Crescent dinner rolls are buttery, soft, and so pretty! The perfect dinner roll recipe. Make sure to check out my turkey-shaped crescent rolls at the end of the post. Perfect for Thanksgiving!
You might also like my copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls, Hawaiian rolls, or cloverleaf rolls.
Today I'm sharing my go-to dinner roll recipe. They are beautiful, buttery, and rich. You can make them any time of year, but when I think of the perfect roll for holiday dinners, these, as well as my knotted dinner rolls, are my go-to. Both shapes are made with the same dough!
Why I Like This Recipe
- Buttery and soft. The dough is made with butter instead of oil, and after baking, the rolls are brushed with melted butter, which gives them a fantastic flavor and texture.
- Easy to make. They might look fancy, but the dough is pretty basic, and shaping them isn't hard.
- Simple ingredients. My go-to roll recipe for dinners is our Amish dinner rolls. They are delicious and easy, and use basic pantry ingredients. This is the same recipe with 2 adjustments: butter instead of oil, and milk instead of water. You can definitely make these with water and oil like my original recipe, but I like swapping those out when I really want a show-stopping roll.
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Turkey Shaped Rolls
My kids LOVE turkey-shaped rolls, and you can make them from the crescent roll dough with one minor change! Instead of rolling up the triangles, you simply bake them in a muffin pan, which gives them a turkey shape. I was inspired years ago by The Food Nanny, and they have become a Thanksgiving tradition in our home as well. Today I'm sharing how to make classic crescent rolls as well as turkey-shaped rolls.
Tips and Tricks
- Tip for those who don't own a stand mixer: If you do not have a stand mixer, you can make this dough by hand using a Danish dough whisk in a large mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients together, then knead on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes. I rarely use a wooden spoon to mix dough anymore; a dough whisk is much more efficient and works great!
- Letting the dough rise: The dough will rise faster in a warm spot. I preheat my oven for 1 minute, then shut the heat off. It makes the oven just warm enough for the dough to rise.
- How to freeze rolls. Freeze the baked rolls by placing them into a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months.
Ingredients
- Water: The majority of liquid in this roll recipe comes from milk, but I use a small amount of warm water to proof the yeast.
- Yeast: Yeast is necessary for a proper rise. You can use instant (my preferred yeast) or active dry yeast. Regardless of the type of yeast I use, I always proof it.
- Milk: Milk adds a richness to the rolls and gives them golden brown edges. You can use water in place of milk for allergen purposes.
- Butter: I bake exclusively with salted butter, but you can use unsalted butter. Butter is used in the dough, and then brushed over finished rolls.
- Sugar: Just a bit to add sweetness to the dough.
- Salt
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Crescent Rolls
Step 1: In a small bowl, mix warm water and yeast. Allow to proof until foamy (about 5 minutes).
Step 2: Heat milk in the microwave until hot (90 seconds-2 minutes). Stir in butter. Let it stand until the milk is warm, NOT hot.
Step 3: Pour the butter and milk mixture into a large bowl. Add water and yeast mixture. Stir in sugar and salt. Mix in flour, one cup at a time.
Step 4: Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth.
Step 5: Place in a well-oiled large bowl, and turn the dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap. Allow rolls to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
Step 6: Punch the dough down and divide it into two sections.
Step 7: Roll each section into a 12" circle. Slice each circle into 12 triangles.
Step 8: Roll up each triangle starting at the wide end. Place rolls on a greased baking sheet. Allow to rise for 40 minutes.
Step 9: Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush rolls generously with butter while in pans.
How To Shape Turkey Dinner Rolls
Step 1: Roll each section into a 12" circle. Slice each circle into 12 triangles.
Step 2: Place the triangles into a greased muffin pan.
Step 3: Cut a few slits into the tail of each turkey roll with scissors.
Step 4: Poke 2 holes using a toothpick for eyes. Let rise in a warm place for 40 minutes.
Step 5: Bake at 350°F for 14-16 minutes, or until the edges are golden. Brush rolls generously with butter while in pans.
Crescent Rolls FAQs
For the most part, I use whatever yeast is available. Most of the time, it's the instant yeast that comes in a large package from Sam's Club. When I use dry active yeast, I add 10-15 minutes to the rise time. Technically, you do not need to proof instant yeast, only dry active yeast, but I've gotten so used to proofing my yeast that I proof it for every recipe.
The dough will rise faster in a warm spot. I preheat my oven for 1 minute, then shut the heat off. It makes the oven just warm enough for the dough to rise.
These rolls freeze beautifully. Place in a large freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the bag at room temperature.
More Roll Recipes To Make
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Homemade Crescent Rolls
Ingredients
- ½ cup warm water
- 4 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast 2 packets
- 1 ½ cups warm milk
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 5 ½ cups flour bread or all purpose
- melted butter to brush over finished rolls
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix warm water and yeast. Allow to proof until foamy (about 5 minutes).
- Heat milk in the microwave until hot (90 seconds-2 minutes). Stir in butter. Let stand until milk is warm, NOT hot.
- Pour the butter and milk mixture into a large bowl. Add water and yeast mixture.
- Stir in sugar and salt.
- Mix in flour, one cup at a time.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for a few minutes, until it is smooth.
- Place in a well-oiled large bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap. Allow rolls to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
- Punch down the dough and divide it into two portions. Roll each portion into a 12" circle. Slice into 12 triangles (for turkey-shaped rolls, refer to the NOTES section of the recipe card).
- Starting at the wide end, roll up each triangle into a crescent shape. Place rolls on a greased baking sheet.
- Allow to rise for 40 minutes.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Brush rolls generously with butter while in pans.
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