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Orange Pumpkin Cloverleafs

These vibrant orange pumpkin cloverleafs are a delightful twist on a classic American pull-apart roll, reimagined for the British kitchen. The combination of earthy pumpkin purée and bright citrus zest creates a sophisticated depth of flavour, while the enrichment from butter and egg ensures a beautifully soft, pillow-like crumb. They are particularly striking when served warm, pulling apart naturally into three distinct segments that make them perfect for sharing at the dinner table.

This vegetarian bread recipe is an excellent choice for a seasonal Sunday roast or as a comforting accompaniment to a bowl of spiced soup. By using a standard muffin tin, you can achieve a consistent, professional shape without the need for specialist equipment. These rolls offer a subtle sweetness that pairs wonderfully with salted butter, making them a festive addition to any homemade brunch or dinner party spread.

Continue reading below

Ingredients for Orange Pumpkin Cloverleafs

  • 3/4 stick unsalted butter, melted, divided

  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (from a 1/110g package)

  • 60ml warm milk (105-46°C)

  • 1 tablespoon mild honey or sugar

  • 650ml plain flour plus more for kneading and dusting

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 80ml canned pure pumpkin

  • 2 large eggs, divided, plus 1 yolk

  • 1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest

  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

  • 1 tablespoon water

  • Equipment: a muffin pan with 12 (1/3- to 1/2-cup) muffin cups

How to make Orange Pumpkin Cloverleafs

Butter muffin cups with 1 tablespoon melted butter.

Stir together yeast, warm milk, and honey in a large bowl and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, start over with new yeast.)

Mix flour, salt, pumpkin, 1 whole egg, yolk, orange zest and juice, and remaining 80ml butter into yeast mixture with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until a soft dough forms. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead, dusting surface and your hands with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until dough is elastic and smooth, 6 to 8 minutes. Form dough into a ball.

Put dough in an oiled large bowl and turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Punch down dough (do not knead), then halve. Roll half of dough on a lightly floured surface with lightly floured hands into a 12-inch-long log (keep remaining half covered with plastic wrap).

Cut log into 6 equal pieces, then cut each piece into thirds. Roll each piece into a 1-inch ball by cupping your hand and pushing dough against work surface as you roll in a circular motion. Put 3 balls side by side in each of 6 muffin cups.

Make more rolls with remaining dough in same manner. Cover rolls with a kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and let rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until dough is about 1 inch above rim of muffin cups, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 191°C with rack in middle.

Whisk together remaining egg and water and brush on tops of rolls. (You will have leftover egg wash.)

Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer rolls to a rack and cool at least 20 minutes.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 16 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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