Easy Homemade Parker House Rolls

Parker House Rolls are a soft and buttery, melt-in-your-mouth dinner roll. They are brushed with butter before and after baking, making them even more irresistible!

These rolls are perfect for your holiday dinner topped with homemade honey butter, garlic butter, or some homemade apple butter.

The Best Dinner Rolls

Parker House Rolls are really easy to make (you may be surprised by how really easy it is) and they only take a few minutes of active preparation time. They’re made with a simple yeast dough recipe and if you’re new to working with yeast, no worries, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know. We add a brush of butter to the inside before baking and then another after baking.

The signature crease in the dough and their rich, buttery flavor makes them irresistible. You are going to love these buttery and decadent dinner rolls.

What are Parker House Rolls?

Parker House Rolls are rumored to have originated in Boston from the Parker House Hotel that opened in 1854.  The rumor is that a disgruntled hotel baker was in an altercation with a hotel guest and haphazardly tossed the batch of unfinished rolls in the oven. They came out with their distinct shape, golden exterior, and buttery interior.

Ingredients

The eggs, melted butter, and milk make these rolls super soft and pillowy.

• Warm Water – Make sure it’s between 95 and 110 degrees.  You want it just warm enough to activate the yeast but not kill it.
• Sugar – Slightly sweetens the dough and also feeds the yeast.
• Active Dry Yeast – You can use active or instant yeast.  Both can be used in this recipe. If you use instant yeast you don’t have to let it proof.
• Milk – I like to use whole milk when baking but just use what you have on hand.
• Eggs – Large eggs work great.
• Salt – I prefer to use sea salt but any will do.
• Butter –  This adds a lot of flavor and keeps the rolls soft.

How To Make Homemade Parker House Rolls

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to make yeast dough for these amazing homemade rolls.

Making the dough – Making yeast dough is one of the best reasons to have a stand mixer. It makes this process so easy.  Simply attach the dough hook and let the mixer do its thing. No kneading by hand! Make the dough and let it rise in a warm place. This recipe uses active, dry yeast. Be sure to check the expiration date. If expired, the yeast won’t rise properly. One packet of yeast will yield 2 ¼ teaspoons of yeast.

Roll out and cut – After the dough has had a chance to rise, cut the dough into 2 large pieces and roll out on a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough until it’s 1/2-3/4-inch thick. You can use a 3-inch biscuit cutter or even a cup to cut out the circles. You can also just cut the dough into 3-inch squares if you would like to. This is a very versatile yeast dough recipe.

Shape – Brush the dough circle with just a little butter and then use the dull side of a butter knife or large skewer stick to make an impression in the center of the dough. This will help the roll keep its shape when rising and baking.

Bake – Bake the rolls in a preheated 350-degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until they’re golden brown. Brush the rolls with melted butter while warm. You can also add just a pinch of sea salt flakes to the rolls if desired.

Serve – Place the warm rolls in a bread basket to keep warm before serving. These make a great side to just about any dinner. They also work great stuffed with shredded pork or chicken or made into a small sandwich with lunchmeat.

Make-Ahead, Storage and Freezing

Make-Ahead: You can make the dough, shape the rolls and then place them on a baking sheet. Keep the rolls stored in the fridge until ready to bake, then remove them from the fridge while the oven preheats. Bake as directed.

Freezing: Make and shape the rolls as directed. Freeze for 8-12 hours on a large baking sheet before letting them rise. Transfer the rolls from the baking sheet to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use the rolls, Thaw on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 2-3 hours or until they rise and double in size. Bake as directed.

Storing Baked Rolls: After the rolls have baked and cooled completely, store them at room temperature in a covered container or a ziplock bag for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Other Yeast Dough Recipes

• Quick Dinner Rolls
• Homemade Garlic Breadsticks
• Parmesan Rosemary Dinner Rolls
• Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
• Homemade Pretzels
• Soft Onion Rolls