Crescent rolls are a popular bread item that can be a tasty addition to many meals. However, many people wonder about the carb content of crescent rolls when counting carbs or following a low-carb diet. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the carb count of crescent rolls and provide a detailed answer on how many carbs are in 2 crescent rolls.
The Basics of Crescent Rolls
Crescent rolls are a type of bread product made from flour, milk, oil, leavening agents like yeast or baking powder, eggs, salt, and sugar. The dough is shaped into the characteristic crescent shape before being baked into a light, fluffy, and slightly sweet bread.
Crescent roll dough is often found pre-packaged and refrigerated in tubes or cylinders that you simply pop open, slice, and bake. Popular brands of crescent roll dough include Pillsbury, Rhodes, and Immaculate. But you can also find recipes to make homemade crescent roll dough from scratch.
The crescent shape is formed by rolling up circles of dough from the wide end to the narrow end. This gives the rolls their characteristic light, airy texture and layers when baked. Crescent rolls can be enjoyed on their own but are also commonly used to make appetizers like mini sandwiches and fruit or meat pinwheels.
Nutritional Profile of Crescent Rolls
As a bread product made from refined flour, crescent rolls are high in carbs and low in fiber, protein, and nutrients. Two main nutrients are found in crescent rolls:
- Carbohydrates – The main nutrient in crescent rolls is carbs from refined wheat flour.
- Fat – Crescent rolls contain a moderate amount of fat from butter or oil in the dough.
Let’s take a closer look at the carb content of crescent rolls specifically.
Total Carbohydrates
The main type of carb found in crescent rolls is starch from the enriched wheat flour. When flour is refined, the nutritious bran and germ portions of the wheat kernel are removed, leaving only the starchy endosperm.
Enriched flour has certain B vitamins and iron added back after processing, but the fiber content is still very low. So crescent rolls made from refined flour will be high in rapidly digesting carbs.
Fiber
There is minimal fiber in crescent rolls, since most of it is lost when the whole wheat kernel is processed into refined white flour. Typical brands of crescent rolls contain 1 gram of fiber or less per serving.
Sugar
Many crescent roll recipes also include a small amount of sugar, which adds a touch of sweetness and helps activate the yeast for rising. A common crescent roll may have 1-3 grams of sugar per serving.
Carb Count of Crescent Rolls
Now let’s look at some actual nutrition numbers to get an idea of how many total carbs are in crescent rolls.
Here are the carb counts for two popular brands of crescent rolls:
- Pillsbury Crescent Rolls – 1 roll contains 11 grams of total carbs and less than 1 gram of fiber and sugar (1).
- Rhodes Crescent Rolls – 1 roll contains 15 grams of total carbs with 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of sugar (2).
As you can see, a single crescent roll contains about 11-15 grams of mostly refined starch carbs. The small amount of fiber and sugar makes up only a negligible portion of the total carb content.
How Many Carbs Are in 2 Crescent Rolls?
Now we can easily calculate the carb count of 2 crescent rolls based on the above nutrition information.
- 2 Pillsbury crescent rolls would contain about 22 grams of carbs.
- 2 Rhodes crescent rolls would have around 30 grams of carbs.
So on average, 2 crescent rolls contain about 25-30 grams of total carbohydrates.
To put this carb count into perspective, here is how 2 crescent rolls would fit into some popular diet plans:
- Ketogenic diet – Does not fit, too high in carbs. The keto diet limits carbs to under 50 grams per day.
- Low carb diet – Fits within limits. Many low carb diets allow 50-100 grams of carbs per day.
- Whole30 diet – Does not fit. The Whole30 diet eliminates added sugar and heavily processed grains like enriched wheat flour.
On a standard 2000 calorie diet, two crescent rolls represent about 25-30% of the recommended daily allowance for carbohydrates. So crescent rolls are quite a carb-dense choice.
Strategies to Reduce Carbs in Crescent Rolls
If you are limiting carbs, there are some modifications you can make to reduce the carb count of crescent rolls:
- Use whole wheat flour instead of enriched white flour.
- Replace some of the flour with lower carb nut flours like almond or coconut flour.
- Cut back slightly on the amount of flour in the recipe.
- Increase fiber by adding rolled oats, wheat bran, or psyllium husk.
- Skip the sugar or replace with a natural sweetener like stevia or monk fruit.
- Make smaller crescent rolls to reduce portion size and carb count.
Healthier Low Carb Alternatives to Crescent Rolls
If you want a lower carb option, here are some gluten-free and high-protein alternatives that can provide a similar taste and texture:
| Low Carb Option | Carbs per Serving |
|---|---|
| Cauliflower rolls made with riced cauliflower | 3 grams Net Carbs |
| Rolls made with almond flour and flaxseed | 4 grams Net Carbs |
| Rolls made with coconut flour and psyllium | 7 grams Net Carbs |
| Sandwich wraps made with low carb tortillas | 8 grams Net Carbs |
These lower carb alternatives provide the bulk and convenience of regular rolls or bread without all the refined carbs and calories.
Should You Eat Crescent Rolls on a Low Carb Diet?
Crescent rolls are not the best choice on a strict low carb, keto, or paleo diet due to the high refined starch and sugar content. However, they can be enjoyed occasionally as part of a healthy, balanced diet if portion sizes are controlled.
To reduce the carb impact, consider splitting a batch of crescent rolls with others rather than eating multiple rolls yourself. Pair crescent rolls with low carb foods like omelets, salads, and lean protein to help balance out the meal.
It’s also important to consume whole, unprocessed carbs like fruits, veggies, and whole grains at other times to get valuable fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
The Bottom Line
So how many carbs are in 2 crescent rolls? On average, 2 rolls contain about 25-30 grams of total carbs, mostly from refined wheat flour with negligible fiber and sugar.
While crescent rolls can fit into some moderate low carb diets, they are too high in starchy carbs for keto and paleo diets. Making some modifications or choosing gluten-free, lower carb alternatives can help reduce the carb impact.
At the end of the day, crescent rolls can be enjoyed in moderation along with a balanced diet and active lifestyle for optimal health.
