Soft, buttery and fluffy is what makes Parker House rolls irresistible. These dinner rolls are spread with honey butter inside before baking and brushed with more while still warm!
Craving more rolls recipes? Hawaiian rolls, French bread rolls, my ciabatta roll recipe and potato rolls are a few more favorites!
Why I Love These Soft and Buttery Rolls
- Honey butter. Parker House rolls are famous for the butter inside the dinner roll as well as on top, which helps to give them their signature soft and fluffy texture.
- Perfect for any occasion. A basket of Parker House rolls is just as great at Christmas dinner as it is for a weeknight.
- Easy to make: This recipe is made with rapid yeast which means there’s a total of just 1.5 hours of rising time. It’s perfect for beginners just like my homemade French bread.
- Make ahead & freezer-friendly. You can make these the night before and bake the next day, or freeze the dough and bake them when you’re ready.
Substitutions and Variations
- Instant yeast vs. active yeast: To use active yeast, mix 1 packet of active dry yeast with warm milk and honey and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it starts to foam. Once it is bubbly, mix in the flour and follow recipe.
- Shape: Traditionally Parker House rolls are folded in a half-moon shape before they are baked. I rolled them similar to Lion House rolls. You can also make them into classic round rolls.
- Flavored butter: Instead of honey butter, try garlic herb butter or cinnamon butter like I use with Texas Roadhouse rolls!
- Sprinkle on top: You can also use regular butter and sprinkle Parmesan, herbs, or salt overtop.
How to Make Parker House Rolls
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, instant yeast, and salt. Using the dough hook attachment, stir in the milk, honey, egg, and butter. Knead for for 4-5 minutes until all the ingredients have combined and the dough is smooth.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow it to rise in bulk for about 1 hour.
Once dough has bulked up, transfer dough to a clean flat surface dusted with flour. Punch it down (yes, literally punch it). Divide dough half and roll each half into a 12″ square about 1/4″ thick.
Take whipped butter and honey mixture and spread it over the squares. Cut each square into 6 strips, for a total of 12 rolls. Roll each one into a coil along the length of the strip, starting at one end.
Place the Parker House rolls seam side down into a prepared 9×13″ baking dish. Cover the dish and let them rise for another 30 minutes until puffy.
Bake at 350°F for 18-25 minutes. Once the rolls are golden brown, remove them from the oven and spread with the remaining honey butter. Enjoy while still warm!
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions
- Make ahead. Once you’ve rolled the dough strips and placed them in the dish or pan, cover them and store them in the fridge overnight. Take Parker House rolls out 30 minutes before baking.
- Freeze: Once they have completely cooled, place Parker House rolls in a freezer-friendly bag or container and keep them frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw then warm in microwave.
No yeast in the pantry? Try making a quick bread recipe like my sweet cornbread with honey or whip up a batch of these homemade flour tortillas.
More Homemade Bread Recipes
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Parker House Rolls
Video
Ingredients
Honey Butter
- 4 Tablespoons (56 grams) salted butter , softened
- 2 Tablespoons (38 grams) honey
Rolls
- 3 ¼ cups (440 grams) all-purpose flour , plus more for rolling
- 1 (1/4-ounce) packet Fleischmann's Rapid Rise Yeast
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup (8 ounces) warm whole milk (105°F)
- 2 Tablespoons (38 grams) honey
- 4 Tablespoons (56 grams) salted butter , at room temperature
- 1 large egg , at room temperature
- Flaky sea salt , for serving
Instructions
Honey Butter
- In a small bowl, whip the butter and honey together until combined. Set aside.
Rolls
- Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, yeast, and salt. Stir in the warm milk, honey, egg, and butter 4 to 5 minutes, or until completely combined and smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot for1 hour.
- Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Turn out the dough and punch it down. Divide it in half. Roll each half into a 12-inch square, about 1/4-inch thick.
- Spread each square with honey butter, saving any leftover butter for spreading on top. Cut each square into 6 strips. Roll each strip into a coil and arrange seam-side down in the baking dish.
- Cover the dish and let the rolls rise 30 minutes, or until puffy. Alternatively, you can let the rolls rise in the refrigerator overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bake 18 to 25 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown. Remove from oven and spread with remaining honey butter. Pull apart and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Biscuits + Rolls, Bread, Christmas, Freezer-Friendly, Nut-Free, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian, Yeast Bread
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
these rolls give me all the comfort of a cinnamon roll, but I can eat this with any meal. thank you for sharing this versitile dish
AH-MAZING!! These were so easy to make and everyone loved them. I will make them again for Thanksgiving!
Yay! Glad the recipe was a success. They will be perfect for Thanksgiving :)
Made these last night! The kids loved unraveling them and I loved the flavor! So good!
Glad they were a hit with your family, Rebecca! Thanks for your comment and review :)