Parker House rolls are a type of dinner roll that is commonly served at American restaurants. Soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet, these rolls make a tasty accompaniment to any meal. But with carbs and calories often being a concern, many wonder just how many calories are actually in a Parker House roll.
What is a Parker House roll?
A Parker House roll is a specific type of yeast roll that gets its name from the Parker House Hotel in Boston. The hotel’s restaurant claims to have invented the rolls in the late 1800s. Parker House rolls have a soft, pillowy texture on the inside and a thin, tender crust on the outside.
Traditional Parker House rolls are made by cutting a portion of yeast dough into small rounds. The rounds are folded in half, creating a pocket, and then gently pressed before being baked. This folding technique gives the rolls their signature shape and tender, flaky texture.
Ingredients in a basic Parker House roll recipe include:
- All-purpose flour
- Water
- Butter or vegetable shortening
- Sugar
- Salt
- Yeast
- Milk or eggs (optional)
The dough is slightly sweetened and enriched with fat, usually butter or shortening. Some recipes also add milk or eggs for extra richness and flavor. The rolls are brushed with butter before baking for a glossy, golden finish.
Calories in a Parker House roll
The number of calories in a Parker House roll can vary somewhat depending on the exact ingredients and recipe used. But most Parker House rolls provide around 100-150 calories per roll.
Here is the calorie breakdown for a typical Parker House roll (1 roll):
- Total Calories: 132
- Total Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 6mg
- Sodium: 158mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 23g
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 3g
- Protein: 3g
As you can see, the majority of calories in a Parker House roll comes from carbohydrates. Carbs provide about 92% of the calories, or 122 calories. The carbohydrate grams include both complex carbs from the flour as well as sugars naturally present in the ingredients.
Fat makes up a small amount of a Parker House roll’s calories. A single roll provides just 4 grams of total fat. Even though the dough contains butter or shortening, the small serving size keeps the fat content relatively low.
Protein accounts for only about 3 grams of the calories per roll. Most of the protein comes from the wheat flour rather than from extra protein-rich ingredients.
Parker House roll calories compared to other breads
Parker House rolls have a similar calorie count to many other popular yeast roll varieties. Here’s how they compare (1 roll):
| Roll type | Calories |
|---|---|
| Parker House roll | 132 |
| Dinner roll | 100 |
| Hamburger bun | 120 |
| Cloverleaf roll | 95 |
| Crescent roll | 110 |
| Brioche roll | 165 |
As you can see, most yeast rolls and buns contain 100-150 calories per standard serving. Parker House rolls are on the higher end since they contain added butter or shortening.
Here’s how Parker House rolls compare to sliced bread varieties:
| Bread type | Calories (1 slice) |
|---|---|
| Parker House roll | 132 |
| White bread | 75 |
| Whole wheat bread | 90 |
| Sourdough bread | 105 |
| Rye bread | 83 |
| Challah bread | 140 |
Compared to sliced breads, Parker House rolls tend to be higher in calories since they are smaller and more dense than standard bread slices. The added fat and sugar also increases their calorie density.
Ways to reduce calories in a Parker House roll
There are a few simple ways you can tweak the Parker House roll recipe to reduce the calories:
- Use whole wheat flour: Substituting 100% whole wheat or white whole wheat flour for some or all of the refined all-purpose flour can increase the fiber and nutrition.
- Reduce the butter/shortening: Cutting the amount of fat makes the rolls slightly less rich while lowering the calories and fat.
- Replace sugar with honey or maple syrup: Using a natural liquid sweetener instead of granulated sugar can reduce the total sugars.
- Increase the baking time: Baking the rolls 5-10 minutes longer creates a crispier crust which provides texture with fewer calories.
- Reduce oil for brushing: Brush rolls with milk or egg wash instead of oil or melted butter before baking.
- Fill the rolls: Stuffing rolls with fresh fruit, roasted veggies, or another filling adds nutrients and flavor.
With some simple substitutions like these, you can bring down the calories in a Parker House roll to around 100-120 per roll.
Healthy Parker House roll recipe ideas
Here are some ideas for lighter, more nutritious Parker House rolls:
Whole wheat Parker House rolls
Substitute up to half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour. Add a touch more liquid to account for whole wheat absorbing more moisture. Reduce butter to 1 tablespoon.
Honey wheat Parker House rolls
Replace 1/4 of the flour with white whole wheat flour and use 2 tablespoons honey instead of sugar. Brush rolls with milk wash before baking.
7-grain Parker House rolls
Use 1/4 cup blend of 7 whole grains in place of some all-purpose flour. Add seeds like poppy, sesame, or sunflower on top before baking for crunch.
Picked herb Parker House rolls
Brush rolls with mixture of 1 tablespoon melted butter, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh herbs like rosemary or chives, and 1 teaspoon lemon zest before baking.
Apple cinnamon Parker House rolls
Fill rolled out dough rounds with 1/2 teaspoon apple butter and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon before folding and baking.
Parker House roll nutrition facts
Here are the full nutrition facts for a standard Parker House roll, based on the averages for this type of roll:
| Nutrition Facts | 1 roll (35g) | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 132 | 7% |
| Total Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 9% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | |
| Cholesterol | 6mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 158mg | 7% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 23g | 9% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Total Sugars | 3g | |
| Protein | 3g |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
As you can see, a Parker House roll provides a good amount of carbs with some protein and fats as well. While not rich in fiber or protein, Parker House rolls can serve as an occasional treat in an overall balanced diet.
The bottom line
A single Parker House roll contains approximately 132 calories. The majority of calories come from carbohydrates, with smaller amounts of fat and protein. While Parker House rolls are slightly higher in calories than plain bread, there are easy ways to tweak the recipe to make a healthier version. When enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet, these tender, fluffy rolls can be a tasty addition to any meal.