Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, as more people discover sensitivities or intolerances to gluten. For those avoiding gluten, finding tasty, convenient gluten-free options for meals and snacks can be challenging. One popular convenience food that normally contains gluten are refrigerated Pillsbury crescent rolls. With their flaky, bread-like texture and versatility, crescent rolls are a pantry staple for many – but are there any gluten-free varieties available?
The Gluten Status of Regular Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
First, it’s important to understand that regular Pillsbury crescent rolls are not gluten-free. Pillsbury’s traditional canned and refrigerated crescent roll dough contains wheat flour as the main ingredient. Wheat flour contains gluten, so these standard crescent rolls are off-limits on a strict gluten-free diet.
Some key facts about regular Pillsbury Crescent Rolls:
- Contain wheat flour as the main ingredient
- List wheat in bolded “Contains” allergen statement
- Made in facilities that also process wheat
- Not labeled as gluten-free
So, anyone following a gluten-free diet will need to avoid Pillsbury’s traditional crescent rolls and look for certified gluten-free options instead. But are there any gluten-free Pillsbury crescent rolls available?
Availability of Gluten-Free Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
Currently, Pillsbury does not offer any certified gluten-free crescent roll products. None of their refrigerated or canned crescent roll dough is formulated to be gluten-free. The Pillsbury brand is owned by General Mills, which has designated some of its products and facilities as gluten-free – but this does not extend to Pillsbury crescent rolls at this time.
Some key points about the lack of gluten-free Pillsbury crescent rolls:
- Pillsbury does not currently make gluten-free crescent rolls
- None of Pillsbury’s crescent roll varieties are labeled gluten-free
- There are no gluten-free Pillsbury crescent roll options in stores or online
- Pillsbury’s website does not mention any gluten-free crescent roll products
While disappointing for gluten-free consumers, this lack of options is not overly surprising. Wheat flour is the base of traditional crescent roll dough, making a direct gluten-free substitution challenging. Pillsbury likely has not invested resources into developing a gluten-free crescent roll to date.
Gluten-Free Crescent Roll Alternatives
Although Pillsbury does not offer gluten-free crescent rolls, there are some alternative brands producing gluten-free crescent roll options. Here are a few top options:
Immaculate Baking Company
Immaculate Baking is a dedicated gluten-free bakery that offers gluten-free crescent rolls, available online and in some grocery stores. Their crescent rolls are made with white rice flour and tapioca starch instead of wheat. They have received certification as gluten-free, for consumers with celiac disease or sensitivities. Immaculate’s crescent rolls have a positive reputation for having a flaky, soft texture and nice flavor.
Kinnikinnick Foods
This Canadian gluten-free company offers gluten-free crescent roll dough and ready-to-bake crescent rolls. Their dough and rolls use ingredients like rice flour, potato starch, and xanthan gum. Kinnikinnick’s products are certified gluten-free to meet international standards. Their crescent rolls are sold online and in grocery stores in the US and Canada.
Cup4Cup
Cup4Cup was developed by chef Thomas Keller to mimic the flavors and textures of traditional baking ingredients. Their gluten-free flour blend can be used as a wheat flour substitute in crescent roll recipes. While not pre-made dough, Cup4Cup allows gluten-free consumers to bake homemade crescent rolls using its flour blend, butter, and xanthan gum. The end results are meant to taste just like traditional wheat-based crescent rolls.
Namaste Foods
Namaste sells ready-to-bake gluten-free crescent rolls made with a blend of white rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch and xanthan gum. Their rolls are certified gluten-free and free of the top allergens. Namaste Foods products are sold in stores across the U.S. Reviews praise their crescent rolls for being soft and delicious.
How to Make Gluten-Free Crescent Rolls at Home
In addition to buying pre-made gluten-free crescent roll dough or baked rolls, there are recipes available online for making them at home from scratch. This allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavor. Here is an overview of how to make basic gluten-free crescent rolls:
- Gather gluten-free flours – A blend of flours works best such as rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, and xanthan gum which acts as a binder.
- Mix the dry ingredients – Whisk together the flours, xanthan gum, salt, and sugar.
- Cut in butter – Use cold butter cut into small cubes and cut it into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender or two forks until crumbly.
- Add milk – Pour in milk gradually and mix until it forms a soft, sticky dough.
- Knead dough – Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently to bring dough together.
- Refrigerate – Shape into disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 1 hour.
- Roll out – On floured surface, roll out dough into a rectangle.
- Cut into triangles – Cut into triangles using a pizza cutter or knife.
- Roll up crescents – Starting at the wide end, roll up into crescent shapes.
- Bake – Place on baking sheets, brush with egg wash and bake until golden.
The basic steps are similar to traditional crescent rolls. Experimenting with different gluten-free flour blends and ratios is often needed to achieve the right texture.
Are There Any Risks of Cross-Contamination?
For consumers with celiac disease or who are highly sensitive to gluten, cross-contamination is a concern when selecting commercially produced gluten-free baked goods. Even if a product is labeled gluten-free, trace amounts of gluten could be introduced during manufacturing in a shared facility.
When looking for gluten-free crescent rolls, your safest bets are brands that are certified gluten-free to meet strict standards, such as:
- Tested to contain less than 10-20ppm of gluten
- Made in dedicated gluten-free facilities
- Follow gluten-free manufacturing best practices
You can check brand websites for their certifications and manufacturing details to assess the risk of cross-contamination. Calling the company directly provides an opportunity to ask questions.
Making your own gluten-free crescent rolls at home gives you full control over the environment and ingredients. But for packaged brands, third-party gluten-free certification offers more assurance.
Are Gluten-Free Crescent Rolls Healthier?
On the surface, gluten-free crescent rolls may seem like a healthier choice, since they avoid wheat flour. But are they really better for you?
Here are some considerations around the nutritional value of gluten-free vs regular crescent rolls:
- Gluten-free flours like rice and tapioca flour offer slightly fewer calories and carbs per gram compared to enriched wheat flour.
- However, xanthan gum is often added to improve gluten-free dough texture and structure. This additive provides no nutritional benefits.
- To make up for lack of gluten, gluten-free crescent rolls sometimes contain more fat from ingredients like butter or eggs.
- Gluten-free flours are typically low in protein, fiber, iron and B vitamins compared to enriched wheat flour.
- Gluten-free crescent rolls are unlikely to have added vitamins and minerals like enriched wheat flour has.
Overall, gluten-free crescent rolls don’t offer particular nutritional advantages over regular wheat-based crescent rolls. They can still be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet, but shouldn’t be considered a healthier alternative if you don’t require a gluten-free diet for medical reasons.
What About Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie Crusts and Cookies?
While Pillsbury does not offer gluten-free crescent rolls at this time, they have formulated some other gluten-free baked goods options:
Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie Crust
Pillsbury makes a pre-made pie crust specifically labeled gluten-free. It is sold refrigerated near the regular pie crusts. The crust is made with wheat starch, rice flour, and tapioca starch instead of regular wheat flour. So far it only comes in a single 9-inch size.
Bakeable Gluten-Free Cookie Dough
Pillsbury’s refrigerated “Heat & Eat” cookie dough line includes a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie dough variety. It comes in a 16 oz tub for scooping onto cookie sheets before baking. The dough is made with gluten-free oat flour and rice flour.
While Pillsbury has not invested in gluten-free crescent rolls yet, they are starting to formulate some other gluten-free baked goods. Their current offerings are still very limited compared to their traditional wheat-based products.
The Bottom Line
In summary, here are the key takeaways on gluten-free Pillsbury crescent rolls:
- Pillsbury’s regular crescent rolls contain gluten from wheat flour.
- There are currently no gluten-free Pillsbury crescent rolls sold in stores or online.
- Several smaller brands offer alternative gluten-free crescent rolls.
- Gluten-free crescent rolls can also be made at home with specialty flours.
- Carefully check labels and certifications to avoid cross-contamination.
- Nutritionally, gluten-free crescent rolls are not necessarily healthier.
While wheat-based crescent rolls have always been a Pillsbury classic, they currently do not accommodate consumers requiring gluten-free options. But there are still ways for gluten-free eaters to enjoy the delicious taste and texture of crescent rolls through careful shopping or homemade baking. As demand grows, perhaps Pillsbury will consider developing their own gluten-free crescent dough.
