Fantastic Cloverleaf Rolls

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (more if needed)
• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 4 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon salt
• melted butter, for tops

Recipe

• 1 grease 12 jumbo muffin tins.
• 2 in a cup or bowl, combine yeast with 1 tbsp sugar in warm water; cover with plastic wrap, and sit for 10 minutes, or until the yeast is foamy.
• 3 in the mixer bowl, mix in 3 cups flour, the remaining sugar, melted butter, warm milk, egg and salt.
• 4 add in the yeast/sugar mix.
• 5 with a kneader blade fitted on a heavy-duty mixer, knead and gradually add in the remaining flour, until a soft dough sticky is formed (do not add in too much flour, as the baked buns will have a heavy texture).
• 6 remove from the bowl and let rest on the counter for 10 minutes, covered.
• 7 after 10 minutes, knead gently for about 30 seconds.
• 8 coat a glass or stainless steel bowl with oil.
• 9 transfer the dough to the bowl.
• 10 cover; and let rise in a warm draft-free area, for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
• 11 punch down the dough.
• 12 remove from bowl then place the dough on the counter.
• 13 slice the dough evenly in half lengthwise down the middle, set one piece aside.
• 14 shape piece of dough into a chunky long rope using hands.
• 15 slice into 18 even pieces (don't worry if each piece of dough is not the exact same size).
• 16 shape into about 1-1/2-inch balls or a little more.
• 17 place 3 balls into each muffin tin.
• 18 repeat with remaining piece of dough and muffin tin.
• 19 cover the tins with a clean tea towel and allow to rise warm place for 30-40 minutes (rising time will depend on the temperature of your kitchen).
• 20 remove the tea towel; brush tops with melted butter.
• 21 bake at 350°f for 18-20 minutes, or until buns are a dark golden colour.