Parker House Rolls Recipe

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Parker House rolls are known for their soft fluffy texture and buttery flavor. Originating from the historic Parker House Hotel in Boston, they’re folded rolls with a distinctive shape. With a combo of sweetness and richness, they have a crisp exterior, and a tender pull-apart interior.

📌 Pin Parker House Rolls Recipe

One dozen Parker House rolls in a baking dish. The warm dinner rolls have been brushed with melted butter, and sprinkled with flaky salt.

🧑🏼‍🍳 Why this Recipe’s a Keeper

  • Unique texture, flavor and shape. These iconic dinner rolls have a soft, pillowy texture combined with a rich, buttery flavor. Their folded presentation is visually appealing. They complement a wide range of meals from everyday dinners to special occasions.
  • They’re simple yeast rolls that are easy to make. What sets them apart is their distinctive folded shape, achieved by placing a portion of dough on top of another before baking.
  • Historical significance. Parker House rolls have been a holiday tradition and bread-basket staple since the 1900s, when the famed Parker House Hotel unveiled these fluffy, airy rolls. This is the same hotel that created the original Boston Creme Pie in 1855.
  • Satisfaction and comfort. Pulling apart a warm, freshly-baked roll and slathering it with whipped honey butter provides a comforting and satisfying dining experience.
  • Heritage and tradition. This recipe’s historical roots contribute to its keeper status. It’s a nostalgic recipe worth preserving and passing down through generations.
Parker House dinner rolls in a serving bowl.
A bread plate with a serving of Parker House rolls with honey butter.

🛒 Ingredients

  • Whole Milk: Adds moisture and richness, contributing to the softness of the rolls.
  • Instant Yeast: Acts as the leavening agent, causing the dough to rise and create a light, airy texture.
  • Honey: Enhances sweetness, offering a subtle complexity to the flavor profile.
  • Large Eggs: Add richness, contributing to the soft texture, and help with browning.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure and foundation for the Parker House rolls.
  • Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough, balancing the flavors and aiding in the activation of the yeast.
  • Kosher Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the rolls and regulates the yeast activity.
  • Salted Butter: Contributes a buttery flavor and adds richness to the rolls. It’s important to use a high-quality butter like Kirkland from Costco, Tillamook, or Challenge butter.
Ingredients for Parker House Rolls recipe.

📖 Recipe Steps

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add warm milk, yeast, honey, eggs, flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Briefly mix by hand with a wooden spoon. Connect the bowl to the stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. Mix until all ingredients are fully combined, about 4 to 5 minutes. However, if the dough is really sticky, add more flour (up to 1/2 cup more). Toss in 2 tablespoons softened butter and mix until incorporated, about 2 to 3 minutes more.
  2. Grease a bowl with butter. Remove the dough from the stand mixing bowl, and place it into the greased bowl, turning the ball of dough over to grease the top. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then lay a lint-free kitchen towel over the top. Place the bowl in a draft-free place (at room temperature) until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  3. Lightly dust a board with flour. Turn out the dough, punch it down, and divide it in half. Roll each half into a 12-inch square, about 1/4-inch thick. Gently spread the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter over the 2 squares of dough.
  4. Cut each square of dough into 6 strips with a pizza wheel cutter or a sharp knife.
How to make the yeast dough for Parker House rolls recipe, step by step.
  1. Roll each strip into a coil (like a cinnamon roll).
  2. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter. Arrange the rolls seam side down in the pan.
  3. Cover the dish. Let the rolls rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until puffy. Thirty minutes before the dough finishes rising, preheat the oven to 350°F.
  4. Bake the rolls for 18 to 25 minutes, or until they’re done in the middle and golden on top.
How to roll and shape Parker House dinner rolls.
  1. Brush the warm rolls with melted butter, and sprinkle with flaky salt. Serve and enjoy with freshly-whipped honey butter.
Freshly-baked Parker House dinner rolls.

🥣 Expert Tips

  • Instant Yeast: Ensure your instant yeast is fresh and not expired for optimal rising.
    You can add instant yeast directly to the dry ingredients without proofing, but make sure it’s not in direct contact with salt.
  • Temperature Control: Use warm milk to activate the yeast, but avoid overheating as it can kill the yeast. Aim for around 110°F.
  • Proper Kneading: With the dough hook of your stand mixer, knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic. This ensures proper gluten development, resulting in a softer texture.
  • Parchment Paper: If desired, line your baking pan with parchment paper to prevent the rolls from sticking and to make cleanup easier.
  • Baking Time and Temperature: Bake at the recommended temperature and keep an eye on the rolls to prevent over-baking. They should be golden brown.
  • Butter Application: As soon as the baked rolls come out of the oven, generously brush them with melted butter, and sprinkle with flaky salt. This will give them a glossy finish and an extra layer of flavor and softness.
  • Serve Warm: Parker House rolls are best enjoyed warm. Serve them fresh out of the oven for the ultimate buttery experience.
Buttery Parker House rolls in a serving dish.

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQ

These are the most commonly-asked questions for making the BEST Parker House rolls, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.

Can I make the rolls ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight. Make sure to bring the dough to room temperature before shaping and baking.

Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast?

Yes. Use 25% more active dry yeast than the amount of instant yeast specified in the recipe. (For 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast, use roughly 3 1/8 teaspoons active dry yeast.) Activate the dry yeast with a portion of the warm (110°F to 115°F) milk specified in the recipe plus a pinch of sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy. Add the activated yeast mixture to the other wet ingredients in the recipe and proceed with mixing.

Can I use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour?

Yes, you can use bread flour for a chewier texture. Keep in mind that bread flour absorbs more liquid, so you may need to adjust the liquid content slightly.

My dough is too sticky. What should I do?

Add flour gradually until the dough is soft and slightly sticky, but not overly wet. Adjust the flour as needed during the mixing process.

How can I make the dough rise faster?

Make sure the liquid is at the right temperature (110°F to 115°F) to activate the instant yeast effectively. Use a kitchen thermometer to make it’s within this range. Also, placing the dough in a warm, draft-free environment can speed up the rising process.

My rolls are browning too quickly. What can I do?

Cover the rolls loosely with aluminum foil during the last few minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning. It allows the rolls to continue baking without getting too dark on top.

Can I make smaller or larger Parker House rolls?

Yes, you can adjust the size of the rolls to your preference. Just keep in mind that the baking time may need to be modified accordingly.

How to store leftover rolls?

Once cooled, store leftover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two. For longer storage, freeze the rolls and reheat when needed.

A Parker House Roll with honey butter spread.

🍞 More Dinner Rolls & Biscuits

Make breakfast and dinner more special with a variety of rolls and biscuits. Save your favorite recipes for later and put them on rotation.

Buttery Parker House rolls brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with flaky salt.

Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Flavor testers were head over heels in love with these Parker House rolls. They enjoyed their soft tender texture, slightly sweet flavor, and rich buttery taste. They admired the distinctive shape and visual appeal of these classic dinner rolls.

If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give them a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.

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A bread plate with a serving of Parker House rolls with honey butter.

Parker House Rolls


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Description

Parker House rolls have a soft buttery texture, and distinctive shape. After rising, the dough is rolled out, smeared with butter, cut into strips, and rolled into coils. After baking, the warm dinner rolls are brushed with butter and sprinkled with flaky salt.


Ingredients

Units Scale

For Parker House Rolls

  • 1 cup whole milk, warmed
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast (same as rapid-rise yeast)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter (softened), divided

For Topping & Serving the Rolls

  • 2 tablespoons melted butter, for brushing
  • Flaky salt, for sprinkling
  • Whipped honey butter, for serving

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add warm milk, yeast, honey, eggs, flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Briefly mix by hand with a wooden spoon.
  2. Connect the bowl to the stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. Mix until all ingredients are fully combined, about 4 to 5 minutes. However, if the dough is really sticky, add more flour (up to 1/2 cup more). Toss in 2 tablespoons softened butter and mix until incorporated, about 2 to 3 minutes more.
  3. Grease a bowl with butter. Remove the dough from the stand mixing bowl, and transfer it to the greased bowl, turning the dough over to grease the top. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then lay a lint-free cloth over the top. Place the bowl in a draft-free place (at room temperature) until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  4. Lightly dust a board with flour. Turn out the dough, punch it down, and divide it in half. Roll each half into a 12-inch square, about 1/4-inch thick.
  5. Gently spread the remaining 4 tablespoons butter over the 2 squares of dough. Cut each square into 6 strips with a pizza wheel cutter or a sharp knife. Roll each strip into a coil (like a cinnamon roll).
  6.  Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter. Arrange the rolls seam side down in the pan. Cover the dish. Let the rolls rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until puffy. Thirty minutes before the dough finishes rising, preheat the oven to 350°F.
  7. Bake the rolls for 18 to 25 minutes, or until they’re done in the middle and golden on top. Brush the warm rolls with melted butter, and sprinkle with flaky salt. Serve and enjoy with freshly-whipped honey butter. 

Notes

Dough Rising Tip #1: Just before starting your yeast recipe, warm up the exterior of your mixing bowl by placing it under warm running water, then dry it off. This will take the chill off your bowl and give the yeast a nice cozy place to do its magic!

Dough Rising Tip #2: If your kitchen is cold during the fall and winter months, remove your top oven rack leaving the bottom rack in place. Prop open your oven door a bit and set your oven to 200 degrees. Allow your oven to heat up for just 2-3 minutes and then turn the oven off. You don’t want the oven rack to get hot or the oven to get hot. What you’ll be creating is a slightly-warm cozy space that’s draft-free for your stainless-steel or ceramic mixing bowl to sit while the yeast is rising. Never put a plastic mixing bowl in the oven!

  • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
  • 1 Hour 45 Minutes: Rising Time
  • Cook Time: 20 Minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Snack, Lunch, Dinner, Holidays
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com

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54 Comments

  1. jeez, my mouth was watering just looking at these pictures. The rolls seem gorgeous! I am looking for some recipes for thanksgiving I think I will give these a try!






  2. These Buttery Parker House rolls sound so good. I have never made dinner rolls with potato flakes before but this recipe I am going to have to try for sure. Thanksgiving dinner is not a dinner without dinner rolls. Thanks for sharing the recipe.






  3. Ooh! I’d love to serve these on my Thanksgiving table. I usually just buy storebought rolls, but I have a son that loves making bread. Maybe I can convince him to make these

  4. Oh my gosh, get these in my mouth now!They are also so pretty with their rolled look! I’m thinking of making a chicken and biscuit casserole with these as the biscuits this weekend :)

  5. I can see why those are tradition; they look amazing! I love trying new foods, but on holidays I want the favorites. These would be a welcome addition to our Thanksgiving.

  6. as soon as i saw that first photo, my mouth instantly started watering. haha. looks incredible! i’m sure it tasted even better than it looks!






  7. I would love to give these a try. I bet it smells amazing while it is baking. I have not made my own bread in years. I will have to make some this weekend.






  8. Those look so yummy. You are killing me on my post-vacation diet. Guess I will just have to wait til Thanksgiving to give your recipe a test though the next time I go to Boston I am going to hit up the Omni Parker House hotel in Boston, Massachusetts






  9. OMG I need these rolls in my life! So fluffy and buttery and carblicious! I love making bread, especially for the holidays so this is going on the Thanksgiving menu, for sure!

  10. Oh nom nom nom! these rolls look super good! I love them so much! I have never tried to bake them though!