Parker House Dinner Rolls Recipe (2024)

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One day in Home Ec class when I was younger, we learned to make Parker House rolls. As they came out of the oven, we grabbed the hot rolls off the baking sheets even though the teacher protested that we’d burn ourselves.

Of course they were too hot to eat, but that didn’t stop us. Tender, buttery rolls with a hint of sweetness shaped like puffy half-moons—who can wait? They looked like Pac-Man, and they were delicious!

What Are Parker House Rolls?

The Parker House in Boston (now called Omni Parker House) was a grand old hotel built in the mid-19th century. Many politicians and famous people stayed there, and legend has it that John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier in the dining room.

Parker House rolls, which the hotel became famous for and which I later learned to make in Home Ec, are made from a yeast dough made rich with milk, butter, and a little sugar.

How to Make Parker House Dinner Rolls

The dough is rolled out, stamped into rounds, spread with even more melted butter, and folded in half.

They puff in the oven and look quite charming. Every once in a while, a roll or two will fan open completely while baking, but don’t fret. They’ll still taste just as good.

I let the dough rise for an hour, but have found that you can bake the shaped rolls right away without a second rise. I think that helps them keep their shape, plus they’re just as feathery without the second rise.

Why Are Parker House Rolls Shaped This Way?

The classic shape—the one that Fannie Farmer writes about in the dog-eared copy of "The Boston Cooking School Cook Book" that sits on my shelf (a second-hand edition from 1934)—is a half-moon made by folding a flat round of dough in half, as shown here.

Today, bakers make the rolls all kinds of ways, like forming balls and packing them into a baking dish so the edges touch and become soft. Or, cutting squares and baking them the same way. These methods are quicker than folding, which is probably why they became popular. You also see Parker House dinner rolls sprinkled with salt before baking; salt and butter together are certainly irresistible.

None of these are traditional, but does that matter? If you want to make a different shape, the dough comes together easily and you'll enjoy working with it.

Storing and Freezing Parker House Dinner Rolls

Serve them warm. They’ll make you smile when you bite into one. Leftovers will keep for a few days in an airtight container at room temperature.

You can freeze these rolls after you've made them. Let them completely cool, and then tightly wrap them in a double layer of plastic (or aluminum foil and plastic), and freeze. They should be fine in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat, remove the plastic, wrap loosely with foil, and warm in a low oven until hot. You can brush the warm buns with a little melted butter as well, if you'd like.

You might be tempted to freeze the dough, thaw it and then bake them. I wouldn't recommend it. Freezing unbaked and thawing these rolls is tricky because the half-moon shapes might open up in the oven and wreck all your hard work.

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Troubleshooting Tips for Making the Dough

Too much flour will keep your rolls from rising properly. Be sure to just use enough flour to keep the dough from being sticky, but not so much that the dough is too stiff.
For light and fluffy rolls, knead the dough just enough. Over-kneading can cause dense dough. Knead only until the dough is smooth.
A slow rise may also mean your kitchen is too cold. In that case, just pop the dough in a cold oven (do not turn it on!) and place a pan of boiling water on the rack underneath. The warmth and steam will help "wake up" your dough.
If your dough doesn't rise, it could be for a number of reasons. Make sure that your yeast is not too old by proofing it.

How to Proof YeastREAD MORE:

Can I Use Other Yeast in This Recipe?

Yes! If you don't have any active dry yeast, you can substitute instant yeast in the recipe. Just use 3/4 of what they ask for, since instant yeast is more powerful. In this case, use 1.75 teaspoons of instant yeast in place of the 2.25 teaspoons of active dry yeast.

How to Swap and Substitute Yeast for BakingREAD MORE:

Substitutions and Variations

Replace whole milk with low-fat milk, reconstituted powdered milk, or non-dairy milk.
Substitute half the flour with whole wheat or white whole wheat flour.
Use margarine, olive oil, coconut oil, or even shortening instead of the butter.
The recipe calls for unsalted butter, since salt can be a yeast killer. You can substitute salted butter, but be sure to reduce the salt in the recipe.
Sub sugar with honey or agave nectar.
Liven the rolls up by mixing in some chopped fresh herbs like rosemary, parsley, or dill.
Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the rolls after brushing the with the melted butter.

More Recipes for Rolls and Breads!

Make-Ahead Dinner Rolls
Potato Dinner Rolls
Sausage Rolls
Garlic Bread
Cheesy Bread

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Parker House Dinner Rolls

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time18 mins

Rising Time60 mins

Total Time98 mins

Servings36 servings

The rolls donot need to rise a second time once shaped.

Ingredients

2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
3 tablespoons lukewarm water
1 1/2 cups (355ml) whole milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
4 1/2 cups(630g) all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
See Also
Delicious and Healthy Air Fryer Recipes for Every Occasion -
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, for brushing the rolls

Special Equipment

2 1/2-inch round biscuit or cookie cutter

Method

Dissolve the yeast:
In a bowl large enough to hold all the dough, sprinkle the yeast over the water and let it dissolve, about 5 minutes.
Warm the milk:
In a saucepan over low heat, combine the milk, 3 tablespoons cut-up butter, sugar, and salt. Heat just until the butter melts and the milk feels warm to the touch. If the milk gets too hot, remove from the heat and let it cool to lukewarm.
Mix the dough:
Stir the yeast mixture with a wooden spoon to mix the dissolved yeast and water. Tip in the milk mixture, still stirring, until smooth. Add 2 cups of the flour and stir again until the mixture is almost smooth, with just a few lumps.
Continue stirring in flour, 1 cup at a time, until the mixture forms a dough. It will be very soft.
Knead the dough:
Turn the dough out onto a floured counter and knead for a few minutes until the dough is smooth, adding more flour as needed if the dough is too sticky.
Let the dough rise:
Clean and dry the bowl, then grease lightly with a little vegetable oil. Set the dough in the bowl and turn it all around so it is oiled all over.
Cover with a clean, damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour, or until it is puffy (it doesn’t need to double in size).
Preheat the oven to 425°F:
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Shape the rolls:
Punch the dough down in the bowl, then transfer it to a lightly floured counter or pastry board. Knead until all the air is out.
Roll the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. If it springs back as you try to roll it, let it rest for 5 minutes and then try again.
Use a 2 1/2-inch round biscuit or cookie cutter to stamp out rounds. Dip the cutter in flour often to avoid sticking, and stamp the rounds as close to each other as possible.
Press the back of a butter knife down the center of each round to form a crease; this is where you will fold the rolls in half. Dip the knife in flour if it starts to stick to the dough.
Brush the rounds with melted butter. Fold each round in half to make half-moon shapes and press the edges together lightly to seal them. Gather and re-roll the scraps to make more rolls.
Transfer the rolls to the baking sheets, leaving 2-inches between rolls. Brush with more melted butter.
Bake the rolls:
Transfer the baking sheets to the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through baking, until the rolls are puffed and golden. They're best served warm and fresh, but leftovers will keep for a few days in an airtight container at room temperature.

Side Dishes
Comfort Food
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Yeast Breads

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
100	Calories
3g	Fat
15g	Carbs
2g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 36
Amount per serving
Calories	100
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g	4%
Saturated Fat 2g	10%
Cholesterol 9mg	3%
Sodium 123mg	5%
Total Carbohydrate 15g	5%
Dietary Fiber 1g	2%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 15mg	1%
Iron 1mg	5%
Potassium 35mg	1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

FAQs

Why are they called Parker House Rolls? ›

Parker House rolls are named after the Boston Parker House Hotel where they first originated during the 1870s. Legend has it that a disgruntled hotel baker threw a batch of unfinished rolls into the oven after an altercation with a hotel guest.

Get More Info Here ›

What is the difference between Texas rolls and dinner rolls? ›

What is the difference between Texas Size rolls and Dinner Rolls? Texas Size rolls are 50% larger than our Dinner Rolls. The only difference is the roll size.

How do you reheat Parker House rolls? ›

Rewarm the Rolls – To rewarm them, wrap them in foil in a 200 degrees F oven for 10 minutes. You can serve them with softened butter. Instant Yeast vs.

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What is the meaning of Parker House? ›

(ˈpɑrkərˌhaʊs ) US. a yeast roll shaped by folding over a flat, round piece of buttered dough. Word origin. after Parker House, hotel in Boston where first served.

What is a house roll? ›

A Parker House roll is a bread roll made by flattening the center of a ball of dough with a rolling pin so that it becomes an oval shape, and then folding the oval in half. They are made with milk and are generally quite buttery, soft, and slightly sweet with a crispy shell.

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What rolls are named after a hotel? ›

Rumor has it that Parker House rolls got their name from the Boston Parker House Hotel, which opened in the late 1800's. The legend goes that the hotel baker threw a batch of unfinished rolls into the oven, over a dispute with a hotel guest.

Learn More Now ›

What is the history of dinner rolls? ›

Where did they come from? The rich, folded rolls originated in Boston, Massachusetts during the 1870s, according to Foodicles. They were created at the Parker House Hotel (hence the name Parker House roll), which now goes by the title of the Omni Hotel and is also where the famous Boston cream pie was invented.