Why Try These Gluten-Free Crescent Rolls

These gluten-free crescent rolls bring back a Thanksgiving tradition from my childhood! After years of trying to recreate my Mom’s crescent rolls, I finally found success with King Arthur gluten-free bread flour.

Outside of the holidays, I typically serve them with gluten-free pot roast or gluten-free beef stew for a comfort meal my whole family loves!

  • Only one rise: The shaped rolls rise until doubled before baking, so there’s no second rise to worry about.
  • Classic crescent roll shape: The gluten-free dough is workable enough to roll out and shape into the traditional crescent shape.
  • Soft and fluffy texture: Gluten-free bread flour helps create the tender texture that’s difficult to achieve with a standard gluten-free 1:1 flour blend.
A rectangular dish filled with golden-brown crescent rolls on a cloth napkin, with a butter knife and a small bowl of salt nearby.
Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!

What You Need

Here are a few notes on some of the key ingredients to make these gluten-free crescent rolls. Jump to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Top-down view of baking ingredients labeled: salt, instant yeast, gluten-free flour, baking powder, almond flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and water or milk.
  • Gluten-free bread flour. I use this gluten-free bread flour, which contains gluten-free wheat starch and xanthan gum. It creates a dough that’s easy to roll and shape. This is the key to making gluten-free crescent rolls that are as good as the original!
  • Almond flour. I like to add a little almond flour for extra flavor and browning. I use the same trick in my gluten-free sandwich bread!
  • Instant yeast. I’m a big fan of using instant yeast since it can be mixed directly into the dry ingredients. If using active dry yeast, dissolve it in the warm liquids first.
  • Whole milk powder. This is a newer addition to my recipe! I’ve tested it multiple times, and the rolls turn out softer and more flavorful than ever. It’s a small change that makes a noticeable difference!

How to Make Gluten-Free Crescent Rolls

Here’s an overview of how to make this recipe. You can jump to the recipe for the full instructions!

Creamed butter and sugar mixture in a glass mixing bowl.

Make the dough. I start by combining the dry ingredients, then slowly add the liquid ingredients with the mixer on low. I increase the speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes, until very smooth. The dough should look like thick cookie dough!

A ball of dough inside a glass mixing bowl, marked with the number 2 in the top left corner.

Cover and chill. I oil a spatula then scrape the dough away from the sides and bottom, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for 20 minutes. I find this makes the dough much easier to roll out and shape!

Erin’s Tip

I prefer using the paddle attachment on my stand mixer, rather than the dough hook. In my experience, the paddle mixes this thick dough more evenly.

A round disk of raw dough on a measurement mat, pre-cut into twelve wedges radiating from the center.

Roll and slice. Lightly flour your work surface, then scoop out half the dough. Roll it into a 12-inch circle and brush with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Use a pizza cutter to slice the dough into 12 wedges. I aim for equal-sized wedges, but honestly, mine always vary a little and still turn out great! Repeat with the remaining dough.

Ten unbaked crescent rolls arranged in two rows on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Shape and rise. I start at the wide end to roll up each wedge, then place the rolls point side down on the prepared baking sheets. Make sure you curve the ends to create the classic crescent shape! Cover the baking sheets and let them rise in a warm place until doubled in size. In my kitchen, this usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour!

Erin’s Tip

I like using this silicone baking mat with circle measurements to make it easier to roll the dough into a 12-inch circles.

Ten golden-brown crescent rolls arranged on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake and serve. Bake until the edges start to turn golden, then immediately brush the warm rolls with extra melted butter. I love serving these fresh from the oven while they’re still warm. So good!

A white baking dish lined with a cloth napkin filled with golden-brown crescent rolls.
gluten-free crescent rolls in a bowl with a towel
4.98 from 35 votes

Buttery, Gluten-Free Crescent Rolls

Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 26 minutes
Rise Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 11 minutes
Servings 24 rolls
These gluten-free crescent rolls are a must-have at the holiday table! They're tender, buttery, and just everything a delicious roll should be. I now add 3 tablespoons of powdered whole milk to the dry ingredients and skip the egg wash. I love how much softer and more flavorful the rolls turn out with this simple change!

Video

Save this recipe!
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!

Ingredients

For the Dough:

Instructions 

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the gluten-free bread flour, almond flour, granulated sugar, milk powder, instant yeast, salt and baking powder. Mix to combine.
  • With the mixer running on low, slowly add the water, milk, eggs and melted butter. Increase the speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes. The dough will resemble thick cookie dough, this is normal.
  • Using an oiled rubber spatula, scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for20 minutes. (Refrigerating the dough makes it easier to roll out.)
  • Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
  • On a lightly floured surface, scoop out ½ of the dough. Roll into a 12-inch circle. Repeat with the other ½ of the dough. Brush the top of the dough with melted butter, about 2 tablespoons per circle.(You’ll brush the rest of the melted butter on the rolls when they’re done baking.)
  • Use a pizza cutter to slice each circle into 12 equal wedges. (They might vary in size a bit, but that’s fine.) Roll up each wedge, starting at the wide end, into a crescent shape. Place the rolls point side down, 2-inchesapart, on the prepared baking sheets. Curve the ends to form crescents.
  • Cover with oiled plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Bake for 22-26 minutes, until the edges begin to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately brush the rolls with melted butter. Best served warm.

Notes

Gluten-Free: This recipe was designed to work with King Arthur Gluten-Free Bread Flour. No other flour can be substituted with the same results.
Dairy-Free: Omit the whole milk powder. Use unsweetened dairy-free milk of choice and dairy-free butter. I like using Elmhurst Unsweetened Cashew milk in place of whole milk. It has a similar fat content to whole milk, and doesn’t have any added gums or stabilizers that could interfere with the rise/crumb of the rolls.
Nut-Free: Use an additional ⅔ cup King Arthur Gluten-Free Bread Flour in place of the
almond flour. 
To Make-Ahead: I like to make these gluten-free crescent rolls ahead of time, then freeze them. This way I know I get the perfect rise and structure!
To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. I like to refresh them by slicing the rolls in half, spreading a little butter on each half, then broiling the rolls for 2-3 minutes until warm and toasty.
To Freeze: Place cooled rolls in a large zip-top freezer bag, press the air out, and seal tightly. The rolls can be frozen for up to 3 months. I recommend thawing them at room temperature for 1-2 hours before warming and serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 223mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 103IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 0.2mg

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Categories: , , , ,

Hi, I'm Erin!

BS Food Science,

MS Nutrition

I believe you can make amazing, gluten-free food with everyday ingredients that everyone will enjoy. I'm here to share my tried-and-true recipes with you!

You may also like

Comments

    1. Hi Rachel! We don’t have a particular favorite. As long as it is whole milk powder it should work well. We hope you enjoy the crescent rolls!

4.98 from 35 votes (8 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating