Soft and Buttery Parker House Rolls

Parker House Rolls are irresistible buttery, folded, soft yeast dinner rolls that seem made for the Thanksgiving table! I’ll show you how to make these classic rolls at home, with an easy method that delivers golden, fluffy, buttery dinner rolls perfect for sides, sandwiches, or dunking into your favorite soups and stews.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or you’re trying to pick up a new skill, I’ve got lots of yeasted bread recipes for you to try! These Yeast Dinner Rolls are another favorite for holidays, while this Easy Homemade French Bread is so much better than store-bought.

What are Parker House Rolls?

The soft and butter rolls originated at a famous Boston hotel called the Parker House in the 1870s. They were first created in Boston but soon became a staple in American homes.

The hallmark of Parker House rolls is the folded‑over shape and the generous use of butter, both in and on the dough. That fold is a signature style—and even part of their history. The story is that they got their shape from a pastry chef angrily tossing unfinished rolls into the oven, creating the fold.

You can make them in your own kitchen by flattening rounds of rough, folding them in half, and baking them so that they have a distinctive “pocket” or fold in the middle. They are soft and fluffy on the inside, but crisp and buttery on the outside.

Ingredients You Need

To make these buttery rolls, you’ll just need a handful of ingredients!

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions:

• Active dry yeast – Be sure your yeast isn’t expired and if you’ve had it in your pantry, that it’s been stored properly.
• Warm water – The water needs to be warm, but not hot, to activate the yeast.
• Whole milk – Whole milk helps create that soft, tender texture.
• Sugar – Just a bit helps feed the yeast and adds the perfect amount of sweetness to these Parker House yeast rolls.
• Unsalted butter – Using unsalted butter puts you in control of the flavor of the rolls.
• All-purpose flour – Learn more: How To Measure Flour Correctly.

Variations

• Make them flavored: Brush the baked rolls with Garlic Butter, herb butter, honey butter, or another flavored butter when they’re warm and fresh out of the oven.
• Try overnight Parker House dinner rolls: Refrigerate the shaped rolls overnight covered tightly in a pan and bake next day. This deepens the flavor.
• Make sourdough discard Parker House rolls: Replace the 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of the flour with 1/2 cup of sourdough discard from your Sourdough Starter.

How To Make Parker House Rolls

1. Make the dough: In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Then, let it sit for about 5 minutes or until the mixture becomes frothy. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, salt, melted butter, and the yeast mixture. Stir until the sugar is dissolved in the milk mixture. Gradually add flour to the wet mixture, stirring to form a soft dough. The dough should be slightly sticky but manageable.

2. Knead and rise: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead for about 5-7 minutes or until it is smooth and elastic. Alternatively, place the dough in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, and knead on low speed. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, and cover it with a clean kitchen towel. Then, let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.

3. Shape the rolls: After the dough has risen, punch it down, and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle. Cut the dough into 12 pieces. Fold each piece in half, and gently press the fold to secure the shape. Place the rolls on a greased baking sheet, about 2 inches apart, and cover them again with a towel. Let them rise for another 30 minutes.

4. Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Brush the rolls with melted butter or honey butter, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the top of the rolls are golden brown. Once the dinner rolls are out of the oven, brush them with additional melted butter and serve warm.

What to Serve With This Parker House Dinner Rolls Recipe

Here are some of my family’s favorite ways to enjoy these homemade dinner rolls:

• Holiday dinner favorites: These rolls are perfect alongside Roast Turkey and Crock Pot Ham with other sides like Classic Mashed Potatoes and Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole.
• Soups and stews: Like Cheesy Potato Soup and Tomato Bisque Soup or any soup that you want to soak up with some bread!
• Comfort food classics: Pair your Parker House yeast rolls with Southern Green Beans, Instant Pot Pork Roast, Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese, and more.

Storage and Reheating

• Room temperature: Add the leftover rolls to an airtight container and keep them at room temperature or in the fridge. For the best texture, eat within 2-3 days.
• Freezer: Wrap the rolls in aluminum foil and place them in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep up to 2 months.
• To Reheat: Reheat the rolls in the microwave, heating in 15-second increments until soft and warmed thoroughly.

Frequently Asked Questions