Methods for making phenolic resins modified with one or more monosaccharides and methods for making composite products therewith are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, a method for making a composite product can include contacting a plurality of cellulosic sheets with a resin composition that includes a phenolic resin and a monosaccharide. The resin composition can include about 0.5 wt % to about 30 wt % of the monosaccharide, based on a combined weight of the phenolic resin and the monosaccharide. The method can also include at least partially curing the resin composition to produce a composite product.