Cream Cheese Pastry Nut Rolls Rugelach Recipes

RUGELACH

Steps:

• Cream the cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the salt, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and mix until just combined. Dump the dough out onto a well-floured board and roll it into a ball. Cut the ball in quarters, wrap each piece in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• To make the filling, combine 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar, the brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the raisins, and walnuts.
• On a well-floured board, roll each ball of dough into a 9-inch circle. Spread the dough with 2 tablespoons apricot preserves and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the filling. Press the filling lightly into the dough. Cut the circle into 12 equal wedges?cutting the whole circle in quarters, then each quarter into thirds. Starting with the wide edge, roll up each wedge. Place the cookies, points tucked under, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush each cookie with the egg wash. Combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle on the cookies. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack and let cool.

RUGELACH

Steps:

• Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse a few times to combine.
• Add the chunks of butter and cream cheese, as well as the egg yolk. Pulse until the dough is moistened and crumbly with curd-like pieces about the size of peas. Dump the dough out onto a work surface. Knead just until it comes together and shape into a square or rectangle. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and flatten into 1-inch thick discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Wipe out the food processor. To make the filling, place the brown sugar, granulated sugar, walnuts, raisins and cinnamon in the bowl of the food processor and pulse until the walnuts and raisins are finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl and set aside until the dough is ready.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF and set two oven racks in the centermost positions. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator, unwrap it and place it on a lightly floured work surface. (If necessary, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes until pliable enough to roll, but not too soft.) Dust the top of the dough lightly with flour, then use a rolling pin to roll it into a 10 - 11-inch circle, or just under an ⅛-inch thick. Sprinkle more flour and turn as necessary so the dough doesn't stick. Spread ½ cup of the filling over the dough; using your hands, press the filling into the dough to anchor it.
• Using a pizza cutter or very sharp knife, cut the dough into twelve equal wedges (just like you would cut a pizza). Roll each wedge up, beginning with the wide end and ending with the point. Place the rolls point-side down, about an inch apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough. You should have 24 rugelach on each baking sheet.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating the pans from top to bottom and front to back midway through, or until the tops are lightly golden and the bottoms are golden and crisp (at first glance, it might look like the bottoms are burnt, but that's just the dark filling oozing out). Transfer the rugelach to a rack to cool.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The Dough can be Frozen for up to 3 Months: Shape the dough into 2 discs, wrap each securely in plastic wrap, and place them in a sealable bag. When ready to bake, thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight, and then proceed with recipe. They can also be assembled and frozen before baking: Arrange them on a baking sheet (so they're not touching) and freeze until very firm. Transfer them to an airtight container. They can be baked directly out of the freezer; they may just need a few extra minutes in the oven. To Freeze After Baking: Let the rugelach cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove them from the container and let them come to room temperature.

RUGELACH

Steps:

• In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix the butter and cream cheese together for 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
• Add in the sugar and salt and mix for 1 minute, scraping the sides as necessary.
• Turn mixer to low and add in the flour, mixing until just combined, don't over-mix.
• Place a large piece of plastic wrap onto your counter. Place the dough onto the plastic wrap and press it into a rectangle shape, approximately 1- inch thick. Wrap the dough tightly in the
• Reynolds Kitchens Quick Cut Plastic Wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces, working with one piece at a time, placing the dough you aren't using back in the refrigerator.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 12 x 8- inch rectangle. Spread 1/4 cup of the preserves evenly onto the dough. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the raisins and 1/4 cup walnuts evenly on top. Sprinkle about 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon sugar all over the top. Roll the dough tightly from the long side into a log. Place the log seam side down onto your prepared baking sheet and repeat with the process with the remaining dough placing the logs 2- inches apart on the baking sheet.
• Brush each log with milk and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
• Using a very sharp knife, cut the logs 3/4 through (not all the way) into 1- inch slices.
• Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes, and then transfer to a cutting board to slice all the way through.

RUGELACH

Steps:

• Cut cold butter or margarine and cream cheese into bits. In food processor pulse flour, salt, butter or margarine, cream cheese and sour cream until crumbly.
• Shape crumbly mixture into four equal disks. Wrap each disk and chill 2 hours or up to 2 days.
• Combine sugar, cinnamon, chopped walnuts, and finely chopped raisins (may substitute miniature chocolate chips for raisins).
• Roll each disk into a 9 inch round keeping other disks chilled until ready to roll them. Sprinkle round with sugar/nut mixture. Press lightly into dough. With chefs knife or pizza cutter, cut each round into 12 wedges. Roll wedges from wide to narrow, you will end up with point on outside of cookie. Place on ungreased baking sheets and chill rugelach 20 minutes before baking.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• After rugelach are chilled, bake them in the center rack of your oven 22 minutes until lightly golden. Cool on wire racks. Store in airtight containers...they freeze very well.
• Variations: Before putting the filling on the dough, use a pastry brush to layer apricot jam as well as brown sugar. Then add the recommended filling. You may also make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and roll the rugelach in this prior to putting them on the cookie sheets.

EASY RUGELACH

Steps:

• Whisk together flour and salt in a medium bowl. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and cream cheese until combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; beat to combine. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a ball; wrap in plastic. Chill until firm, about 6 hours or up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Whisk together sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Divide dough into quarters. Working with one piece at a time, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to an 8-by-12-inch rectangle. With long side facing you, spread with 3 tablespoons preserves, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup each walnuts and currants, 2 tablespoons raisins, and about 2 tablespoons sugar mixture. Starting with a long side, tightly roll dough into a log; place, seam side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Brush each log with cream, dividing evenly; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar mixture. Bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool 15 minutes. Slice into 1-inch-thick slices. Rugelach can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container up to 2 days.

CREAM CHEESE PASTRY NUT ROLLS (RUGELACH)

Steps:

• Cream first four ingredients together until smooth. (You may add in the yolk from the egg white if you like. I didn't, but it wouldn't hurt.).
• Mix in the flour to make a soft dough.
• Divide the dough iinto four equal balls. Flatten and wrap in plastic or waxed paper. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Melt the preserves, either on the stove in a saucepan or in the microwave, using either a glass or ceramic dish. Allow to cool slightly.
• In a small bowl, combine nuts with sugar, cinnamon and pinch of salt. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Working with one disk of dough at a time, roll out on a floured surface into a thin circle about 10 inches in diameter.
• Put 1/4 cup of melted preserves on top of the dough and spread evenly, leaving 1/2 inch around the edge uncovered. (Pick off any really large pieces of fruit. It will be easier to roll.).
• Place a "shot" glass upside down in the center of the circle and sprinkle 1/4 of the nut mixture over the rest of the preserve-covered dough. (This also makes it easier to roll. Remove the glass before cutting.).
• With a rotary cutter, or very sharp knife, cut the circle into 12 equal wedges. Roll up each wedge, startng with the outside edge and ending with the point. Turn the ends in to form a crescent, if desired.
• Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Beat egg white with 1 teaspoon of water and brush on tops. Dust with sugar, if desired.
• Bake until golden, 16-18 minutes (depending on your oven).
• Cool completely on a wire rack and store in an airtight container.
• Repeat with the other three circles of dough.
• As a variation, omit the apricot preserves and brush the dough with egg wash before sprinkling with nut mixture. Or leave out the nuts and use the preserves alone, with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled on the tops. Either way would be good.

RUGELACH (FILLED CREAM CHEESE COOKIES)

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl or food processor, cream the butter and cream cheese together.
• Add the pinch of salt and sugar.
• Beat in the flour, a little at a time.
• Knead the dough lightly until all the flour is incorporated.
• Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Prepare one of the fillings by combining the ingredients (except the 1/4 cup sugar for the topping) and set aside.
• Flour the surface you will be rolling out the pastry on very generously.
• This is a delicate dough and is apt to stick.
• Roll out one of the portions of dough into a 10 inch in diameter circle.
• With a knife or pastry wheel, cut the pastry into 10-12 pie-shaped wedges (depending on how large or small you want the rugelach to be- I go for smaller).
• If the dough is sticky, dust it with a little flour.
• Sprinkle or spread a little of the filling of your choice on each little wedge.
• Beginning at the wide edge, roll the dough up toward the point, as you would make a crescent roll or a croissant, turning the ends in slightly to achieve the crescent.
• Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and brush with melted butter and sprinkle with a tiny bit of the topping sugar (this step can also be done just before baking and ensure that the sugar is not knocked off in the freezer).
• Repeat with the rest of the dough and filling.
• At this point, I pop the cookie sheet directly into my freezer and freeze the rugelach individually.
• When frozen, I pack them into ziploc bags to use at whim over the holidays (and not just) so they can be freshly-baked for any occasion.
• Preheat oven to 350°F and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden, brushing with melted butter after 15 minutes if desired.

RUGELACH

Steps:

• To make the dough: Let the cream cheese and butter rest on the counter for 10 minutes - you want them to be slightly softened but still cool.
• Put the flour and salt in a food processor, scatter over the chunks of cream cheese and butter and pulse the machine 6 to 10 times. Then process, scraping down the sides of the bowl often, just until the dough forms large curds - don't work it so long that it forms a ball on the blade.
• Turn the dough out, gather it into a ball and divide it in half. Shape each half into a disk, wrap the disks in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 1 day. (Wrapped airtight, the dough can be frozen for up to 2 months.)
• To make the filling: Heat the jam in a saucepan over low heat, or do this in a microwave, until it liquefies. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. (Silicone baking mats are great for rugelach.)
• To shape the cookies: Pull one packet of dough from the refrigerator. If it is too firm to roll easily, either leave it on the counter for about 10 minutes or give it a few bashes with your rolling pin.
• Working on a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 11- to 12-inch circle. Spoon (or brush) a thin gloss of jam over the dough, and sprinkle over half of the cinnamon sugar. Scatter over half of the nuts, half of the currants and half of the chopped chocolate. Cover the filling with a piece of wax paper and gently press the filling into the dough, then remove the paper and save it for the next batch.
• Using a pizza wheel or a sharp knife, cut the dough into 16 wedges, or triangles. (The easiest way to do this is to cut the dough into quarters, then to cut each quarter into 4 triangles.) Starting at the base of each triangle, roll the dough up so that each cookie becomes a little crescent. Arrange the roll-ups on one baking sheet, making sure the points are tucked under the cookies, and refrigerate. Repeat with the second packet of dough, and refrigerate the cookies for at least 30 minutes before baking. (The cookies can be covered and refrigerated overnight or frozen for up to 2 months; don't defrost before baking, just add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.)
• Getting ready to bake: Position the racks to divide the oven into thirds and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• To finish: Stir the egg and water together, and brush a bit of this glaze over each rugelach. Sprinkle the cookies with sugar.
• Bake the cookies 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the sheets from top to bottom and front to back at the midway point, until they are puffed and golden. Transfer the cookies to racks to cool to just warm or to room temperature.