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gluten free crescents with butter - gJules

Gluten Free Crescent Rolls Recipe

These airy gluten free crescent rolls present so beautifully on the dinner table. If you double the batch and wrap the dough around some gluten free hot dogs, you’ve got some pigs-in-blankets* that’ll be the envy of the lunch table (and not just among the gluten free kids!).
4.20 from 129 votes
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Course: Homemade Gluten Free Breads
Cuisine: French
Keyword: crescent rolls, kolaches, pigs in blankets
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 53 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 96kcal
Author: Jules Shepard

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup warm milk or water
  • 1 Tbs. granulated cane sugar
  • 2¼ (1) tsp. (packet) active dry yeast (e.g. Red Star® Yeast -- not Platinum, as it's not gluten free)
  • 1⅓ (190) cups (grams) gfJules All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour
  • 1 Tbs. gfJules All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt
  • 2 Tbs. honey or light agave nectar
  • 1 egg (mix yolk and white together before adding) or egg substitute (like 1 Tbs. flaxseed meal steeped in 3 Tbs. warm water)
  • olive oil or melted butter or non-dairy alternative to brush onto rolls
  • fresh rosemary sage, garlic, sesame seeds … or other herbs or seeds for flavoring of choice (optional)
  • gluten free hot dogs cheese or other filling of choice (optional).

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together warm water, sugar, and yeast and let stand for 5 minutes. If it does not bubble and rise at this point, throw it out and repeat the proofing step with fresh yeast.
  • Whisk together the dry ingredients (including herbs, if using) and set aside.
  • Stir to combine the honey or agave and egg (or substitute) in a separate bowl, then slowly add to the dry ingredients, along with the proofed yeast mixture.
  • Beat on the low speed of an electric mixer until well-blended; add more milk or water if needed until the dough is soft — it should not be resistant or tough. The dough should be wet but firm.
  • On a well-floured pastry mat or clean counter, turn dough out and roll out to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into strips the width you’d like your crescent rolls to be when rolled up (consider if rolling hot dogs inside, for example).
    gluten free crescent roll dough rolled - gfJules
  • Cut into elongated triangles, gathering the scraps of dough and re-rolling to make one or two more crescents once the rest of the dough is used.
    gluten free crescent rolls rolling and cutting - gfJules
  • Liberally brush oil or melted butter onto the dough at this point, then, from the wide end of the dough triangle, begin gently rolling the dough into a log, until the narrow tip of the triangle wraps around the roll on top. (Use a bench scraper or butter knife, if necessary, to help roll up the dough).
    gluten free crescent rolls making 2 - gfJules
  • Place each roll onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet and pull the ends of each roll in toward the center to form a crescent shape. Brush off excess flour then brush the tops of the rolls with oil or melted butter to help them brown.
    gluten free crescent rolls brushed with oil- gfJules
  • Cover with a damp towel or sheet of parchment paper sprayed with cooking oil and place for 30 minutes in a warm place like an oven preheated to 200ºF, then turned off.
  • Preheat the oven to 375ºF (static) or 350ºF (convection).
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until light golden brown. Do not over-bake – test with a toothpick to be sure the dough inside is cooked before removing. If making Pigs-in-a-Blanket, bake approximately 20-25 minutes.

To freeze before baking:

  • Follow the recipe through shaping the crescent rolls and placing on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Allow them to rise just until starting to puff up a bit, but not completely, likely no longer than 10-15 minutes. Place the baking sheet with the rolls into the freezer until the rolls are frozen solid and can be transferred into a freezer bag without damaging them. They can remain frozen for 1 month.
  • One day before you want to serve the rolls, remove them from the freezer and place on another parchment lined baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap to keep them from drying out and allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Remove from the refrigerator and allow the rolls to finish proofing at room temperature for at least an hour, or until they have puffed.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 F (static) or 350 F (convection). Brush with milk of choice or melted butter. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until light golden brown.
  • Alternatively, you may
    bake your gluten free crescent rolls and freeze them for reheating later
    Bake the rolls according to these directions, but allow them to completely cool. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil then place the foil-wrapped rolls in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to one month.
  • If time allows, remove from the freezer the night before you want to serve the rolls and take them out of the freezer bag, loosening the foil. Allow them to thaw at room temperature. Lightly brush with butter, if desired, then place them (in the loosened foil) in a 300F oven for 8-10 minutes to warm just before serving.
  • If you need to serve these rolls straight from the freezer, remove the foil-wrapped rolls from the freezer bag and loosen the foil. Place directly on the oven rack in a preheated 300F oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove and brush with butter; serve immediately.

Notes

*To make “Pigs in a Blanket”, simply place a hot dog at the wide end of the triangle of dough before rolling up, and roll to enclose the “pig” in the “blanket” of dough by rolling it up to the small end of the dough. Bake as directed above. Same instructions for other fillings like cheese.
NOTE: the longer these rolls rise, the puffier they are when baked — if you want more of a traditional crescent roll look, only allow the rolls to rise for 15 minutes before baking, or skip the proofing step with the yeast, above, and just add the sugar with the dry ingredients. Use quick rise yeast, adding with the dry ingredients.
Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Crescent Rolls Recipe
Serving Size
 
1
Amount per Serving
Calories
96
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.3
g
2
%
Trans Fat
 
0.002
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
0.3
g
Cholesterol
 
15
mg
5
%
Sodium
 
104
mg
5
%
Potassium
 
92
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
20
g
7
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
 
36
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
0.02
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
21
mg
2
%
Iron
 
0.1
mg
1
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

** Please keep in mind that nutrition information provided is per serving, which may vary. While we have taken care to provide you with the most accurate nutritional values possible, please note that this information may differ significantly depending on the exact ingredients and brands that you choose to use to make this recipe. Additionally, where options are given for ingredients, the resulting calculation may include all ingredient options instead of only one per line, skewing the totals significantly.