Parker House Rolls

These Parker House rolls gets a delicious twist when it’s made with salted butter, sweetened with honey and then a honey butter is slathered over the top of the warm rolls after baking. These salted honey Parker House rolls are perfect for your bread basket on Thanksgiving! And the best part is they can be made the day before and then baked the day of!

Every month I love challenging myself with new recipes to try – and this month since Thanksgiving is around the corner I have always wanted to try and make Parker House rolls. I usually make my No Knead Dinner Rolls for Thanksgiving but I wanted to switch things up a bit and make Parker House dinner rolls instead.

And man oh man I’m glad I did. I found the traditional King Arthur’s Parker House rolls recipe and decided to make a few fun twists on it. I used salted butter to give the dough a little bit more flavor.

I splurged and used some really good sea salted butter from Vital Farms. And then instead of sugar, which is what the classic Parker House rolls recipe calls for, I swapped it for honey. I love the flavor that honey gives to a yeasted dough.

They key to making these super soft is the addition of adding potato flakes to the recipe. Yes potato flakes! Of course, you can always swap out the flakes and use potato flour or actual mashed potatoes (as long as they’re plain). It’s what keeps these rolls super soft for days.

But why stop there? After they’re done baking I love slathering rolls with some extra butter (yes more butter, don’t be judging me now) and a sprinkle of sea salt. But I made a quick honey butter to top these buttery Parker House rolls with. You could always skip the honey butter and go for just plain butter instead but I think the honey butter is what makes these the best Parker House roll recipe you will ever find.

Soft, fluffy white rolls that you’re going to find it hard to not eat one straight from the oven *Ahem ask me how I know.

To make these dinner rolls I recommend a few tools to make your life easier. Be sure to also check out my 14 bread baking tools for beginners!

See Also:

• Move over pumpkin! This butternut squash bread recipe is an easy loaf bread to make in the Fall.
• For more whole grain goodness, try my whole wheat blueberry muffins. These are the best breakfast treat!
• Sugar donuts are a fun breakfast treat to make with yeast! Dipped in sugar these donuts are light and fluffy.
• For a traditional Swedish breakfast treat during the holidays try making these St Lucia buns flavored with saffron!

Why This Recipe Works

• Perfect homemade rolls for the holiday season
• Can shape rolls the day before baking
• Can also freeze baked or unbaked to enjoy whenever you want!

Why Are They Called Parker House Rolls?

The original Parker House Rolls recipe originated back in the 1870s, in a famous Boston Hotel (so means makes sense I have this recipe on my site right?!) – The Parker House.

This hotel also known for creating the famous Boston Cream Pie! (Ok I don’t have a Boston Cream Pie yet on the blog but I do have these Boston Creme Pie Macarons and Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes that I think will satisfy the itch).

What makes Parker House rolls special and unique is that butter is slathered on the dough and each roll is folded over, creating a little buttery pocket. And then more butter on top. Because butter makes it better doesn’t it? I think so. With egg, milk, and lots of butter going on these Parker House rolls are so tender and fluffy.

The shape of Parker House rolls seems to vary across the big old world wide web, some are circular, some are square, but one things seems to be clear each roll is folded in half making this buttery pocket that you can then open up and slather with butter (yes more butter!).

It seems the original Parker House roll recipe, from what I can find, were circles of dough, dipped in butter, and folded in half. But I took some advice from King Arthur Flour and shaped them into rectangles, brushed them with melted butter as opposed to dipping, so they would keep their shape better and not pop open during the baking process.

Ingredients Needed

Note: The entire recipe, with ingredient quantities and recipe directions can be found at the bottom of the page. Scroll to the bottom or click “Jump To Recipe” button at the top of the post.

• Flour – I used regular all-purpose flour. Be sure to measure correctly. I recommend using a kitchen scale.
• Instant Yeast – I used Red Star Platinum instant yeast which always yields superior results. But any instant yeast will do. If you only have active dry yeast on hand, you can use that but your rising time will be longer. And there’s no need to proof your yeast first, just add it directly to your bowl.
• Honey – I used honey to sweeten these rolls, but the original Parker House rolls recipe calls for sugar. So if you want to stick to the original you can use sugar (or if that’s all you have on hand!).
• Salt
• Potato Flakes – You can use instant mashed potato flakes, or potato flour. Do not substitute with potato starch as it’s not quite the same thing and won’t yield the same results. Or you can also substitute with leftover mashed potatoes. You want to use leftover plain mashed potatoes that haven’t been seasoned or flavored. But this ingredient is what yields a tender, fluffy roll in the end, so don’t skip it!
• Butter – I chose to use salted butter instead to give these rolls a bit more flavor. But you can always use unsalted butter if you need to.
• Milk – I used whole milk for the fat, which adds richness and creates a tender roll. But you can use low-fat milk if you want. I haven’t tried with a plant-based milk but I think it would work just fine. Use lukewarm milk so the milk isn’t too cold for the yeast to work.
• Egg – Use one room temperature egg for the dough. You will also need one for an egg wash.

How To Make Parker House Rolls

Make The Parker House Roll Dough

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine all of the dough ingredients (except the melted salted butter) and mix together to form a shaggy dough. 
2. If using your mixer, switch and use your dough hook attachment and knead the dough for about 7 to 8 minutes, until it’s smooth. You can always knead the dough by hand, but this will take about a bit longer (about 10 minutes).
3. Place the dough in a lightly greased large bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel.
4. Let the dough rise for 90 minutes in a warm place until puffy and almost doubled in size.

HEATHER’S BAKING TIP: Make sure your ingredients at room temperature, and not cold or it will take longer for the dough to rise.

Divide The Dough

1. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased work surface. I spray my surface with a little non-stick spray.  Divide it in half.
2. Working with one half at a time, roll or pat the dough into an 8″ x 12″ rectangle.
3. Cut the dough in half lengthwise, to make two 4″ x 12″ rectangles.
4. Brush each section of dough all over with a light coating of the melted salted butter. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray. 

Shape The Parker House Rolls

1. Fold each rectangle, in half lengthwise, leaving a ½” edge exposed one of the longer side of the rolls.. The bottom edge will stick out about ½ beyond the top edge. Repeat with the second portion of dough.
2. Cut each of the rectangles crosswise into four equal pieces, about 3” making eight rolls.
3. Flip the rolls over (so that non-folded side is facing up), and place them into the prepared baking dish. Repeat with the remaining portion of dough, making 16 rolls total. Gently flatten the rolls to pretty much cover the bottom of the pan.
4. Cover the pan with a clean dish towel and let the rolls rise for about 45 minutes to 1 hour for a second rise.

HEATHER’S BAKING TIP: Yeasted dough can be very stretchy due to the gluten protein and it can cause the dough to shrink and stretch as you work with it, which means not all the rolls will end up the same size. Don’t stress! Arrange them in the pan however you need to do so they fit (put a smaller shorter one next to a longer one, for example).

Baking The Rolls

1. Once the rolls are puffy but not necessarily doubled in size. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare the egg wash and brush on top of each roll before baking.
2. Bake the rolls for 20 to 25 minutes, until they’re golden brown and feel set.

HEATHER’S BAKING TIP: To see if they are ready for baking, I press my finger gently into one of the rolls. It should leave an indent that slowly fills back in. If it bounces back quickly, it needs more time. If it stays indented, it is over proofed, so make sure to bake immediately.

Make The Honey Butter

1. While the rolls are baking, stir together the butter and honey. I use very soft (but not melted) butter so it’s super easy to mix up.
2. Remove them from the oven, and brush with the honey butter (I use about half and save half for serving) and sprinkle on a little additional sea salt. Pull them apart to serve.

Recipe Tips

• Measure the flour correctly. If you add too much flour to the dough your rolls will come out heavy and dry. I recommend using a food scale and weigh your flour. Or if using measuring cups, then be sure to spoon the flour into your cup and level it off.
• Let rise in a draft-free place. You can always let the dough rise in your oven with it OFF and just the oven light on.
• Shape the rolls on a lightly greased surface. Usually I recommend working on a lightly floured work surface but this helps prevent adding extra flour to the dough. I simply spray my surface with a bit of cooking spray. 

Recipe Variations

• Bake on a sheet pan – If you don’t have a 9×13 baking dish simply bake these on a sheet pan instead.
• Add some fresh herbs – You can always stir in some chopped, fresh herbs into the dough such as rosemary or thyme!
• Traditional circle method of shaping: After dividing the dough, shape each portion into a round. Then flatten into an oval. Brush with butter, than fold in half (like a clamshell). Arrange into the pan by overlapping the rolls.
• Shape into regular rolls. You can also skip the traditional method of shaping and simply shape into regular dinner rolls.
• Dairy Free: Use plant based butter and milk.
• Gluten free: To make gluten free use King Arthur’s Gluten Free bread flour. There are extra instructions on the bag on how to adjust the recipe from there.

Make Ahead And Storage Instructions

You can make them the day before and bake them the next day. After you shaped the rolls, place them in the pan and cover it with plastic wrap. Place them in the refrigerator and let them sit overnight. The next day, bring them out a couple hours before you plan to serve them, let them rise at room temperature for about 45 minutes to an hour for the second rise until puffy and then bake as directed. 

Dough only: You can also make the dough, let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes and then let it go through its first rise in the fridge for about 12-16 hours, covered, and then take out of the fridge and shape immediately. Let them rise, which might take a bit longer than normal since the dough will be a bit colder. And then bake as directed. 

To store any leftover rolls, I let them cool completely and store them in a bag for up to 3 days at room temperature, any longer and I pop them into the freezer. 

You can freeze these Parker house dinner rolls before or after baking.

Freezing Unbaked Parker House Rolls: Shape the rolls and then freeze for about 8-12 hours, until completely frozen. And then you can place the rolls into a bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, place them in a pan, let them thaw and rise at room temperature for about 3-5 hours and then bake as directed. 
Baked Rolls: If you didn’t get around to eating them (not judging but don’t know how that’s possible!) but you can let them cool and then pop them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. I let them thaw at room temperature when ready to serve and heat up in the microwave for a few seconds until warm. Or you could heat them in an oven at the lowest temperature until warmed through.

Recipe FAQs

More Recipes To Try

Craving more bread? Be sure to try my popular self rising biscuits recipe! Just 3 ingredients and about 10 minutes of prep time.

Or my favorite sour cream banana bread recipe. It’s the best way to use up some leftover bananas!

Parker House Rolls

This parker house roll recipe gets a delicious twist when it’s made with salted butter, sweetened with honey and then a honey butter is slathered over the top of the warm rolls after baking. These salted honey parker house rolls are perfect for your bread basket on Thanksgiving! And the best part is they can be made the day before and then baked the day of!

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: bread

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 rolls

Calories: 193kcal

Author: Heather Perine

Ingredients

Dough:

• ▢ 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
• ▢ 2 ½ teaspoons instant yeast
• ▢ 3 tablespoons (40 g) honey
• ▢ 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
• ▢ ¼ cup potato flakes *see note
• ▢ 3 tablespoons (43 g) salted butter softened to room temperature
• ▢ 1 cup (240 ml) milk room temperature
• ▢ 1 large egg room temperature
• ▢ 2 tablespoons (28 g) salted butter melted (for brushing on dough portions)
• ▢ 1 egg mixed with 1 Tablespoon water (for the egg wash)

Honey Butter

• ▢ ¼ cup (57 g) salted butter very soft, but not melted
• ▢ ¼ cup (53 g) honey
• ▢ Flaky sea salt for sprinkling on top before serving

Instructions

• Make dough. In a large mixing bowl, or in the bowl of an electric mixer, combine all of the dough ingredients (except the 2 Tablespoons melted salted butter) and mix together to form a shaggy dough. 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour 2 ½ teaspoons instant yeast 3 tablespoons (40 g) honey 1 ¼ teaspoons salt ¼ cup potato flakes 3 tablespoons (43 g) salted butter 1 cup (240 ml) milk 1 large egg
• Knead dough. If using your mixer, switch and use your dough hook attachment and knead the dough for about 7 to 8 minutes,until it's smooth. If kneading by hand, this will takes about 10 minutes.
• Let rise in warm place. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Allow it to rise for 90 minutes at room temperature (75-78°F) until puffy and almost doubled in size.
• Divide dough. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased work surface. I spray my surface with a little non-stick spray. Divide it in half. Working with one half at a time, roll or pat the dough into an 8" x 12" rectangle.
• Prepare pan. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray.
• Cut dough. Cut the dough in half lengthwise, to make two 4" x 12" rectangles.
• Brush with butter. Brush the dough all over with a light coating of the melted salted butter. 2 tablespoons (28 g) salted butter
• Shape dough. Fold each rectangle, in half lengthwise, leaving a ½” edge exposed. The bottom edge will stick out about ½ beyond the top edge. Repeat with the second portion of dough.
• Cut rolls. Cut each of the rectangles crosswise into four equal portions, about 3” making eight rolls. Flip the rolls over (so that non-folded side is facing up), and place them into the prepared pan.
• Repeat with rest of dough. Repeat with the remaining portion of dough, making 16 rolls total. Gently flatten the rolls to pretty much cover the bottom of the pan.
• Second Rise. Cover the pan with a clean dish towel , and let the rolls rise for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until they're puffy but not necessarily doubled in size. To see if they are ready for baking, I press my finger gently into one of the rolls. It should leave an indent that slowly fills back in. If it bounces back quickly, it needs more time. If it stays indented, it is over proofed, so make sure to bake immediately. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Preheat oven. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush the top of the rolls with the egg wash. 1 egg mixed with 1 Tablespoon water
• Bake. Bake the rolls for 20 to 25 minutes, until they're golden brown and feel set. While the rolls bake, make the honey butter.
• Make honey butter. While the rolls are baking, stir together the butter and honey together in a small mixing bowl. Remove them from the oven, and brush with about half of the honey butter, and sprinkle on a little additional sea salt. Pull them apart to serve. ¼ cup (57 g) salted butter ¼ cup (53 g) honey Flaky sea salt

Notes

• Storage: I let them cool completely and store them in a bag for up to 3 days at room temperature, any longer and I pop them into the freezer.
• Make Ahead: You can make the rolls the day before and bake them the next day. After you shaped the rolls, place them in the pan and cover it with plastic wrap. Place them in the refrigerator and let them sit overnight. The next day, bring them out a couple hours before you plan to serve them, let them rise at room temperature for about 45 minutes to an hour until puffy and then bake as directed. You can also make the dough, let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes and then let it rise in the fridge for about 12-16 hours, covered, and then take out of the fridge and shape immediately. Let them rise, which might take a bit longer than normal since the dough will be a bit colder. And then bake as directed.
• Freezing: To freeze unbaked rolls, shape the rolls and then freeze for about 8-12 hours, until completely frozen. And then you can place the rolls into a bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, place them in a pan, let them thaw and rise at room temperature for about 3-5 hours and then bake as directed. To freeze baked rolls, let them cool and then pop them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. I let them thaw at room temperature when ready to serve and heat up in the microwave for a few seconds until warm. Or you could heat them in an oven at the lowest temperature until warmed through.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your ingredients at room temperature, and not cold or it will take longer for the dough to rise.
• Flour: It’s best to use a scale when it comes to making yeasted dough as too much flour can results in dense, dry rolls. If you don’t have one be sure to spoon your flour into the cup and then level it off with a knife. Do not pack it down or scoop directly from the bag.
• Shaping: Yeasted dough can be very stretchy due to the gluten protein and it can cause the dough to shrink and stretch as you work with it, which means not all the rolls will end up the same size. Don’t stress! Arrange them in the pan however you need to do so they fit (put a smaller shorter one next to a longer one, for example).
• Knowing When To Bake Them: To see if they are ready for baking, I press my finger gently into one of the rolls. It should leave an indent that slowly fills back in. If it bounces back quickly, it needs more time. If it stays indented, it is over proofed, so make sure to bake immediately.
  Instant Yeast – I used Red Star Platinum instant yeast which always yields superior results. But any instant yeast will do. If you only have active yeast on hand, you can use that but your rising time will be longer. And there’s no need to proof your yeast first, just add it directly to your bowl.
• Honey – I used honey to sweeten these rolls, but the original Parker House rolls recipe calls for sugar. So if you want to stick to the original you can use sugar (or if that’s all you have on hand!).
• Potato Flakes- You can use instant mashed potato flakes, or potato flour. Do not substitute with potato starch as it’s not quite the same thing and won’t yield the same results. Or you can also substitute with leftover mashed potatoes. You want to use leftover plain mashed potatoes that haven’t been seasoned or flavored. But this ingredient is what yields a tender, fluffy roll in the end, so don’t skip it!
• Butter – I chose to use salted butter instead to give these rolls a bit more flavor. But you can always use unsalted butter if you need to.
• Milk – I used whole milk for the fat, which adds richness and creates a tender roll. But you can use low-fat milk if you want. I haven’t tried with a plant-based milk but I think it would work just fine.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 251mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

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