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This Salted Honey Parker House Rolls recipe is the perfect way to make gourmet bread rolls that are guaranteed to impress! These fluffy and light Parker House rolls are brushed with honey butter and a sprinkling of flakey sea salt – perfect for Thanksgiving and other holiday meals!

Overhead shot of a pile of Honey & Brown Butter Parker House Rolls in a linen lined iron basket with a ramekin of honey butter off to the side of the basket.

Update: This recipe was originally published in November 2015. I made updates to the article below to include more information about making Parker house rolls with honey butter at home.

Table of Contents

About these honey butter rolls

Salted Honey Parker House Rolls are all about the wow-factor! These rectangular rolls are made with dry activated yeast that guarantees a great rise and fluffy texture. The dough is shaped and folded over, resembling a pocketbook which makes it all that much easier to pull apart at the dinner table!

Once baked, these Parker House rolls are brushed with melted honey butter and topped with a light sprinkling of flaky sea salt. Serve them warm with your choice of soup, chili, stew, roast, or barbecue-grilled meats – the options are endless, and I’m salivating, so let’s get to it!

Why you’ll love this recipe 

Honey butter rolls recipe is pull-apart delicious and goes with almost any meal any time of year! Here’s why you’re going to love it:

  • Best texture! These sweet honey rolls are perfectly soft and tender. 
  • Easy to make. This honey butter roll recipe is straightforward – great for beginners!
  • Irresistible! The dinner rolls with honey and flakey sea salt are fluffy and light, with a perfect balance of sweet and salty. 
  • Perfect for making ahead. The dough can be made and shaped the night before and stored in the fridge or freezer, ready for baking when convenient for you!

What is a parker house roll? 

A parker house roll is simply a type of bread roll made by folding an individual, small piece of dough in half, or thirds. Parker house rolls are made with whole milk and have a characteristically butter, soft interior with a slightly sweet, crisp exterior.

Where did they originate?

Parker house rolls were invented in Boston at the Parker House Hotel during the 1870’s. The actual story of their creation has multiple variations, but all of them involve a pastry cook tossing unfinished rolls into an oven, which resulted in a dented appearance.

Overhead shot of all the ingredients needed to make Honey & Brown Butter Parker House Rolls neatly organized on a gray wooden surface with the names of each ingredient written out.

Ingredients for salted honey parker house rolls

The ingredients for this Parker Roll recipe are easy to source. In fact, most of them are likely to be waiting for you in your pantry! Here’s what you’ll need:

Parkerhouse style rolls

  • Whole milk – Bring the milk to room temperature to reduce the warming time in preparation for activating the dry yeast.  
  • Active dry yeast – You’ll need an ounce package of active dry yeast. 
  • Granulated sugar –  The sugar provides a boost to the yeast so that the honey butter dinner rolls rise. What isn’t used up tenderizes the honey dinner rolls by preventing the gluten from forming.
  • Unsalted butter – Melted and left to reach room temperature. Omit the kosher salt if you use salted butter in this Parker Rolls recipe.
  • Honey – Feel free to use any brand you prefer. This is added to melted butter to brush over the baked honey Parker rolls.
  • All-purpose flour – More for dusting the surface of your work surface. 
  • Eggs – Bring to room temperature. You’ll need 1 whole egg and 2 egg yolks. 
  • Kosher salt – Omit if using salted butter in this Parker House rolls recipe
  • Flakey sea salt – To taste. This is sprinkled on top of the freshly baked rolls. 
    • Substitution: Kosher salt can be sprinkled over the tops of the Parker House yeast rolls if you don’t have flakey sea salt. 

Recipe variations

  • Gluten Free. Use your favorite gluten-free flour to make gluten-free honey butter yeast rolls. However, make sure you select a flour that can be used in a 1:1 substitution.
  • Yeast. I’ve used active dry yeast for this Parker House roll recipe which gets activated in the heated milk before being added to the dry ingredients. You could use instant yeast that is added straight to the dry ingredients if you are concerned about the activating yeast process.  
  • Cooking method. I love how these honey butter dinner rolls turned out in the oven, but they can also be cooked in a slow cooker. Add the rolls to the prepared slow cooker pot and cook on HIGH for about 2 hours. Depending on the size of your slow cooker, you may need to cook them in batches, especially since the shape of these rolls differs from traditional rounded dinner rolls. 
Overhead shot of a sheet pan of pull apart Honey & Brown Butter Parker House Rolls with a ramekin of honey and butter off to the side of the pan.

Expert tips for making the best parker house roll recipe 

  • Dry Active Yeast. You can tell if your dry active yeast is “alive” if it bubbles when added to the warmed milk. If it doesn’t have any form of reaction then it’s dead and you’ll need to use a new packet. 
  • Flour. Use your better judgment when it comes to adding more flour to the stand mixer. If the dough is still sticking to the sides of the bowl, you’ll need to add more flour so that it starts to pull away from the sides to form a ball. 
  • Oiled bowl. You need to grease the inside of the bowl with butter or non-stick cooking spray to add the dough back to rest. This helps prevent the dough from sticking to the bowl while doubling in volume.  
  • Prepared baking sheet. Butter the baking sheet to create extra flavor in these salted butter rolls. 

FAQs: frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between Parker house rolls and dinner rolls? 

The biggest difference between Parker House rolls and dinner rolls is the shape! Parker House rolls are rectangular with the dough being folded over like a pocketbook, while dinner rolls are typically round in shape, like puffy balls. 

How to fold and shape parker house rolls?

There are a few different methods to folding a shaping parker house rolls depending on the recipe you follow. While some methods call for cutting the dough into rounds and folding them slightly off center, this Honey & Brown Butter Parker House Rolls recipe is for easy sheet pan, pull apart style rolls.

To fold and shape parker house rolls, first you will cut the dough into long strips. Next, you fold each strip of dough slightly off center in half, so that the top part slightly overlaps the bottom. Last, you tuck the overhanging dough underneath (almost like folding an uneven letter).

You can see the photos below for step-by-step how to cut, fold and shape parker house rolls.

Is it better to butter rolls before or after baking?

You can brush the rolls with melted butter before or after baking. If you’re looking for that beautiful golden brown color on the top of your rolls, brushing the rolls with egg wash just before baking is the way to go!

How do you make rolls taste more yeasty?

Allowing the dough to sit for longer will result in a stronger yeast flavor. If that’s what you’re after, simply make the dough ahead of time.

Should I brush yeast rolls before baking?

Yes. If you want a golden finish, brush yeast rolls with egg wash before baking. 

Can you over knead yeast rolls?

Yes, it’s possible. If the dough becomes tough to manage, it may be an indication that you have over-kneaded it. 

Can I make parkerhouse rolls ahead of time?

You can absolutely make this parker house rolls recipe ahead of time.

To make parker house rolls in advance, make the rolls, allow them to rise and then form them into their traditional “parker roll” shape (step 9 of the Honey & Brown Butter Parker House Rolls recipe below). From there you can either refrigerate them on the prepared baking sheet, covered, for up to 24 hours. Or, you can freeze them for up to 1 month.

If working with refrigerated parker house rolls, let them stand at room temperature for 45 minutes to an hour before baking. If using frozen, unbaked parker house rolls, let the rolls thaw on a prepared baking sheet for 2 1/2 hours before baking.

Overhead shot of how to cut Parker House Roll dough (step 7 in the recipe for Honey & Brown Butter Parker House Rolls)

Serving parker roll recipe

Brush each roll with the honey butter and sprinkle flakey sea salt over the tops of the rolls. These rolls are best enjoyed warm from the oven! 

Serving suggestions

These light and fluffy salted honey Parker House rolls can be served with just about any meal, for any occasion, and time of year! Of course, there are many specific dishes I recommend you serve the Parker House rolls with, some of which I’ve listed below:

Serve these scrumptious pull-apart honey yeast rolls with bread olive oil dipping sauce, homemade Garlic Butter, soup, stew, chili, grilled meat, pasta, fried chicken, or pork! There’s no shortage of what you could pair these Parker House rolls with! 

As far as family dinners go, these parker rolls are perfect for pairing with anything super saucy. Think: baked italian sausage ziti, meatball bake, and spaghetti with mushroom sauce. However, it also tastes great with pulled pork and carolina bbq sauce or peach bbq sauce.

If you’re serving these parker style rolls for the holidays, try serving them with stuffing with croissants, this stuffing recipe with chestnuts, a Thanksgiving turkey, lemon and garlic roasted chicken, or rib roast, and your favorite casserole recipes, like cauliflower casseroles, corn casseroles, spinach casseroles, or brussel sprout au gratin casseroles.

Straight on collage shots of how to shape and fold Parker House Rolls (step 8 in the recipe for Honey & Brown Butter Parker House Rolls)

Storing leftovers

Store leftover baked salted honey butter parker house rolls in an airtight container, wrapped with foil, plastic wrap, or sealed in an airtight bag with all excess air removed at room temperature for up to 5 days.  Make sure th

Freezing instructions

You can freeze parker house rolls either unbaked or baked.

  • To freeze the dough, simply follow the recipe instructions – making, shaping, and folding the rolls. Next, arrange the parker rolls onto a parchment lined baking pan according to the recipe directions. Finally, wrap the baking pan a couple times in plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 3 weeks. Bake the rolls from frozen according to the instructions in the recipe.
  • For freezing baked rolls, let the dinner rolls cool completely to room temperature. Then transfer all the rolls to a freezer-safe resealable storage bag. Store in the freezer for up to 1 month.
  • When you want to reheat frozen parker house rolls, allow them to thaw for 1 hour on a baking sheet at room temperature. Then, warm them in an oven preheated to 300 degrees F for 15-22 minutes, or until warm throughout.

Get ready to seriously impress your family and guests this Thanksgiving or any holiday with these superb Salted Honey Parker House Rolls. They’re so good, I can’t promise there’ll be any leftovers!

Cheyanne

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Overhead shot of a sheet pan of pull apart Honey & Brown Butter Parker House Rolls with a ramekin of honey and butter off to the side of the pan.

Honey Butter Parker House Rolls

5 from 8 votes
Author: Cheyanne Holzworth
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Prep Time: 50 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Rise Time: 2 hours
Servings: 24 rolls
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Learn how to make perfectly soft and tender parker house rolls right at home with this straightforward dinner rolls recipe. Fluffy, light and generously brushed with salted honey butter, these honey butter rolls are impossible to resist!

Equipment

  • 1 1-Cup Glass Measure (for heating 1/2 cup of milk)
  • 1 Stand Mixer with Hook Attachment (for making Parker House Rolls)
  • 1 Small mixing bowl (for making honey butter)

Ingredients 

Instructions

Make the Dough

  • Bloom Yeast: Measure ½ cup of whole milk in a glass measure and warm the milk to a temperature between 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit using the microwave or a small pot and the stove top. Sprinkle the yeast and sugar into the glass measure and then whisk to combine. Set the yeast aside and let bloom for 1-2 minutes on the kitchen counter. (Note: The yeast mixture should bubble and foam slightly – this indicated your yeast is alive. If the yeast does nothing, then your yeast is “dead” and you need to start over with a new package of yeast.)
  • Start Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment, add 12 tablespoons of melted butter and the remaining 2 cups of room temperature milk. Turn the mixer on to LOW and mix until combined. Stop the mixer and add the whole egg, 2 egg yolks, and 2 tablespoons honey. Mix on LOW until combined.
    Add Yeast: Stop the mixer and use a rubber spatula to scrape all the bloomed yeast mixture into the bowl. Mix on LOW until combined. Stop the mixer and add 6 ½ cups of flour and 1 tablespoon kosher salt to the bowl. Start mixing on LOW and slowly increase the speed to MEDIUM; beat until the dough starts to form a ball and pull away from the sides of the bowl, about 2-3 minutes. If the dough is wet and sticking to the bowl, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and forms a ball.
    (Note: You may need to add up to ½ cup (or 8 tablespoons) more flour. Use your best judgement.)
  • Let Dough Rise: Dump the dough out onto a clean work surface. Brush the inside of bowl with softened butter or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place the dough back into the (now oiled) bowl. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 2 to 2 ½ hours, or until the dough doubles in volume.

While Dough Rises, Make the Honey Butter

  • Melt Butter and Add Honey: Add the remaining ¼ cup butter to a small microwave safe bowl. Place in the microwave and heat on 50% power until melted. Remove the bowl from the microwave and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of honey. Whisk well to combine. Set aside.
    (Note: You can melt the butter in a small saucepan if you prefer.)

Shape and Fold Rolls

  • Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375-degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
  • Shape Dough: Dust a clean work surface with flour and then lightly flour your hands. Next, gently dump the dough out onto the floured surface. Use your hands to gently press the dough into a 16×8-inch rectangle, approximately ½ to ¾-inch thick. DO NOT USE A ROLLING PIN.
  • Cut Dough: Arrange the dough rectangle so that the short end is closest to you. Carefully rub the sides of a sharp knife with flour to prevent the dough from sticking. Cut the dough in half lengthwise. Next, slice each half into 12 equal size strips (you should have 24 strips of dough total.)
  • Fold Parker House Rolls: Working with one strip of dough at a time, fold the strip UN-EVENLY in half, so that the top part overlaps the bottom slightly. Next, tuck the overhanging dough all the way underneath the roll (almost like you are folding a business letter unevenly).
  • Arrange Rolls: Transfer the folded roll to the prepared baking sheet, arranging them seam-side-down and TOUCHING to form three tightly packed columns of rolls.

Bake Rolls

  • Bake: Transfer the rolls to the middle shelf in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden and slightly bursting at the seams.
  • Brush with Butter: Immediately remove the rolls from the oven and brush the tops generously with honey butter. Sprinkle flakey sea salt all over the rolls.
  • Serve: Serve and enjoy honey butter parker rolls warm from the oven.

Notes

  • Make ahead: To make these rolls ahead, make and shape the dough the night before (complete the recipe through step 9). Wrap the shaped and folded (unbaked) rolls on the baking sheet in plastic wrap twice. Store in the freezer for up to 3 weeks. Bake from frozen using these instructions:
    • Preheat oven to 325-degrees Fahrenheit
    • Bake rolls for 25 minutes
    • After 25 minutes, keep the oven door closed and increase the oven temperature to 375-degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Continue to bake the rolls for an additional 10 minutes, or until golden brown and slightly bursting at seams.
    • Remove rolls from oven, brush with honey butter, sprinkle with salt, and enjoy!
  • Recipe Yields: 24 Rolls
Nutritional information is an estimate based upon 24 servings. Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcal    Carbohydrates: 35g    Protein: 5g    Fat: 9g    Saturated Fat: 5g    Cholesterol: 37mg    Sodium: 332mg    Potassium: 90mg    Fiber: 1g    Sugar: 4g    Vitamin A: 290IU    Calcium: 34mg    Iron: 1.9mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

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This recipe for Honey Butter Parker House Rolls was adapted from the recipe by Alex Guarnaschelli @ Food Network

Angled shot of a sheet pan of pull apart Honey & Brown Butter Parker House Rolls with a hand brushing honey butter on top of the rolls and a ramekin of butter off to the side.