Parker House Rolls
Updated
Updated
Parker House Rolls are soft, buttery, and slightly sweet with a honey and rosemary butter baked right inside and glazed on top for extra flavor. I think they make the perfect addition to any meal or holiday dinner table.
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5 STAR REVIEW
Best Parker House Rolls Recipe
These soft Parker House rolls are a slightly sweet, buttery twist on classic dinner rolls and, in my opinion, a great place to start if you’ve never made yeast rolls before.
I added some rosemary throughout the rolls, as well as a honey butter filling, which makes these rolls a little sweet, a little earthy, and super buttery. They’re amazing. Though if you’re not a rosemary fan, you can absolutely omit it!
Parker House Rolls are a type of dinner roll that are typically rectangular in shape and folded instead of rolled. They are said to have originated in Boston in the 1970s at the Parker House Hotel when a baker threw half-finished rolls in the oven. They are soft and buttery and, in the case of my recipe, slightly sweet thanks to the honey glaze.
Helpful Tips
- Make sure the milk used in the recipe is warmed to 105–110°F. Cold milk can slow down yeast activation, affecting the dough’s rise. Alternatively, if the milk is too hot, it will kill the yeast.
- Adjust the dough consistency. If the dough is too sticky, gradually add 1 tbsp of flour until it reaches a soft, manageable consistency. Avoid adding too much flour, as it can result in denser rolls.
- Brush the honey rosemary glaze onto the rolls while they are still warm. This allows the glaze to soak in, adding extra flavor and a glossy finish. Adjust the honey glaze consistency if needed. If it’s too thick, you can add a bit of warm water to achieve a brushing consistency.
- Use dried rosemary or any other herb. Fresh rosemary will provide a more aromatic flavor, but you can use dried rosemary; just reduce the quantity by half. Feel free to swap the rosemary for fresh thyme, if preferred. Or simply omit it entirely. These rolls are delicious without the herbs or honey.
Parker House Rolls
Ingredients
Ingredients for dough
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1¼ cups warm whole milk, (105-110°F)
- 1 tbsp active dry yeast
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp salt
- 4½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
Ingredients for filling
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
Ingredients for glaze
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
Instructions
- In the bowl of the stand mixer, combine warm milk and sugar. Sprinkle yeast over the mixture and let it stand for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- Attach the dough hook to the stand mixer. Add melted butter, eggs, and salt to the yeast mixture. Give it a rough mix. Gradually add the flour to the mixer on low speed until a soft dough forms.
- Increase the speed to medium and knead the dough for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- In a small bowl, mix softened butter, honey, and chopped rosemary, and set it aside.
- Punch down the risen dough and roll it out into a rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the honey rosemary filling evenly over the dough. Cut the dough into squares or rectangles.
- Fold each piece of dough in half or rolled, enclosing the filling, and place them in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish with the folded side down.
- Cover the baking dish with a kitchen towel and let the rolls rise for another 30-45 minutes, or until they have doubled in size.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and cooked through.
- In a small saucepan, mix butter, honey, and chopped rosemary to create a glaze. Brush the warm rolls with the honey glaze as soon as they come out of the oven.
- Allow the rolls to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How To Make Parker House Rolls Step by Step
Prepare the yeast: Combine 1¼ cups warm milk and ¼ cup sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle 1 tbsp yeast on top and let sit for 5-10 minutes, until the mixture becomes frothy.
Make the dough: Add ½ cup melted butter, 2 eggs, and 1 tsp salt to the yeast and give it a rough mix. Gradually add 4½ cups flour with the dough hook on low speed until a soft dough forms. Increase the speed to medium and continue kneading for 5-7 minutes.
Let rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a kitchen towel, and let rise for 1 to 1.5 hours, until doubled in size.
Make the filling: In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup softened butter, 1 tbsp honey, and 1 tsp rosemary.
Form the rolls: Punch down the dough, then roll it into a rectangle. Spread the filling evenly over the dough and cut into squares or rectangles. Fold each piece of dough in half, enclosing the filling, and place in a greased 9×13 baking dish, folded side down.
Let rise: Cover the baking dish with a kitchen towel. Let rise for 30-45 minutes, until the rolls have doubled in size.
Bake: Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
Add the glaze: In a small saucepan, mix ¼ cup butter, 2 tbsp honey, and 1 tsp chopped rosemary over low heat to create a glaze. Brush the warm rolls with the honey glaze as soon as they come out of the oven. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
How to Store
Store the cooled Parker house rolls at room temperature for up to 2-3 days in an airtight container.
Refrigerate for up to a week in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.
Parker House rolls freeze well, too. Just tightly wrap them in plastic wrap, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze them for up to 3 months.
What to Serve with Parker House Rolls
These rolls make a wonderful addition to any holiday meal, whether it’s with a Christmas or Easter honey glazed ham, a Thanksgiving turkey, or slow cooker brisket. They pair nicely with other holiday sides, too, so don’t forget the gravy, and the quintessential green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole.
I don’t have a mixer with a dough HOOK-how can I make this recipe the old fashioned way with my hands kneading the dough???
I’m a BEGINNER bread maker & would like your expert opinion please? Is this doable? Or should I find a different recipe?? Any ideas?
The rosemary looks & sounds AMAZING!
Thank you
Jean
Absolutely, you can make this without a mixer! Just mix everything together with a spoon, then knead the dough on a lightly floured counter. Most people need about 8–10 minutes, but if you’re new to kneading, it might take up to 12–15 minutes, and that’s completely normal. You’ll know it’s ready when the dough feels smooth, soft, and stretchy. If it tears right away, just knead a little longer. Everything else in the recipe stays the same, and it rises beautifully even when done by hand.
I also do not have a mixer with a dough hook. I can tell you this : DO NOT try to use regular beaters. It was a disaster for me. SO, I ended up mixing by hand, then turned the dough out onto a floured surface and kneaded until the dough was smooth with a satin sheen The rolls turned out FABULOUS. So, a little more elbow grease but all good in the long run.
These rolls were AMAZING!! Making them again for Easter. Thanks for much for the detailed instructions and tips.