Homemade Crescent Rolls

Ingredients

• 3.5 cup All-purpose flour
• 1.5 tsp Instant yeast
• 2 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1.5 cup Milk (Warm)
• 3 tbsp Butter (Melted)
• 3.5 tbsp Butter (Softened, for rolling; source gives 3–4 tbsp)
• 1 Egg (For egg wash)
• 1 tbsp Milk (For egg wash)
• Oil (For lightly oiling the bowl)
• Flour (For dusting the work surface)
• Parchment paper (For lining the baking sheet)

Steps

1. 1

   In a large bowl, combine the flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt.

2. 2

   Warm the milk and 3 tablespoons butter in the microwave until the butter has melted. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until a shaggy dough forms.

3. 3

   Turn the dough onto a floured work surface and knead for 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic. It should feel soft and slightly tacky, but not sticky.

4. 4

   Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours, or until doubled in size.

5. 5

   Punch down the risen dough and turn it onto a floured work surface. Roll it into a thin rectangle about 12 × 16 inches.

6. 6

   Brush the softened butter evenly over the dough. For extra flaky layers, the source suggests chilling the shaped crescents for 30 minutes before the final rise.

7. 7

   Cut the rectangle into 8 equal pieces, then cut each piece diagonally to make 16 triangles.

8. 8

   Starting at the wide end of each triangle, gently roll toward the point to form a crescent.

9. 9

   Place the rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between them. Cover and let rise for 1 hour, until puffy and noticeably larger.

10. 10

    Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

11. 11

    Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon milk to make an egg wash, then brush it over the tops of the rolls.

12. 12

    Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and serve warm.

Notes

The pro tip recommends chilling the shaped crescents for 30 minutes before the final rise for extra flaky layers. Total time is listed as 3 hours 35 minutes, including 3 hours of rest; the rise durations are given as 1–2 hours plus 1 hour.

Nutrition per serving

• bread
• side
• vegetarian
• baked
• yeast dough
• holiday
• dinner