Name: Parker House Rolls
Total time: 150 min
Ingredients: 1.5 cups all-purpose flour; 1.5 cups whole-wheat pastry flour; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 2.5 teaspoons instant yeast; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 large egg; 1 cup low-fat milk; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, divided; 2 tablespoons canola oil; 1 teaspoon flaky salt

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs 30 mins

Servings:

16

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Why Ingredients Matter

These buttery, slightly sweet dinner rolls originated at Boston's Parker House hotel in the 1870s—thus the name "Parker House Rolls." We tweaked a few ingredients to make them healthier but just as snatch-the-last-one delicious as the classic version.

Canola Oil

Parker House rolls are known for being rich and buttery. We substituted canola oil for some of the butter to cut back on saturated fat—without sacrificing tenderness. (We tried equal parts butter and oil, but found 2 parts butter to 1 part oil made for the best texture.)

Whole-Wheat Pastry Flour

We originally tested these rolls with white whole-wheat flour, but found that whole-wheat pastry flour—which is more finely milled—made them more pillowy and tender. Bonus: It has about three times the fiber compared to all-purpose white flour.

Low-Fat Milk

Adding milk instead of water lends a hint of sweetness to the rolls thanks to the natural sugars (lactose) it contains. The sugars in milk also cause a Maillard reaction—a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars—that helps make the rolls golden brown.

Instant Yeast

We like instant yeast because it works faster than active dry yeast and doesn't need to be bloomed first (which many bread recipes call for). Simply dump your packet of instant yeast in a bowl with the other ingredients and mix them all together.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups whole-wheat pastry flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 ½ teaspoons instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1 cup low-fat milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, divided
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon flaky salt

Directions

Place all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, sugar, yeast and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add egg, milk, 4 tablespoons butter and oil. Mix on low until a shaggy dough forms, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-low and continue mixing until smooth but still a bit sticky, about 7 minutes.
Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover and set aside until nearly doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch pan with cooking spray. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small bowl in the microwave.
Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll one piece of dough into a 12-by-6-inch rectangle. Drizzle and brush with 1/2 teaspoon of the melted butter. Fold in half lengthwise and cut into 4 pieces. Drizzle and brush again with another 1/2 teaspoon butter, then fold each piece in half again to create a roll about 1 1/2 inches square. Transfer the rolls to the prepared baking dish. Repeat with the remaining dough. Brush the rolls with the remaining butter and sprinkle with flaky salt. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
Bake the rolls until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

156	Calories
7g	Fat
20g	Carbs
4g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 16
Serving Size 1 roll
Calories 156
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 20g	7%
Dietary Fiber 2g	7%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 4g	8%
Total Fat 7g	9%
Saturated Fat 3g	15%
Cholesterol 24mg	8%
Vitamin A 180IU	4%
Sodium 303mg	13%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.