Ronaldo won and converted a disputed penalty on 60 minutes to score his first league goal of the season, before Rooney arrived from the substitutes’ bench to seal victory with an exquisite finish late on.
The result represented only United’s second win in five Premier League matches, and the first time Sir Alex Ferguson’s team have scored more than once in the top flight this season.
The opening exchanges belonged to Bolton, however, who took no time in asserting their trademark physicality on United’s comparatively lightweight midfield.
Two minutes in the visitors had the first shot on target, when Kevin Nolan reacted first to a loose ball and struck a firm volley into the arms of Edwin van der Sar.
Kevin Davies was the next to threaten, driving in from the left and sending over a far-post cross which Rio Ferdinand dealt with comfortably.
But United escaped the early volleys unscathed and gradually started to settle in possession.
On 13 minutes, Dimitar Berbatov met Darren Fletcher’s right-wing cross with a crisp header, but could only direct it straight at Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal.
Two minutes later Carlos Tevez cut in from the left and fired a low shot that Jaaskelainen parried into the path of Park Ji-Sung. The South Korean found the angle too tight, however, and could only find the side netting.
Just after the half-hour mark Jaaskelainen made a fine save to deny Anderson, and soon after repeated the feat to punch away a powerful Ferdinand effort.
Bolton were being outplayed and bookings for Johan Elmander, Davies and Gavin McCann owed much to their inability to cope with United’s attacking threat.
Just before the interval, however, Gary Megson’s men launched a counter-attack and missed a glorious opportunity to take an undeserved lead.
Gretar Steinsson was the architect, reaching the by-line on the right and finding Fabrica Muamba with a fine cross - only for the midfielder to shoot wide from six yards with Van der Sar sprawling.
The second half began with United firmly in the ascendancy. Ronaldo cut across the Bolton box from the left to shoot against the post on 52 minutes, and the visitors duly parked all of their resources behind the ball.
The Portuguese winger moved to the opposite flank soon after and won his side a penalty from referee Rob Styles after Jloyd Samuel was harshly adjudged to have brought him down.
Replays showed the defender got the ball, and Ronaldo compounded Bolton’s frustration by sending Jaaskelainen the wrong way and putting United ahead with a flourish.
In truth it was no more than the home side deserved, and they doubled their lead on 77 minutes with a fine finish from substitute Rooney.
Ronaldo was inevitably involved, driving into the Bolton box before finding the England striker with an impudent backheel. Rooney dragged the ball back and sent a curling shot beyond Jaaskelainen into the far corner.
There would be no response from Gary Megson’s toothless Bolton, who other than the occasional foray were hopelessly bereft of ambition and ultimately could have suffered a far heavier defeat but for the efforts of Jaaskelainen.
Substitute Paul Scholes was sent clean through by Berbatov on 88 minutes, but the impressive Jaaskelainen once more came to the visitor’s rescue - saving with his legs.
United played out the closing minutes comfortably, and Ferguson could even afford the luxury of withdrawing the ever-influential Ronaldo once his important work was done.
With both he and Rooney on the scoresheet there was a familiar look to this United victory - one that will surely send a clear message to those who dared to doubt United’s title credentials.
Will Tidey / Eurosport
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