Post-Christmas last year, I tried my hand at these sweet, soft, buttery homemade crescent rolls. Honestly, I wasn’t that confident about making these because I still get nervous with buttery dough 😉. But the bread lover in me screams for an adventure! Boy, I was thankful I didn’t let the fear stop me. These beauties were easier to make than I thought and way better than store-bought ones. On the other hand, crescent rolls are easier to make and take less baking time. It’s buttery and crispy on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside. And oh, they make an incredible dinner roll.
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Crescent Rolls
Activate Yeast – Combine water and yeast in the stand mixer bowl with a dough hook. Or use a large bowl if making it by hand. Let it sit until yeast dissolves for about 5 minutes. (Photo 1) Liquid Ingredients – Mix the milk, butter pieces, sugar, and salt in a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for about a minute, stirring occasionally until everything melts. (Be careful not to heat it enough to kill the yeast.) (Photo 2) Mix – Pour the butter mixture into the large bowl or stand mixer (it should be lukewarm; if not, let it sit until it is). Whisk in the eggs and combine thoroughly. (Photo 3) Add Flour – Gradually add about 3¾ cups of flour and continue mixing on low, adding just enough flour to form a soft dough. If mixing by hand, place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead for 6-8 minutes. (Photos 4-6) Let Rise – Place your crescent roll dough in a greased bowl, turning once to coat. Cover the bowl loosely with a clean, damp cloth and let rise in a warm place for an hour or two or until doubled. Punch it down. (Photos 7-8)
Roll – Divide the dough in half on a lightly floured surface. Then, roll each half out into 12-inch circles; cut into 12-16 wedges (like a pizza.) (Photos 9-14) Assemble – Roll up the wedges, starting at the wide end, and bend to form a crescent shape. Spray a baking sheet pan with oil or butter, and place the crescent rolls on the oiled pan about ½-1″ apart. Cover lightly with a damp kitchen towel and let them rise for about 30 minutes or until they look puffy. (Photo 15) Bake – Preheat the oven to 400℉ (205℃). Brush the tops with butter. Place them into the oven and bake until golden brown, 12-14 minutes. Serve warm with the remaining butter if desired. (Photo 16)
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make Ahead Instructions
If you want to make your crescent rolls ahead, make them as instructed, assemble them, let them rise, and flash-freeze them. Line a baking sheet with waxed or parchment paper and place them on it. Freeze for about 30 minutes (or until they’re firm). Then, transfer the frozen crescent rolls to a ziplock freezer bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. You can stick them directly in the oven straight from the freezer for a quick crescent roll fix. Heat the oven to 400℉ (205℃) and bake for about 15 minutes.
Serving and Storage Instructions
These guys are delicious straight from the oven slathered with butter. But they’re also good at room temperature. To store leftover homemade crescent rolls, let them cool completely. Cover them in plastic wrap and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To freeze your leftover crescent rolls, arrange them on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for an hour or two. Then, transfer the frozen crescent rolls to a ziplock freezer bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. Take out as many as you want and reheat them in the oven.
What to Serve With Crescent Rolls
Serve these as a side with some smoked chicken and a Greek salad for a light dinner option. Or have these warm, brushed with some garlic butter. These also make for great desserts. Serve with some caramel sauce to dip them in for a real treat!
More Savory Bread Recipes to Try
Conclusion
Homemade crescent rolls are delicious, easy, and versatile. How do you plan on using this recipe? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”MfDdUB3X” upload-date=”2020-08-08T14:41:13.000Z” name=”Homemade Crescent Rolls” description=”Homemade Crescent Rolls – sweet and soft with a slight crust on the top and bottom, and fluffy buttery on the inside. A great make-ahead dinner rolls for your holiday meal!” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in November 2018 and has been updated with additional tips and a new video.
