Cloverleaf Cookies Recipes

CLOVERLEAF COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• In large bowl cream brown sugar, sugar, margarine and shortening until light and fluffy.
• Blend in vanilla and egg.
• Stir in flour, baking soda and salt (is using) and mix well.
• Divide dough into 3 parts. Place in small bowls. (Note - I make two of the parts a little bit larger than one as you will be adding 1/4 cup peanut butter to it and there always seems to be more of that mixture left at the end otherwise).
• Add chocolate chips it one part, peanut butter to second (smaller portion) and melted chocolate to the third.
• Refrigerate dough for about 30 minutes for easier handling.
• Shape approximately 1 tsp of each dough into a ball. To form each cookie place one of each flavour balls cloverleaf style onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until set. Let cool for a few minutes before carefully removing from cookie sheets. This is important as these cookies can be fragile at first.

BENNE COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 large cookie sheets with butter.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and add the benne seeds, stirring them until coated. Toast the seeds, stirring frequently, until fragrant and darkened a shade, 2 to 3 minutes. Take care not to burn the seeds and turn down the heat if needed. Scrape onto a plate and let cool completely.
• Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together in a medium bowl.
• In a large bowl, cream together the remaining 8 tablespoons/115 grams butter and both sugars until well combined and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well. Add the cooled toasted benne seeds and the vanilla, then stir in the flour mixture.
• Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of the cookie dough at least 2 1/2 inches apart on 1 prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown around the edges. Remove the wafers from the cookie sheet immediately and place on waxed or parchment paper to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough on the second cookie sheet, reusing the first sheet when it's cool, if needed.

GRANDMA'S CLOVER LEAF ROLLS

Steps:

• Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbles begin to form, but the milk is not simmering. Stir in the sugar, shortening, and salt; set aside until cooled to 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and set aside for 5 minutes.
• Beat the egg in a mixing bowl, then stir in the yeast and milk. Stir in half of the flour until no lumps remain, then stir in the remaining flour a little at a time until a smooth dough forms. Place into a greased bowl, turn once to grease the top, cover, and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours.
• Grease a 12 sectioned muffin tin. Deflate the dough, and place onto a well-floured work surface. Divide the dough into 36 pieces, and form into balls. Place 3 balls into each muffin cup. Cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

CLOVERLEAF ROLLS

Steps:

• Stir the yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar into the milk. Set aside until foamy, about 5 minutes. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attached, combine the remaining sugar, flour and salt. With the mixer on low, add the yeast mixture and the egg and knead until the dry ingredients have been incorporated (you may have to help it along at first with a spatula) and the dough is smooth, about 5 to 10 minutes. Carefully add the melted butter (the dough will slosh around in the butter for a few minutes, but will eventually absorb it all) and continue to knead the dough until smooth, increasing the speed to medium, another 5 to 10 minutes. The dough will be shiny and elastic; if it's at all sticky, scrape down the sides of the bowl and gather the dough into a neat ball (no need to add extra flour). Cover the bowl with plastic and set aside to rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 to 2 hours.
• Butter a standard 12-cup muffin tin. Gently tip the dough out onto a work surface. You shouldn't need flour at this point. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Work with one piece at a time and keep the other pieces covered. Divide each piece into 3 equal pieces, roll each piece into a tight ball and place into one cup. Repeat with the remaining dough. Cover the tray lightly with plastic wrap and set aside to double again, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. The dough should look puffy and spring back slowly when pressed gently.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Remove the plastic wrap and without deflating the dough, gently brush the rolls with butter. Bake until puffed and golden, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with more butter and sprinkle with salt. Serve warm.

CLOVERLEAF ROLLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add the butter, egg, sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down and divide in half. Divide each half into 36 pieces and shape into balls. Place 3 balls in each greased muffin cup. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Brush with additional butter. , Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks. Serve warm.

FANTASTIC CLOVERLEAF ROLLS

Steps:

• Grease 12 jumbo muffin tins.
• 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.
• In the mixer bowl, mix in 3 cups flour, the remaining sugar, melted butter, warm milk, egg and salt.
• Add in the yeast/sugar mix.
• 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).
• Remove from the bowl and let rest on the counter for 10 minutes, covered.
• After 10 minutes, knead gently for about 30 seconds.
• Coat a glass or stainless steel bowl with oil.
• Transfer the dough to the bowl.
• Cover; and let rise in a warm draft-free area, for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
• Punch down the dough.
• Remove from bowl then place the dough on the counter.
• Slice the dough evenly in half lengthwise down the middle, set one piece aside.
• Shape piece of dough into a chunky long rope using hands.
• Slice into 18 even pieces (don't worry if each piece of dough is not the exact same size).
• Shape into about 1-1/2-inch balls or a little more.
• Place 3 balls into each muffin tin.
• Repeat with remaining piece of dough and muffin tin.
• 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).
• Remove the tea towel; brush tops with melted butter.
• Bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes, or until buns are a dark golden colour.

CHOCOLATE LEAF COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix flour, baking soda and 1-1/2 cups sugar until blended. Microwave butter and 3 oz. chocolate in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 minutes or until butter is melted; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Add cream cheese; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture until blended. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt remaining chocolate as directed on package. Beat corn syrup, water and remaining sugar in medium bowl until blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Spoon into resealable plastic bag; seal bag.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Use 3-inch cookie cutter to cut dough into leaf shapes, re-rolling scraps as necessary. Place, 2 inches apart, on parchment-covered baking sheets.
• Bake 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheet 3 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
• Cut small piece off one bottom corner of icing bag; use to pipe icing onto cookies, then gently shake cookies to form even layer of icing. Sprinkle with nonpareils. Let stand until firm.

CHOCOLATE LEAF COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix flour, baking soda and 1-1/2 cups sugar until blended. Microwave butter and 3 oz. chocolate in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Add cream cheese; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture until blended. Refrigerate 30 min.
• Meanwhile, melt remaining chocolate as directed on package. Beat corn syrup, water and remaining sugar in medium bowl until blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Spoon into resealable plastic bag; seal bag.
• Heat oven to 375ºF. Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Use 3-inch cookie cutter to cut dough into leaf shapes, re-rolling scraps as necessary. Place, 2 inches apart, on parchment-covered baking sheets.
• Bake 12 min. or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheet 3 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
• Cut small piece off one bottom corner of icing bag; use to pipe icing onto cookies, then gently shake cookies to form even layer of icing. Sprinkle with nonpareils. Let stand until firm.

SUGAR COOKIES WITH CLOVERS

Steps:

• Sift flour, salt, and baking powder into a large bowl, and set aside. Put butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; cream on high speed until fluffy. Beat in eggs.
• Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two additions, and mix until well combined. Mix in vanilla. Divide the dough in half, and wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together confectioners' sugar and food coloring into a small bowl, and set aside.
• Roll out 1 piece of dough on a lightly floured work surface 1/8 inch thick. With a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out 25 rounds. Arrange rounds on parchment-lined baking sheets 2 inches apart.
• Working with one round at a time, place clover stencil on top; using a small sieve, sprinkle surface with green sugar. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes, or until ready to bake. Repeat process with remaining dough.
• Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges just start to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.