Classic, old fashioned cloverleaf rolls are definitely one of my favorite types of dinner rolls to bring to the table. They're light and fluffy, buttery, and slightly sweet plus you can pull them apart so that there are more inside edges to hold all of that melting butter. Perfect with a bowl of potato soup on a chilly day!
If you don't have much experience with yeast baking these are a great place to start - you might also want to read through my guide to homemade bread baking for the answers to any questions you might have. This post is updated from the August 2008 version. Last update March 6, 2020.
For this recipe you'll need: all purpose flour, yeast, sugar, milk, egg, butter, salt
Remember?
When I was growing up we always had the kind of cloverleaf rolls that you buy at the store and brown in your oven -- and only on holidays. I was always happy to stack a couple on my plate when they were passed. To steal a phrase from one of my sons - I thought they were the bombdiggity with two scoops of koo koo kachoo. Well I did right up until the fateful day I found out you can make them from scratch!
OMG -- they were so much better that I was totally hooked.
These are an easy roll to make and most people really like them because the shape is so...home. There is just something about light, buttery rolls that makes you think of chilly days, pot roast, and apple pie -- or is that just me?
I've made them with all kinds of variations. I've used whole wheat flour, half whole wheat flour, honey... you name it. All of the variations are delicious but I keep coming back to the basic, old fashioned cloverleaf roll. I don't know -- there's just something about them that's perfect.
When you pull it open the fragrance of sweet, yeast bread surrounds you. The crumb is small and delicate and one look tells you just how good that first bite is going to be. I usually have to "test" one before they get to the table -- after all what if they were terrible?
But they never are.
Copycat brown and serve rolls
You can even make your own brown and serve type rolls with this recipe. Just follow these easy steps -
- Bake them about 8 minutes, or until they are done but haven't started to brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Put them on a cookie sheet and freeze until they are frozen solid.
- Store them in the freezer in airtight containers until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve just put the frozen rolls on a cookie sheet and bake them at 375F until golden - about 5 minutes.
Wear pearls and high heels to dinner. You'll feel just like Mrs. Cleaver.
Instructions
You'll shape the rolls after the first rising and the technique couldn't be easier. Here's what I do -
- Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces. For exact results weigh each piece of dough and make sure it weighs close to the same.
- Divide each piece in 3 equal pieces.
- Roll into balls.
- Butter 24 muffin cups.
- Dip each piece of dough in melted butter and place three balls in each muffin cup.
- When they rise they form the clover. If you want you can even use two kinds of dough like white and dark whole wheat -- it looks pretty cool.
- Brush with melted butter.
- Bake.
- Brush with melted butter.
See? Easy as pie.
FAQs
How long do you bake them?
Cloverleaf rolls go in the oven for 12 minutes or so.
How do you make them fluffy?
It's not hard to make light, fluffy rolls ... when you know how -
- Use whole milk for the liquid.
- Make sure the dough is kneaded well and rises properly before baking.
- Follow the recipe carefully.
- Don't overbake.
- Brush the tops with melted butter and cover them with a clean tea towel when they come out of the oven to keep them soft.
Variations
These basic dinner rolls have numerous variations. Here are some of my favorites -
- Substitute whole wheat flour for half the white flour called for. Remove 1 tablespoon of flour from each cup and replace it with 1 tablespoon of gluten to keep the rolls soft.
- Dip the dough balls in melted butter mixed with garlic, Italian herbs mix, or even chili powder before putting them in the muffin tins.
- Use a light vegetable oil or melted coconut oil in place of the butter to make them vegan.
- When making the dough balls push your finger into each one to make a hole. Insert a mini-marshmallow that has been rolled in cinnamon sugar. Form the dough ball around the marshmallow to enclose it completely. Bake as directed.
- If you're gluten free try this quick and easy, no rise gluten free yeast rolls recipe from Gluten Free on a Shoestring.
Equipment
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I love Nordic Ware - that's not a surprise to anyone. The quality of their pans is amazing - they last forever. I love these nonstick muffin tins with handles. It works great with these dinner rolls!
Related recipes
I love to make all kinds of breads and rolls so I have a pretty large number of recipes here on Restless Chipotle. Here are some of my favorites -
- English muffin bread
- Whole wheat rolls
- Buttermilk honey bread (this makes great rolls, too)
- Cinnamon rolls
- White Chocolate Hot Cross Buns
- Vienna Rolls
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Old Fashioned Cloverleaf Rolls
Print Add to CollectionIngredients
- 2 packages yeast
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 1/2 cups warm milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg, , room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, , melted - divided use
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a bowl dissolve the yeast in the warm water with 1 teaspoon of sugar.
- Set aside for 5 minutes and allow to foam up.
- Beat in milk, 1/2 cup sugar, egg, 1/4 cup of the butter and salt.
- Add 2 cups of flour and beat until smooth.
- Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
- Turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth about 6-8 minutes (or knead in your stand mixer according to manufacturer's instructions)
- Put the dough in a greased bowl. grease the top and cover it.
- Allow to rise in a warm spot for about an hour, or until doubled.
- Punch dough down.
- Roll into 90 equal sized balls.
- Dip the balls in the remaining melted butter and place three in greased muffin cups.
- Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Brush with melted butter.
- Serve with butter or honey butter.
Notes
- Substitute whole wheat flour for half the white flour called for. Remove 1 tablespoon of flour from each cup and replace it with 1 tablespoon of gluten to keep the rolls soft.
- Dip the dough balls in melted butter mixed with garlic, Italian herbs mix, or even chili powder before putting them in the muffin tins.
- Use a light vegetable oil or melted coconut oil in place of the butter to make them vegan.
- When making the dough balls push your finger into each one to make a hole. Insert a mini-marshmallow that has been rolled in cinnamon sugar. Form the dough ball around the marshmallow to enclose it completely. Bake as directed.
Diane
I’d love to adapt this to an overnight rise... would I just do that instead of step 8? And in the morning let them warm up then shape, rise again?
Thanks for any insight you can share!
Marye
Yes. Or you can even shape them and let them rise in the refrigerator overnight.
Natalie
I have a container of yeast... not packets... how much do i use?
Marye
I use a tablespoon per packet called for. I know it's not exact but in the last 10 years the yeast manufacturers have downsized their packets. You're always ok using a tablespoon.
Ashley
I am making these and I only have 1 muffin pan. Can I make one batch and then the next?
Marye
sure. Keep the dough for the second batch in the fridge.
Chloe
I made clover rolls today using this recipe.
My personal variation to the supplied recipe was;
1) adding a liberal shake of ground cinnamon in with the first two cups of flour so it could mix in.
2) After I rolled the balls and dipped them into the melted butter I rolled them into cinnamon sugar and placed them into the muffin tins and allowed them to rise again briefly before baking.
Today was a fairly humid Spring day it was 32c which is approx 89F.
Lisa
My dough is rising right now. I had to add lots more flour than indicated in the recipe. It was very sticky! Too sticky to even knead. It kept sticking to the counter. Is that usual?
Marye
I've never had that problem. It may have needed a bit more flour.
Kathryn M Manning
i made cloverleaf rolls today and pineapple sangria for our dinner and drink. Omg! The cloverleaf rolls were to die for and my guy and I loved the pineapple sangrias!!!!!! Both get 5 stars. Thank you for the amazing recipes!
Marye
Awesome!
Cindy rudy
I need to know nutritional facts. How many carbohydrates per roll?
Marye
The nutritional facts are all at the bottom of the recipe.
Anna
If I want to make ahead for tonight. Can I parbake and not freeze them? Just let them cool and brown and serve when I’m ready?
Marye
You sure can, Anna!
Sandy Ward
Can I use instant yeast ? It’s all I have
Marye
Yes, use it as directed on the package - I think you add it with the flour.
Alyssa
This is the same recipe my grandma always made and we all fought over them. Since finding it, I've made these buns dozens of times and they just get better each batch. I don't bother with the three balls and just divide the dough into 24.
Marye
Alyssa - I am so glad you like them!