Subscribe Now! National Geographic Magazine $15
Visit our Online Shops

Sign up for free

Newsletters

Once a month
get new photos
and expert tips.

Boston Recipe: Parker House Roll Part of the Places of a Lifetime series from Traveler magazine

The Omni Parker House Hotel shares the secret of the Parker House’s trademark light and puffy yeast rolls.

THIS ARTICLE IS FROM
Photo: Traveler magazine cover

National Geographic Traveler

Save 74% and experience new destinations!

Ingredients:

6 cups all-purpose flour (about)
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 packages active dry yeast
1 cup margarine or butter (2 sticks), softened
1 large egg

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups flour, sugar, salt, and yeast; add 1/2 cup margarine or butter (1 stick). With mixer at low speed, gradually pour two cups hot tap water (120-130°F, 49-54°C) into dry ingredients. Add egg; increase speed to medium; beat two minutes, scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Beat in 3/4 cup flour or enough to make a thick batter; continue beating two minutes, occasionally scraping bowl. With spoon, stir in enough additional flour (about 2 1/2 cups) to make a soft dough.

Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about ten minutes, working in more flour (about 1/2 cup) while kneading. Shape dough into a ball and place in greased large bowl, turning over so that top of dough is greased. Cover with towel; let rise in warm place (80-85°F, 27-29°C) until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours. (Dough is doubled when two fingers pressed into dough leave a dent.

Punch down dough by pushing down the center or dough with fist, then pushing edges of dough into center. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead lightly to make smooth ball, cover with bowl for 15 minutes, and let dough rest.

Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). In 17 1/4-inch-by-11 1/2-inch roasting pan, over low heat, melt remaining 1/2 cup margarine or butter; tilt pan to grease bottom. On lightly floured surface with floured rolling pin, roll dough 1/2 inch thick. With floured 2 3/4-inch round cutter, cut dough into circles. Holding dough circle by the edge, dip both sides into melted margarine or butter pan; fold in half. Arrange folded dough in rows in pans, each nearly touching the other. Cover pan with towel; let dough rise in warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes.

Bake rolls for 15 to 18 minutes until browned.

Servings: Approximately 42 rolls.

More Boston Recipes:

Boston Multimedia

Know Before You Go: Boston

Related Features

Photo: Athenaeum

Photo Gallery: All-American Boston

Explore Boston, a revolutionary city with something to offer every visitor.

Photo: Customs House Tower

Best of Boston

From the best hotels to where to eat, all the information you need to know before you take your trip to Boston.

Photo: Veiled woman

See Photo Galleries From Around the Globe

Let the photographers of National Geographic introduce you to the people and cultures of the world. Download free wallpapers, screensavers, and more.

All About Boston

All Places of a Lifetime

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Photo: El Capitan and the Merced River

Contest Winner Announced!

8 finalists and 3600 votes later... Find who was voted the “Ultimate” photographer!

Photo: The Cloud Gate in Chicago

Download City Guides

Check out the local hotspots with downloadable city guides.

right-rail

Subscribe to National Geographic Traveler

Photo: Traveler magazine cover

Get 8 issues for $10! Save 74% with our best price online.

Subscribe to National Geographic Adventure

Photo: Adventure magazine cover

Order one year of action-packed exploration and adventure for only $10! Save 79% with our best price online.

Travel Guides

Photo: Travel guides

National Geographic brings over a century of incomparable travel expertise to today's sophisticated globe-trotters.