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To make the dough: Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. Add all the dough ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Mix briefly to combine, then scrape down the sides of the bowl.
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Knead on low speed until a soft, sticky dough forms that cleans the sides of the bowl, about 5 minutes, stopping to scrape the bowl once during mixing.
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Cover the bowl and let the dough rise at room temperature until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours (depending on the warmth of your kitchen).
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To make the coating and topping: While the dough is rising, combine the cheese and pepper in a medium bowl. In a separate small bowl, melt the butter and set it aside to cool slightly.
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Toward the end of rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F with the rack in the upper third. Lightly grease a standard muffin pan.
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To assemble the clover rolls: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and press gently to deflate. Divide the dough into 12 portions (about 73g each). Divide each of those portions into 3 pieces (about 24g each) for a total of 36 balls. Shape each piece into a smooth ball.
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Working with 3 pieces at a time, use your hands to dip the dough balls into the melted butter and shake off any excess. Then dip the tops into the cheese-pepper mixture to coat lightly, shaking off any excess. Nestle the 3 coated dough balls side by side in one of the wells of the muffin pan. Repeat with the remaining dough. Set aside the remaining butter and cheese-pepper mixture to use for topping the rolls after baking.
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Cover the dough with greased plastic wrap or your favorite reusable wrap and allow it to rise for about 30 minutes, or until it has risen 1/2" above the rim of the pan.
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Bake the clover rolls for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown on top and a digital thermometer inserted into the center of one roll reads 190°F. Allow the clover rolls to cool slightly for 5 minutes, or until you can safely handle them.
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If needed, re-melt the butter used for the coating. Brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter, and then sprinkle the remaining cheese-pepper mixture over the tops. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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Storage information: Store leftover clover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature, covered, for up to 3 days.
