Description
Delight in the buttery, flaky goodness of Rugelach cookies! These elegant crescent-shaped pastries are filled with your choice of sweet flavors, making them a versatile and irresistible treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 ounces cream cheese (cold)
- 1 cup unsalted butter (cold, 2 sticks)
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Filling (Choose One):
Cinnamon Sugar:
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Nut and Fruit:
- ½ cup finely chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup raisins
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Chocolate Hazelnut:
- ½ cup Nutella or similar spread
Additional Ingredients:
- Powdered sugar (for rolling and dusting)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough:
- Combine flour and salt in a food processor. Pulse to mix.
- Add cold cream cheese and butter (cut into cubes) to the flour mixture. Pulse until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
- Whisk the egg yolk with vanilla extract. Drizzle over the dough mixture and pulse until it clumps together.
- Chill the Dough:
- Gather the dough into a ball and divide into four equal portions.
- Flatten each portion into a 1-inch-thick disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or up to 3 days).
- Prepare the Filling:
- While the dough chills, prepare your chosen filling. For cinnamon sugar, mix sugar and cinnamon. For nut and fruit, combine walnuts, raisins, and brown sugar. For chocolate hazelnut, use Nutella.
- Roll Out the Dough:
- Sprinkle your work surface with powdered sugar.
- Roll one disk of dough into a circle about ⅛-inch thick.
- Add the Filling and Shape:
- Spread the filling evenly across the dough, reaching the edges.
- Cut the dough into 16 wedges using a pizza cutter or knife.
- Roll each wedge tightly from the wide edge to the point to form crescents.
- Chill and Bake:
- Arrange cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Bake cookies for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes on the sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
- Keep ingredients cold to ensure a flaky texture.
- Work quickly when handling the dough to avoid overworking it.
- Chilling before baking helps the cookies maintain their shape.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 2 hours chilling)
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Jewish, Eastern European