Grandma’s Flaky Butterhorn Rolls (Easy No-Knead Dinner Rolls)
When it comes to holiday dinners or Sunday family gatherings, nothing completes the table quite like a basket of warm, fresh bread. These traditional Grandma’s Flaky Butterhorn Rolls are the ultimate crowd-pleaser. They are slightly sweet, incredibly rich, and feature gorgeous, flaky layers that melt in your mouth. In fact, my granddaughter loves them so much she actually renamed them “Grandma’s croissants!”
Originally handed down from my grandma, this heirloom recipe is shockingly simple to prepare from scratch. Because it is a no-knead dough, you skip all the heavy muscle work usually required for yeast breads. You simply mix the dough, let it rest in the refrigerator, roll it out, and watch it bake into golden, buttery perfection. It is a foolproof side dish that makes any home-cooked meal feel like a special occasion.
Why You’ll Love These No-Knead Yeast Rolls
Zero Kneading Required: The overnight refrigerator rest does all the structural work for you, making this recipe incredibly low-stress.
Perfect Make-Ahead Side: Since the dough rests in the fridge overnight, you can easily mix it up the evening before a big holiday feast.
Yields a Large Batch: This recipe makes four dozen beautiful rolls, ensuring you have plenty to feed a massive crowd with extra for leftovers.
Baker’s Tips for the Flakiest Butterhorn Rolls
Working with yeast dough can sometimes feel intimidating, but treating these steps with a little extra care ensures your crescent-shaped rolls turn out perfectly tender and beautiful every time:
- Cut in the Butter Thoroughly: When combining your flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl, make sure you cut in your cold cubed butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Those tiny, cold pockets of butter are the secret to creating the gorgeous steam pockets that form the flaky layers while baking.
- The Magic Overnight Chill: Do not skip the refrigerator step! Letting the yeast mixture rest in the fridge overnight slows down the rise. This deepens the sweet flavor of the dough while making it firm and incredibly easy to roll out on a lightly floured surface the next day.
- Slice the Wedges Evenly: When you roll a portion of dough into a 12-inch circle and brush it with melted butter, think of it like a giant pizza. Use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter to slice the circle into 12 even wedges. Roll them up tightly starting from the wide outer edge toward the point to create that signature crescent look.
Grandma’s Flaky Butterhorn Rolls (Easy No-Knead Dinner Rolls)
Equipment
- 2 large bowls
- 1 knife
- 1 large spoon
- 1 rolling pin
- 1 pastry brush
- 4 baking sheets
- 4 towels
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup cold butter, cubed or shortening
- 1 pkg (1/4 oz) active dry yeast
- ¼ cup warm water (110° to 115°)
- ¾ cup warm milk (110° to 115°)
- 1 large egg room temperature, lightly beaten
- 4 Tbsps butter, melted, and divided
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and sugar. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- In another bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water: add to the crumbs mixture. Add milk, and the egg and mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Divide the dough into 4 equal portions. On a slightly floured surface, (I use a large wooden cutting board but optional), roll 1 portion out into a 12 inch circle. Brush with 1 Tbsp melted butter: then cut it into 12 wedges.
- Roll up dough, beginning with the wide end. Now place each of them on a greased baking sheet. Repeat this process with all the remaining dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 375° for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer them to wire racks to cool.
Nutrition
Do you prefer your dinner rolls plain with fresh butter, or do you like to use them for making mini leftover ham sandwiches? Let me know how your family serves them in the comments below! If everyone goes wild for these flaky crescent rolls, please take a quick second to leave a review and a star rating on the recipe card—your support keeps our blog growing!
P.S. Remember to save this heirloom recipe! If Jetpack shares these golden dinner rolls to your Facebook or Pinterest feeds today, make sure to pin it so you always have the perfect make-ahead holiday bread ready to go.