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These Homemade Crescent Rolls are the most perfect buttery, light, and fluffy homemade roll recipe. Easy homemade rolls made from scratch!
I grew up on a steady stream of baked goods. My Mom’s favorite food on the planet is homemade bread and rolls so she made them almost daily. Every Sunday, she would make her special crescent rolls which are basically homemade dinner rolls rolled up into a crescent shape. They just melt in your mouth!
Since Thanksgiving is around the corner, I want to share this special homemade crescent roll recipe with you. My Mom and I made some tweaks to make them extra perfect (butter makes everything better!). I will share all of my tips and tricks for making the best crescent rolls.
Several years ago, I shared my Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe and those are delicious as well! If you want a more buttery roll, this is the recipe for you. These are the best crescent rolls!
Ingredients:
- Warm Water
- Active Dry Yeast
- Sugar
- Salted Butter
- Egg
- Milk
- Flour
- Salt
What type of yeast should I use in the crescent rolls recipe?
The most popular types of yeast used in baking are traditional active dry yeast and instant fast-rising yeast. Active dry yeast has been around for ages and is sold in packets and in jars. It is a slower-working yeast. It can be added directly to the dough with the dry ingredients and doesn’t need to be proofed or activated with warm water.
HOW TO MAKE SURE THE YEAST IS WORKING?
The key to making any type of homemade rolls recipe is to ensure the yeast is working and activated. I suggest mixing the yeast, warm water (about 110 degrees), and a touch of sugar into a bowl. The sugar will help to “feed” the yeast and help it to activate quicker. Yeast loves sugar! The warm water also helps to activate the yeast. If the water or milk is too hot, it can kill the yeast so make sure it is warm to the touch but not too hot. The yeast should start to become foamy or bubbles will begin to surface. This is a great sign that the yeast is working. Let it work for at least 5-10 minutes.
Should I use Salted or Unsalted Butter in this Roll Recipe?
I suggest using salted butter. It has so much more flavor than unsalted butter.
How to make Homemade Crescent Rolls:
- Start by proofing the yeast with warm water and sugar. The yeast will start to become foamy and that’s how you know it is working!
- Add the warmed milk, and melted butter (make sure it isn’t too hot!). It helps to use warmed ingredients as they incorporate much easier than if they were cold, straight from the refrigerator. Add egg.
- Add flour and salt and mix for several minutes. I prefer to use my Bosch mixer for this recipe because it makes kneading so much easier! You want to watch for the dough to come clean off the sides of the bowl. If you need to add more flour, add 1 Tablespoon at a time. I use all-purpose flour in this recipe but you can also use bread flour.
- Place the dough in a bowl that has been lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, softened butter, or oil to prevent sticking. Cover and let it rise until the dough is double in size, about 1-2 hours.
- Once the dough has risen, equally divide it into two balls. Roll each ball of dough into a circle, about 14″ in diameter. Soften some butter and brush all over the dough.
- Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into quarters. Then slice each quarter into thirds, so you will have 12 total. Roll up each triangle starting with the widest part.
- Place the rolls onto a greased baking sheet. Brush with a little more butter to keep the rolls from drying out. Let the crescent rolls rise again until they are double in size.
- Bake just until a light golden color. Remove from the oven and brush with the remaining melted butter. Serve warm, straight out of the oven!
Divide the dough ball into equal halves and then roll it out into a large 14″ circle.
Use a pizza cutter to cut it into 4 equal parts.
Cut each quarter into 3 pieces so you have 12 pieces total.
You will have 24 rolls in total and they will all fit on a classic baking sheet.
The crescent dough has been brushed with butter, to keep the rolls from drying out, and has puffed up and doubled in size. The rolls are ready to be baked in the oven!
If you are looking for the Best Thanksgiving Recipes, click HERE for all of them in one place.
Here are some popular Bread Recipes:
- Knotted Buttery Rolls
- Homemade Garlic Butter Rolls
- One Hour Whole Wheat Bread Recipe
- Miracle One Hour White Bread Recipe
- Easy Soft French Bread Recipe
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Homemade Crescent Rolls
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Warm Water (about 110 degrees)
- 1 Tablespoon Active Dry Yeast
- 4 Tablespoons Sugar
- 3/4 cup Salted Butter (divided by 3)
- 3/4 cup Milk
- 1 large Egg
- 4 cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Start by proofing the yeast with warm water and sugar. Add yeast and warm water to mixing bowl. Sprinkle with sugar. The yeast will start to become foamy and that's how you know it is working! Let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, combine milk and 1/3 of the butter and microwave for about 45 seconds until the butter is mostly melted. Let it cool for several minutes. Add the warmed milk, and melted butter (make sure it isn't too hot!) to the bowl. Add egg.
- Add flour and salt and mix for several minutes. I prefer to use my Bosch mixer for this recipe because it makes kneading so much easier! You want to watch for the dough to come clean off the sides of the bowl. If you need to add more flour, add 1 Tablespoon at a time.
- Place the dough in a bowl that has been lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, softened butter, or oil to prevent sticking. Cover and let it rise until the dough is double in size, about 1-2 hours.
- Once the dough has risen, equally divide it into two balls. Roll each ball of dough into a circle, about 14" in diameter. Soften another 1/3 of the butter and brush all over the dough (leave a little extra to brush the tops of the rolls once you roll the dough into a crescent shape).
- Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into quarters. Then slice each quarter into thirds, so you will have 12 total. Roll up each triangle starting with the widest part. Place the rolls onto a greased baking sheet. Brush with a little butter to keep the rolls from drying out.
- Let the crescent rolls rise again until they are double in size. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or just until a light golden color. I would suggest watching carefully because they can brown quickly. Remove from the oven and brush with the remaining melted butter. Serve warm, straight out of the oven!
Notes
HOW TO MAKE SURE THE YEAST IS WORKING?
The key to making any type of homemade rolls recipe is to ensure the yeast is working and activated. I suggest mixing the yeast, warm water (about 110 degrees), and a touch of sugar into a bowl. The sugar will help to "feed" the yeast and help it to activate quicker. Yeast loves sugar! The warm water also helps to activate the yeast. If the water or milk is too hot, it can kill the yeast so make sure it is warm to the touch but not too hot. The yeast should start to become foamy or bubbles will begin to surface. This is a great sign that the yeast is working. Let it work for at least 5-10 minutes.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi. any suggestions for making ahead? I made them yesterday for Thanksgiving but by the time they were in the oven the dough had overproofed. They were still tasty but the texture not so much. Thanks!
Hi Leah! That’s always the struggle with baking rolls is to get the proofing just right. The beauty of rolls is that you can make them ahead of time. They freeze beautifully! You can bake them ahead of time and then just warm them in the oven. I like to brush them with melted butter before warming to ensure they don’t dry out. I hope that helps!
I made a batch of these crescent rolls and they turned out perfectly and the recipe was so easy to follow.
I used half the dough, rolled and cut into rectangles, to make savory hand pies and they were amazing as well!
I’m definitely going to make these again very soon.
These are sooo soft and pillow like.