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.