Emulsifier Free Classic Parker House Rolls
Soft, pillowy, and brushed with melted butter at every stage, these rolls are the kind of thing that disappears from the table before dinner is even served. The ingredient list is refreshingly straightforward — just flour, milk, egg, butter, yeast, sugar, and salt — so there's nothing hidden in here that could throw off someone avoiding emulsifiers. So many store-bought rolls and packaged baked goods rely on additives like lecithin or mono- and diglycerides to achieve that tender crumb, but this dough gets its incredible softness the old-fashioned way: through proper kneading and butter worked in gradually during mixing. The folding technique is what gives these rolls their signature look and those beautiful buttery layers inside. A final brush of melted butter straight out of the oven, plus an optional pinch of flaky sea salt, takes them completely over the top. Whether you're serving them alongside a holiday roast or just a weeknight soup, they bring serious bakery energy with nothing you'd need to second-guess.
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Learn more →Ingredients
12 servings
For the dough
- ½ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup warm water (105–110°f / 40–43°c)
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar, divided
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 1 large egg
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces
For brushing
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- flaky sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Warm the milk in a small saucepan over low heat until it just begins to steam, about 2–3 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool until it is warm to the touch but not hot (around 105–110°F / 40–43°C). Combine the warm milk and warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle the yeast and 1 tsp of the sugar over the liquid and let stand until foamy and fragrant, about 5–10 minutes.
- 2
Add the remaining sugar, flour, salt, and egg to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until a shaggy dough forms, about 2 minutes, then increase to medium speed and knead for 4 minutes.
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