Homemade Crescent Rolls
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These Homemade Crescent Rolls will become a staple at your dinner table. They are easy to make, flaky, tender, and take much less time to make than croissants! Plus, they aren’t as hard or as labor intensive as one might think. They are the perfect side dish recipe to your holiday dinners. Don’t forget to buttery these warm rolls with butter!
Are you looking for a flaky crescent roll that’s easy to make?? Then this recipe is for you! Most crescent roll recipes produce what I call a regular roll in crescent shape. There aren’t any flaky layers like what you get from that can of crescent roll dough from the store. So I used my regular dinner roll recipe and put my biscuit technique to use. It gives lots of flaky layers so why not with yeast dough.
I grew up on the store-bought crescent rolls as a side dish at many dinners during my childhood, but after I made this recipe I will never go back to the store-bought variety!
These homemade rolls are what dreams are made of. Of course, I like to lather the butter on these warm, flaky rolls!
Ingredients Needed
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Salt
- Milk
- eggs
- butter
How do you make flaky crescent rolls from scratch?
First of all, remember it’s easier than you think! You are not making croissants.
- Mix Dry Ingredients – You will start by mixing all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. (Photo 1) Then cut in COLD butter (I like to put mine in the freezer for a little while to make sure it’s extra cold). (Photo 2) As I mentioned earlier use a pastry cutter to do this so the chunks of butter don’t get too small. Just look for chunks a little larger than peas.
- Knead – Stir in the milk and eggs. (Photo 1) You may need a little more milk to bring the dough together and if needed knead the dough a few times to help bring it all together. Sometimes I do this and sometimes I don’t it just depends on how the dough is acting. If there isn’t much flour left in the bowl and the dough is still a little wet I will just knead it a little but if it’s rather dry and not coming together in a ball very well I will add a little more milk. (Photo 2)
- Chill Dough – Now I chill the dough. I found this necessary after working with the dough to give it a little rest and to let the butter get cold again. After 30ish minutes remove the dough and divide into 3 equal portions. (Photos 1 & 2)
- Roll & Raise – Next, Roll each portion into a long rectangle and fold over envelope style. Do this 3 times then roll into a long rectangle and cut into triangles. To roll start at the wide end and roll up to the end then place on a baking sheet to rise until doubled. (Photos 3 & 4)
- Bake – Lastly bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
Once again these aren’t hard to make!
So much better than the ones in the tube and just a little bit more work, so don’t be afraid to give them a try!
Tips to make flaky crescent rolls
So, to make those flaky layers we need butter. When butter bakes it melts and releases steam making layers. It’s also what makes them crispy on the outside.
The butter also needs to be cold. I wanted to make these rolls with the minimum amount of chilling time and found I could get away with chilling the dough only once.
Also, I find using when cutting the butter into the flour mixture leave chunks that are a little larger than peas. Don’t use a cheese grater or food processor because the butter will just disappear into the dough when you work with it. Then you won’t get those nice flaky layers. It works with biscuits because the dough is being handled very little but with this dough, we are working it a little more and allowing it to rise.
Make Ahead Tips
Follow the steps through making the crescent rolls and place them on the baking sheet. Then cover them loosely with plastic wrap and put the tray into the fridge. You can keep them in there up to 24 hours.
A few hours before you are ready to serve them, remove from the fridge and place on the counter so they come to room temperature. Let them rise until doubled in size and then bake according to directions.
How long will they keep?
- Room Temperature – If you place the rolls into a resealable bag and store them at room temperature they will last for a few days.
- Refrigerator – If you place them in the refrigerator they will last around a week.
- Freezer – You can also freeze them and will last up to a month. When ready to serve we recommend warming them a little in the oven on lowest setting for about 10 minutes.
Are crescent rolls and croissants the same thing?
In my opinion, they are not the same. For one croissants are a labor of love and take a lot longer to make and the technique is much different. With croissants, you make what is called laminated dough which is the process of folding butter into the dough MANY times.
While these rolls require folding butter into the dough it’s done in a much easier way and takes much less time! Now that’s my kind of roll!!
Somebody said to pass the rolls! More delicious recipes to enjoy!
These aren’t hard to make and I know you’re going to love these tasty, flaky biscuits! When you have a moment please leave a five-star comment below!
Bake up some rolls for the holidays and be sure to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats – I want to see pictures of your delicious meal!
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Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

Crescent Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cold butter, cubed
- 1-1 1/2 cups milk
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Using a pastry cutter cut in the butter until you have chunks a little larger than peas.
- In a small bowl combine the milk and eggs then stir into the flour mixture until it forms a ball. Start with 1 cup of milk and add more if necessary. If there is only a little flour left in the bowl I like to briefly knead the dough to finish bringing it together. If the dough is still pretty dry and having trouble coming together add in more milk. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 30ish minutes.
- Dust a work surface with flour and divide the dough into 3 equal portions. Roll one portion into a long rectangle then fold into thirds. Turn dough a quarter turn and roll into another long rectangle and fold into thirds. Repeat once more. Roll into a rectangle about 1/4" thick (sometimes mine is a little thicker).
- Cut into 8 triangles. Starting at the wide end roll up each triangle and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with remaining 2 dough portions to make a total of 24 rolls. Cover rolls loosely and place in a warm area to rise until double in size.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Tips
- Room Temperature - If you place the rolls into a resealable bag and store them at room temperature they will last for a few days.
- Refrigerator - If you place them in the refrigerator they will last around a week.
- Freezer - You can also freeze them and will last up to a month. When ready to serve we recommend warming them a little in the oven on lowest setting for about 10 minutes.
Barbara Sauers says
Can this dough be used the same as the tube dough to making appetizers and casseroles?
Natalie says
Can you use a stand mixer for this recipe?
Ria says
I followed the recipe but My dough didn’t rise
Mark C says
Please do not publish untested recipes. The amount of liquid in the ingredients made cake batter, not bread dough. I had to add another two cups of flour before it looked like something you could roll…and then the butter ratio was too low.
Rita M. says
Oh my God! They look so great! I really want to try this recipe!
Have you ever tried to freeze the crescents after the part of rolling them? Do you know if they defrost and rise normally?
I really wanted to have some batches ready in the freezer for “emergency times”…
Michelle Sperr says
Hi Rita! I haven’t tired to make this recipe ahead of time but I’d think it would work okay….let me know if you try it and how it turns out! I love having batches in the freezer too!
Nursdeb says
I tried these and they turned out great. So much easier than my old crescent roll recipe. My family enjoyed them!
Michelle Sperr says
Awesome!! So glad that everyone enjoyed this recipe.
Sathya says
What stage u add the yeast.. It not mention
Julie Evink says
It’s stated you add yeast in Step 1.
Sam says
Does the milk need to be warm when added? I’m not sure i understand what activates the yeast. I’ve made it without warming the milk and am finding they’re taking longer than expected to proof, which made me curious.
Julie says
No, the milk doesn’t need to be warm.
kristiyan says
no need to get sassy 🤨
Karla says
I have made this 3 times now and is my favorite recipe in Pinterest so far! I add Nutella or ham and cheese inside and they are amazing!! I do the trick with the butter every time.
Julie says
Awesome! I’m so glad you love these!
Rubmary says
First time I attempt and sadly didn’t work out for me, i followed instructions exactly, dough was too wet (I only put 1 cup of milk)and even tho I added more flour they just did not come out flaky. I will try again as my kids really liked them. I will rate it then. 😉
Julie says
I’m sorry to hear that! Was your butter cold as well?
Jane says
I made these and used some of the dough to make cinnamon rolls. Both crescents and cinnamon rolls were great!
Julie says
Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed both!