• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers & Dips
    • Bakery Recipes
    • Bars & Brownie Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Brunch & Breakfast Recipes
    • Cakes, Cupcakes & Cheesecakes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Condiments & Sauces
    • Cookies & Crackers
    • Desserts
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Grains & Legumes
    • Muffins and Quick Breads
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pies & Tarts
    • Readers' Favorite Recipes
  • Collections
    • Freezer Friendly
    • Heritage Recipes
    • Seasonal Recipes
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
    • Vintage Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • St. Patrick's Day
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
  • Basic recipes
  • About this blog
    • The author
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility statement

Vintage Kitchen Notes logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • ALL RECIPES
  • Holidays
  • Seasonal
  • Vintage
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ALL RECIPES
    • Holidays
    • Seasonal
    • Vintage
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Bread Recipes

    Published: Sep 29, 2020 · Modified: Oct 28, 2020 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliate links 14 Comments

    Parker House Rolls (no-knead recipe!)

    Jump to Recipe
    Golden dinner rolls with white, orange and brown text and overlay
    Dinner rolls close-up image with brown text

    When it comes to dinner rolls that are easy, buttery, incredibly delicious, made from scratch, this is the recipe you were waiting for. It's only a matter of mixing and rolling, there's NO KNEADING at all! There is waiting time as the yeast does her magic and the results are out of this world good! I keep these rolls frozen and also use them for sandwiches.

    Close-up of golden parker house rolls  on a cloth in a wooden bowl

    Sometimes our holiday tables or everyday dinners need gorgeous dinner rolls, the kind that are soft and versatile, that can be kept in the freezer and reheated to order. I have a soft spot for the Beer Bread Rolls, a fantastic recipe that is adaptable and simple. But the recipe today can even trump that one. The nerve, I know. Also, the French Bread recipe competes in this category, the second no-knead one I posted here.

    Why? Because there's no need for small appliances or fancy gadgets. A bowl, a spoon, a rolling pin and you're set to go. You only need to mix the ingredients together until you have a thick batter, sort of a drop scone mixture. So easy!

    Top view of rectangular wire rack with golden dinner rolls of different sizes
    Table of Contents Hide
    Ingredients
    Easy steps from scratch
    Rolls and sandwich buns
    Frequently asked questions
    Related recipes you might like:
    Parker House Rolls (no-knead recipe!)

    Ingredients

    From the image below you can see that they are everyday staples, and I bet you have them all in your kitchen right now.

    • Butter: these are buttery rolls, so use the best brand you can afford. Unsalted is my favorite as I like to control how much salt goes into my bread.
    • Yeast: I use dry (instant or active dry) and add it directly to the flour. It's the easiest way. But fresh also works. You'll find how to use the latter in the instructions in the recipe card.
    • Water-milk: you can use all water (from the tap or use bottled water if you like) or you can use some milk (which will make them richer and denser). If your yeast was in the fridge and you're using it directly, use warm water. NOT hot as it will diminish the strength of the yeast.
    • Flour: all-purpose or bread flour, both work well.
    Several bowls on a white table with ingredients for butter dinner rolls

    Easy steps from scratch

    These rolls are so easy to make!

    You can use all water, as shown in the video below 👇🏻, or use some milk as explained in the recipe card at the end of this post.

    How to make parker house rolls

    Rolls and sandwich buns

    I realized that this recipe makes outstanding buttery buns for sandwiches and even burgers. Simply place the cut rounds of dough in a buttered pan and bake them.

    Make-ahead: you can make a large batch and freeze until you need them. It's a great way to have buns ready at all times.

    Cutting rounds from rolled dough on a white floured surface
    A peak of linen napkin holding mound of golden bread rolls

    Frequently asked questions

    Why are they called Parker House rolls?

    The recipe originated in the 1800s in a hotel called Parker House located in Boston. This was a common thing, naming dished after the place where they were created. A supposedly angry baker threw a batch in the oven and out emerged these buttery beauties we know today.

    How to store or keep them?

    They are best eaten in the few hours after they are baked. For longer storing wrap and refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for up to a month. Warm before eating, see following question 👇🏻

    How to reheat the rolls?

    Place in a medium oven (about 325°F) for about 8-10 minutes. The same goes for frozen rolls, but it will take longer.

    Can I freeze them unbaked?

    Yes, you can! And you should do it after the first rising. I recommend directly in the pan, already formed, and well covered. Let thaw at room temperature and let get puffy again before you bake them.

    Small dinner rolls stacked on a white cloth

    Related recipes you might like:

    • Grey background with loaf of bread with sliced on a wooden board.
      Semolina Bread Recipe
    • Close up of golden French bread on metal sheet pan
      No-Knead Baguette Recipe
    • Sliced and half loaf of bread and hamburger buns on a white kitchen towel.
      Whole Wheat Oatmeal Bread (rolls, buns, and loaf)
    • Small buns with white cross on top on a wire rack
      Easy Hot Cross Buns Recipe

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
    And let's connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

    Print
    clockclock iconcutlerycutlery iconflagflag iconfolderfolder iconinstagraminstagram iconpinterestpinterest iconfacebookfacebook iconprintprint iconsquaressquares iconheartheart iconheart solidheart solid icon
    On a linen napkin several golden dinner rolls

    Parker House Rolls (no-knead recipe!)

    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    When it comes to dinner rolls that are easy, buttery, incredibly delicious, made from scratch, this is the recipe you were waiting for. It's only a matter of mixing and rolling, there's NO KNEADING at all! There is waiting time as the yeast does her magic and the results are out of this world good! I keep these rolls frozen and also use them for sandwiches.

    • Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
    • Yield: 30

    Ingredients

    • 1 packet (0.25 ounces or 7g) dry yeast 
    • 1 cup (230g) warm water 
    • ½ cup (115g) milk, warmed
    • 5 cups (700g) all-purpose or bread flour 
    • 4 tablespoons (50g) sugar 
    • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
    • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and warm
    • 2 eggs, at room temperature
    • Extras: melted butter and flour

    Instructions

    1. In a bowl put ⅔ of the total amount of flour, make a hole in the middle and add the yeast, sugar, and half of the water.
    2. With a wooden spoon mix until everything is moistened.  
    3. Add the salt, melted butter, and the eggs. Mix well.
    4. Add the rest of the flour (in 2 parts for easier mixing), milk and remaining water and mix everything until it looks like a thick paste similar to drop scones. 
    5. Mix energetically until everything is well integrated, especially the eggs, make sure there's no visible egg white left. It is very wet and looks like a very thick pancake batter.
    6. Leave the dough in the bowl and brush with top with melted butter, covering the entire surface.
    7. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, 1 hour to 1 ½ hours.
    8. Generously flour a table or surface and dump the dough. 
    9. Flatten it in a rectangle and flour the top.
    10. Roll with a rolling pin until it’s no more than half an inch (1cm approx.) 
    11. Cut rounds with a cookie cutter. 

    Forming the rolls:

    1. For traditional parker house rolls: take a round of dough, stretch from both ends a little to make it slightly oval, dip half in melted butter, fold in the middle, and put on buttered baking sheets with the butter side up. 
    2. For sandwiches: put on buttered pans, put the rounds of dough. Brush them with melted butter.
    3. In both cases, cover and leave to rise for about 30 minutes, until they puff up a bit.
    4. Meanwhile, turn the oven to 400°F / 200 ° C.
    5. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown and dry. 

    Notes

    Butter: these are buttery rolls, so use the best brand you can afford. Unsalted is my favorite as I like to control how much salt goes into my bread. 

    Yeast: I use dry (instant or active dry) and add it directly to the flour. It's the easiest way. But fresh also works. For fresh yeast, use triple the amount (21g in this case)

    Water-milk: you can use all water (from the tap or use bottled water if you like) or you can use some milk (which will make them richer and denser). If your yeast was in the fridge and you're using it directly, use warm water. NOT hot as it will diminish the strength of the yeast. 

    Flour: all-purpose or bread flour, both work well. 

    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 20
    • Resting time: 120
    • Cook Time: 20
    • Category: Bread
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1/30
    • Calories: 116
    • Sugar: 1.8 g
    • Sodium: 124 mg
    • Fat: 3.6 g
    • Carbohydrates: 17.8 g
    • Protein: 2.8 g
    • Cholesterol: 20.6 mg

    Keywords: parker house rolls

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vintagekitchenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagekitchenblog

    Adapted from Sister Schubert's Bread Recipes

    More Bread Recipes

    • Top view of sliced and half round of whole wheat bread on a dark wood board on a grey surface.
      Irish Brown Bread
    • Baked Irish soda bread with raisins on a wooden board with kitchen towel in the background.
      Irish Soda Bread with Raisins
    • Round wire rack with slices and half loaf of soda bread; green and white kitchen towel in the background.
      Easy Irish Soda Bread (4 ingredients!)
    • 100% Whole Wheat Bread

    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Thank you for leaving a review for this recipe Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Grandma'sDarling says

      March 13, 2021 at 11:45 pm

      This recipe worked up beautifully. Simple instructions. My Mom and I had fun reliving her mother's baking days. A shared experience with a buttery finish Thank you

      Reply
      • Paula Montenegro says

        March 14, 2021 at 7:04 am

        So glad to hear that! We love them here also.

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Person with apron and tray of scones

    Hi, I'm Paula!

    A baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe finder, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    More about me →

    Featured in:

    Several colorful logos on white canvas

    Popular recipes

    • Shortbread fingers stacked on white surface
      The Best Lemon Shortbread
    • A white bowl with peach dump cake, blue spoon
      Peach Dump Cake
    • Easy No Bake Lemon Dessert
    • White plate with two wedges of roasted pumpkin, white background, herbs, forks, salt.
      Easy Roasted Pumpkin
    • Purple bowl with almond cream being lifted with a silver spoon. Grey and white surface and background.
      Frangipane (almond cream) with video!
    • Lifting a slice of ricotta cheesecake from the whole cake on a white plate with a silver knife. White background.
      Easy Ricotta Cheesecake

    Fruit desserts

    • Serving of apple berry crumble in a white bowl. Hands holding it. Teal background.
      Apple Berry Crumble
    • Close up of chocolate cherry dump cake serving in a white bowl.
      Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
    • White round dish with peach crisp and silver spoon
      Easy Peach Crumble (or crisp)
    • White plate with square of apple crumb bar with ice cream. Green cloth in the background.
      Easy Apple Crumb Bars

    Footer

    About

    The author
    Privacy Policy
    Amazon Associate
    Cookie Policy
    Accessibility

    Contact

    Sign Up! for emails and updates
    Contact


    Copyright © 2022 Vintage Kitchen Notes