Parker House Rolls

Parker House rolls are soft, buttery dinner rolls with a light, pillowy texture and golden finish that make any meal feel warm, comforting and homemade.       

You might also like French bread rolls, cheddar chive dinner rolls, sourdough bread, Irish soda bread, lemon blueberry sweet rolls, and monkey bread.

Why You’ll Love It           

Delicious flavor: Every bite is soft, rich and perfectly golden with rich buttery goodness.
Simple ingredients: Uses pantry staples to create an impressive homemade roll.
Perfect texture: Light, fluffy and slightly sweet with a golden crust.
Crowd favorite: Ideal for holidays, parties or any comfort meal.
Make-ahead friendly: Can be prepared, stored or frozen for easy serving.

Classic Parker House Rolls Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Whole milk: Warmed to activate the yeast and enrich the dough for a soft texture.
Granulated sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness and helps feed the yeast.
Active dry yeast: Creates rise and lightness in the rolls.
Warm water: Helps dissolve the yeast and brings the dough together.
Egg: Adds richness and helps bind the dough, and creates the shiny, golden crust on the roll tops.
Salt: Balances flavor and enhances the buttery taste.
All purpose flour: Forms the base structure of the dough for soft, tender rolls.
Unsalted butter: Mixed into the dough and brushed on top for flavor and moisture.
Flaky sea salt: Finishes the rolls with a touch of texture and taste.

How to Make Traditional Parker House Rolls

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Combine ingredients: Add milk, sugar, yeast, warm water, egg, salt and flour to a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. Mix until combined.
Knead the dough: Beat on medium speed, adding flour gradually until the dough pulls from the bowl but stays slightly sticky.
Incorporate butter: Mix in softened butter until the dough is smooth and elastic, then shape into a ball on a lightly floured work surface.
First rise: Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size.
Shape the rolls: Punch down the dough, cut into equal portions and roll each into a ball.
Prepare for baking: Place rolls in a greased or parchment paper lined baking dish and brush with egg wash.
Bake: Bake until golden brown, then brush melted butter on top and sprinkle a little sea salt.

Substitutions and Variations

Sweet version: Add an extra tablespoon of sugar for slightly sweeter rolls.
Herb version: Mix chopped rosemary, thyme or parsley into the dough for a savory twist.
Garlic butter finish: Stir minced garlic and parsley into the melted butter before brushing on top.
Dairy-free version: Use plant-based milk and vegan butter for a dairy-free option.
Try bread flour: It gives a chewier texture but still works well. You could use half of each.

Serving Suggestions

With meat: Serve these buttery rolls alongside roasted chicken, turkey, ham, pot roast, or Lipton meatloaf.
With a spread: Serve warm with honey butter, cinnamon butter, blueberry jam or cherry jam.
With a holiday meal: Boston Parker House Hotel rolls are perfect for a holiday dinner or celebratory meal when you want to add a special touch.
Make sliders: Split baked rolls to make sloppy joe sliders, breakfast sliders or hot Italian sliders.
With soup: Try the rolls with pappa al pomodoro soup or pumpkin apple soup.

How to Store Soft and Buttery Parker House Rolls

Store: Store leftover Parker House rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days. Alternatively you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil and freeze leftover rolls for up to 2 months.
Reheat: Warm wrapped in foil in the oven or heat briefly in the microwave until soft.