and remains well known as a coffee cake served by restaurants and bakeries throughout the country. In New York and other places, coffee cake is a common term for desserts consisting of doughnut-like circles, chunks or slices. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_bread