Parker House Rolls
Parker House Rolls are perfect for plating next to any entree, especially during the holiday season! These classic homemade bread rolls are soft, fluffy, and pair SO well with a good smear of butter. You’ll love serving a batch of these pillow soft rolls as part of your Thanksgiving or Christmas spread!
Parker House Rolls
Parker House Rolls are your standard no nonsense, no frills, hassle free rolls that pair well with essentially any and everything they’re served with. If you like soft, pillow-y, almost melt in your mouth bread rolls (who doesnt?!), then this recipe is for you! Oh, and you can’t forget the sprinkle of sea salt and smear of butter that send these homemade rolls right over the top.
The signature slightly sweet flavor of a Parker House Roll is what makes it so scrumptious, especially when it’s used to absorb a savory turkey or beef gravy. They were first baked at the Parker House Hotel in Boston, hence the name! Parker House Rolls have truly withstood the tests of time, seeing as they were first baked in the 1870’s and have only gained popularity since then.
If you’ve been serving a big, gorgeous homemade spread of holiday staples like turkey, ham, and all of your family favorite side dishes with store bought rolls, you’re really doing yourself a disservice. Why use plastic wrapped rolls from a factory alongside all of your homemade staples?! While these Parker House Rolls need a little TLC when whipping up, they’re well worth the effort!
How to Make Parker House Rolls
For the full recipe, scroll down to the printable recipe card.
- Bloom the yeast. In stand mixer bowl combine the yeast and warm water, stir and let sit for at least 5-10 minutes until the yeast blooms. The mixture will look creamy, and you’ll smell the yeast.
- Combine the first few ingredients. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, milk, sugar and salt and cook on low for 1-2 minutes, until sugar is dissolved and butter melted. Remove from heat and allow this mixture to cool to 110°F. Once the butter/milk mixture is cooled to 110 degrees, Add to the bowl with the yeast and whisk until combined.
- Add the egg. Add the lightly beaten egg and whisk it into the yeast mixture and continue whisking for 2 minutes.
- Add the flour. Add the 3 ½ cups of flour, and using a dough hook mix on low speed until it comes together for about 1 minute, increasing speed (to level 2 or 3) for two minutes until mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
- Knead and let rise. Remove dough onto lightly floured surface and knead for at least 5 minutes. Pour the oil in a clean bowl then add the dough, turning it over to coat with the oil. Cover the bowl with clean cloth loosely to let it rise for at least 1 hour, it should be doubled in size.
- Roll and cut the dough. After it has doubled in size, punch down the dough and empty the dough onto a flat surface, then roll the dough out into a rectangle 1” thick. Cut dough into squares making 15 rolls. Roll each cut piece into a ball, and place each roll in a greased 9×13 pan
- Rise again, then bake. Cover lightly with a towel and let rise for an additional 1 hour. Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
- Garnish and serve. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sea salt.
Tips for the Best Homemade Parker House Rolls
- Don’t kill the yeast. Make sure the milk mixture is cooled to around 110°F before adding it to the bloomed yeast. If it is added when too warm, it will kill the bloomed yeast.
- Don’t worry if the dough’s a little sticky. When you’re mixing the dough, it may seem a little sticky, and that’s okay – so long as it’s not sticking to your hands. Dough will be sticky in the bowl, but not sticky to the touch.
What To Serve With Parker House Rolls
While these dinner rolls are great on their own, we love them along side some of our favorite recipes.
- Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Chili Recipe
- Easy Herb Roasted Chicken Recipe
- Easy Pasta e Fagioli Soup Recipe
- Whipped Garlic Butter
Be sure to check out more of my favorite baking staples!
- Easy Brioche Dinner Rolls
- Homemade White Bread
- Homemade English Muffins
- Easy No Knead Sourdough Bread
- Hot Cross Buns
- Hawaiian Rolls
For more easy baking ideas, follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
Get the Recipe: Parker House Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package active dry yeast
- ¼ cup warm water, about 110 degrees
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 TBSP granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 egg, room temperature, lightly beaten
- 3 ½ cups AP flour, you will need a bit more for kneading
- 1 TBSP canola oil
Topping:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted butter
- ½ tsp salt, flaky sea salt is best
Equipment
- 1 baking dish
Instructions
- In stand mixer bowl combine the yeast and warm water, stir and let sit for at least 5-10 minutes until the yeast blooms. (the mixture will look creamy, and you’ll smell the yeast)
- In a small saucepan, combine the butter, milk, sugar and salt and cook on low for 1-2 minutes, until sugar is dissolved and butter melted. Remove from heat and allow this mixture to cool to 110 degrees. (Be sure the butter isn’t too hot. (If it is added when too warm, it will kill the bloomed yeast.)
- Once the butter/milk mixture is cooled to 110 degrees, Add to the bowl with the yeast and whisk until combined.
- Add the lightly beaten egg and whisk it into the yeast mixture and continue whisking for 2 minutes.
- Add the 3 ½ cups of flour, and using a dough hook mix on low speed until it comes together for about 1 minute, increasing speed (to level 2 or 3) for two minutes until mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. (Dough will be sticky in the bowl yet not sticky to the touch)
- Remove dough onto lightly floured surface and knead for at least 5 minutes.
- Pour the oil in a clean bowl then add the dough, turning it over to coat with the oil.
- Cover the bowl with clean cloth loosely to let it rise for at least 1 hour, it should be doubled in size.
- After it has doubled in size, punch down the dough and empty the dough onto a flat surface, then roll the dough out into a rectangle 1” thick.
- Cut dough into squares making 15 rolls.
- Roll each cut piece into a ball, and place each roll in a greased 9×13 pan
- Cover lightly with a towel and let rise for an additional 1 hour.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
- Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sea salt.