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Cloveleaf Dinner Rolls Recipe

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3.9 from 9 reviews

  • Author: Sara
  • Total Time: 2 hours 7 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings

Description

These classic Cloverleaf Rolls are soft, buttery, and fluffy dinner rolls made from a yeast dough enriched with milk, butter, and eggs. Perfectly portioned in a muffin tin, each roll is formed from three small dough balls to create a charming cloverleaf shape. Ideal for holiday dinners or weeknight meals, they’re brushed with a golden egg wash for a beautiful shiny finish and finished with melted butter for extra flavor.

Ingredients

Dough Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups milk (warm, not hot)
  • ¾ stick butter (6 tablespoons, at room temperature)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
  • 1 large egg (at room temperature)
  • 3 ¾ cups bread flour (plus more if needed)
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For Baking and Finishing

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 egg yolk
  • Butter (melted, to brush on tops of rolls when they come out of the oven)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm milk, room temperature butter, granulated sugar, instant yeast, and the whole large egg. Attach the paddle attachment and mix until the ingredients are mostly combined, leaving some small pieces of butter intact.
  2. Knead the Dough: Add the bread flour and salt, then mix on low until mostly combined. Increase the mixer speed and knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough remains very sticky around 5 to 7 minutes, gradually add more flour as needed.
  3. First Rise: Remove the dough from the mixer and set it aside briefly. Spray the mixing bowl or a larger bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Place the dough back into the bowl, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
  4. Preheat Oven and Prepare Muffin Tin: Once the dough has doubled, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and spray a 12-count standard muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
  5. Shape the Cloverleaf Rolls: Turn the risen dough out onto a clean, lightly floured surface and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Then divide each of these pieces into 3 smaller pieces. Roll each small piece into a smooth ball and place three balls together into each muffin tin compartment, forming the characteristic cloverleaf shape. Lightly spray a piece of plastic wrap and loosely cover the muffin tin.
  6. Second Rise: Allow the shaped rolls to rise again until they are visibly puffy but not doubled in size, about 10 to 15 minutes.
  7. Make Egg Wash: While the rolls rise, whisk together the egg yolk and 3 tablespoons of milk to create an egg wash.
  8. Brush and Bake: Gently brush the tops of the rolls with the egg wash to give them a beautiful golden color. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
  9. Cool and Finish: Let the rolls cool in the muffin tin for 10 minutes. If desired, brush the tops with melted butter for extra richness. Transfer the rolls to a cooling rack to cool slightly before serving.
  10. Serve and Enjoy: Serve the warm cloverleaf rolls with butter, honey, or your favorite jam for a delicious accompaniment to any meal.

Notes

  • Ensure milk is warm, not hot, to properly activate the yeast.
  • If dough is sticky during kneading, add flour very gradually to avoid drying out the dough.
  • Covering the dough during rising creates a warm, humid environment that helps yeast activity.
  • The egg wash gives the rolls a glossy, golden finish.
  • Brushing the rolls with melted butter after baking adds flavor and keeps them soft.
  • Try serving these rolls fresh on the day they’re made for the best texture.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://sarabaking.com/cloveleaf-dinner-rolls-recipe/