Quick Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These Quick Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls are flaky, soft, ready in no time, and decidedly beautiful for the dinner table. Simple to make with five or six ingredients, they’re irresistibly delicious and perfect for the holidays.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email, and we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get delicious new recipes from us every Friday!
Why I Love These Cloverleaf Rolls
If there is a recipe from my childhood that I remember most, it’s these Cloverleaf Rolls.
On further thought, it’s probably not expressly true because as I’m writing this, a whole host of recipes are coming to mind!
But these dinner rolls are special because they were often on the table for holidays from Thanksgiving through Easter.
Ingredients for Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls
Specific ingredient measurements are in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of the simple ingredients you will need:
- Flour: I’m using all-purpose flour, but bread flour works equally well.
- Granulated sugar to slightly sweeten the dough (honestly, it makes them irresistible).
- Instant yeast, so you can add it directly into the dry ingredients without proofing it in liquid.
- Butter, softened to room temperature.
- Large egg for structure and to create moist dinner rolls.
- Liquid: You can use warm water, warm milk, or a combination of the two.
- Salt to taste (amount will depend upon whether you’re using salted or unsalted butter).
How to Make Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls
As with most bread recipes (including the 100% whole wheat bread I make weekly) there are two rising times.
The first rise: Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise until it doubles in size. If you’re using instant yeast, it should take about 20 minutes.
Once the dough rises to double, deflate and shape into 36 equal-size balls (12 if you’re making dinner rolls). Place 3 balls into each standard size muffin tin cups.
Second rise: Cover and let sit in a warm place until the rolls rise about 3/4 to 1-inch above the rim of the muffin cup. This should take about 15 minutes or so, which gives you ample time to preheat the oven to 400°F.
Brush the rolls with melted butter and bake until golden brown, about 18 to 22 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter one more time. Let it cool slightly before removing it from the tin and serving.
1 Hour Dinner Rolls
It’s easy to use this recipe and make dinner rolls instead of cloverleaf rolls. They are just as delicious and quicker to make. In fact, they become “1 Hour Dinner Rolls.” The time difference is that you make 12 dough balls instead of 36, saving you time.
Cloverleaf Rolls Frequently Asked Questions
Cloverleaf rolls are soft, buttery dinner rolls shaped like a three-leaf clover. They are made by placing three small dough balls into muffin tin cups, which allows them to expand and bake into a beautiful, pull-apart roll. This unique shape creates a light, fluffy texture with plenty of golden-brown edges. They are a classic choice for holiday meals and special occasions but are easy enough to enjoy any time!
To reheat rolls without drying them out, use an oven or microwave with added moisture. If using the oven, wrap the rolls in foil and warm them at 350°F (150°C) for 7-10 minutes. This helps retain their softness and moisture. For a quick method, place a damp paper towel over the rolls and microwave them in 10-15-second intervals until warm. This gentle steam prevents them from becoming tough or dry. You can brush them with a little melted butter for extra flavor before reheating!
Yes! You can prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before shaping and baking. This helps slow the yeast activity. Alternatively, you can fully bake the rolls, let them cool, and freeze them for up to 3 months. To serve, simply reheat them in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 10-15 minutes.
More Recipes You May Also Love
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear your comments and consider giving it a 5-star rating. Explore the recipe index for more easy, delicious ideas, and stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
Quick Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 1 cup warm water or combination of warm water and warm milk
- 1 egg
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add 2 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, and salt; mix and combine the ingredients.
- Add the softened butter, warm water, and egg. Mix on low speed, scraping the bowl as necessary for about 1 minute.
- Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make the dough easy to handle.
- Increase the speed to medium and knead the dough until its smooth and elastic, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin.
- Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into 36 equal size pieces and shape them into balls. Place 3 balls in each muffin cup.
- Cover the muffin tin with wrap and let rise while the oven is preheating to 400°F; about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Brush the rolls with melted butter and bake until golden brown; about 18 to 22 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter one more time. Let cool slightly before removing them from the muffin tin and serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.