Best 7 Walnut Rugelach Recipes

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Rugelach is a delectable pastry that has captured the hearts of food enthusiasts and dessert lovers around the world. Originating from Europe, particularly in countries like Poland, Hungary, and Jewish communities, this delightful creation has become a cherished part of various cuisines. With its unique crescent shape and delectable filling, rugelach offers a symphony of flavors and textures that tantalize the taste buds. This article presents a diverse collection of rugelach recipes, each offering a distinctive twist on this classic pastry. Whether you prefer a traditional rendition or are seeking a creative variation, these recipes cater to a range of preferences and skill levels. From the classic walnut rugelach, brimming with nutty goodness, to the indulgent chocolate rugelach, bursting with rich cocoa flavor, these recipes promise an unforgettable culinary experience. Embark on a baking adventure and discover the art of crafting these delectable pastries, perfect for any occasion.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

WALNUT RUGELACH



Walnut Rugelach image

Beautiful cookies for the holidays.

Provided by Mary

Categories     Desserts     Nut Dessert Recipes     Walnut Dessert Recipes

Time 4h45m

Yield 36

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup white sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
1 egg yolk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg white
1 cup ground walnuts
½ cup white sugar
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar, or more as needed

Steps:

  • Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together onto a sheet of waxed paper.
  • Beat 1/4 cup white sugar, butter, and cream cheese together in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla.
  • Stir flour mixture into butter mixture until dough is just combined. Divide dough into 3 equal portions; shape each portion into a disk, wrap disks in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • Beat egg white in a bowl with an electric mixture until frothy. Mix walnuts and 1/2 cup white sugar into egg white.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Remove dough from plastic wrap and roll each disk out into a 7-inch circle. Spread 1/3 the egg white mixture onto each dough circle, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edge of each circle. Cut each circle into 12 wedges. Roll up each wedge from the edge to the point and place, point-side down, on a baking sheet.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool and dust with confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 62.1 calories, Carbohydrate 8.1 g, Cholesterol 9.6 mg, Fat 3 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 1.1 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 25.1 mg, Sugar 4.4 g

CHOCOLATE CHIP, CHERRY AND WALNUT RUGELACH



Chocolate Chip, Cherry and Walnut Rugelach image

Categories     Cookies     Chocolate     Fruit     Nut     Bake     Christmas     Cherry     Walnut     Winter     Chill     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 32

Number Of Ingredients 14

Dough:
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
6 ounces chilled cream cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Filling:
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 tablespoons cherry preserves
8 tablespoons dried tart cherries
8 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips
8 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
1/3 cup (about) whipping cream

Steps:

  • For dough:
  • Blend first 3 ingredients in processor. Add butter and cream cheese and cut in using on/off turns until dough begins to clump together. Gather dough into ball. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces; flatten into disks. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate 2 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)
  • For filling:
  • Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Roll out 1 dough disk on floured surface to 9-inch round. Spread 3 tablespoons cherry preserves over dough, leaving 1-inch border. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons dried cherries, then 2 tablespoons chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar and 2 tablespoons walnuts. Press filling firmly to adhere to dough.
  • Cut dough round into 8 equal wedges. Starting at wide end of each wedge, roll up tightly. Arrange cookies, tip side down, on prepared baking sheet, spacing 1 1/2 inches apart and bending slightly to form crescents. Repeat 3 more times with remaining dough disks, preserves, dried cherries, chocolate chips, cinnamon sugar and walnuts. Place baking sheet in freezer 30 minutes.
  • Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Brush cookies lightly with whipping cream. Bake frozen cookies until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks and cool completely. (Can be made ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week or freeze up to 1 month.)

WALNUT AND BROWN-SUGAR RUGELACH



Walnut and Brown-Sugar Rugelach image

The combination of cream cheese and butter makes an especially rich dough in this delectable Walnut and Brown-Sugar Rugelach.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Time 55m

Yield Makes 32

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 bar (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for rolling
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

Steps:

  • In a food processor, blend butter, cream cheese, granulated sugar, and salt until well combined. Add flour, and pulse just until a dough forms. Divide dough in half; flatten into disks, and wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days, or freeze up to 3 months (thaw before baking).
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks set in upper and lower thirds. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In a small bowl, combine egg with 1 teaspoon water to make an egg wash.
  • Working with one disk at a time, place dough on lightly floured parchment paper, and roll out into an 11-inch circle (about 1/4 inch thick), dusting lightly with flour as needed. Using a large dinner plate as a guide, cut around dough to make a perfect circle; trim off and discard scraps. Brush circles with egg wash; dividing evenly, sprinkle with walnuts and brown sugar.
  • Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut each circle into 16 equal triangles. Starting from the wide end, roll up each triangle of dough; place on lined baking sheets, seam side down. Brush rolls with egg wash.
  • Bake until golden brown, 30 to 32 minutes. Transfer rugelach to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 142 g, Fat 10 g, Protein 2 g

DATE WALNUT RUGELACH



Date Walnut Rugelach image

Categories     Cookies     Cheese     Dairy     Fruit     Nut     Dessert     Bake     Cream Cheese     Date     Walnut     Winter     Gourmet     Kidney Friendly     Vegetarian     Pescatarian     Peanut Free     Soy Free     Kosher

Yield Makes 64 rugelach

Number Of Ingredients 12

For dough
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
1/2 teaspoon salt
For filling
8 ounces pitted dates (about 1 1/3 cups)
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Confectioners' sugar for rolling out dough

Steps:

  • Make dough:
  • In a food processor blend butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add flour and salt and pulse just until mixture forms a ball. Form dough into a log. Chill dough, wrapped well in plastic wrap, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
  • Make filling:
  • Finely chop dates and walnuts and in a bowl with your hands toss together dates, walnuts, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla until combined well.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Cut dough crosswise into 8 equal pieces and work with 1 piece at a time, keeping remaining pieces covered and chilled. On a work surface sprinkled with confectioners' sugar using a rolling pin dusted with confectioners' sugar, roll out piece of dough into an 8-inch round. Cut round into 8 wedges, keeping round intact.
  • Sprinkle 1/3 cup filling in a ring around outer portion of round, leaving a 1-inch border around edge, and press filling gently into dough. Working with 1 wedge at a time, fold outer edge of pastry over filling and roll up filling in pastry, jelly-roll fashion, folding sides under pastry to enclose filling. Transfer rugelach, as formed, pointed ends down, to ungreased baking sheets. Make more rugelach in same manner.
  • Bake rugelach in batches in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes total. Transfer rugelach to racks to cool completely. Rugelach keep in an airtight container at room temperature 3 days.

CHOCOLATE CHIP, CHERRY AND WALNUT RUGELACH



Chocolate Chip, Cherry and Walnut Rugelach image

Unbelievably good pastry. These can be made with various combinations of filling, this just happens to be one of my favorites. Feel free to experiment with different kinds of jams, jellies, nuts, cinnamon, etc. The dough reminds me of the jewish bakeries my family frequented when I was a child. Spot on. Recipe stolen from Bon Appetit and posted here for convenience.

Provided by Dave in Alpharetta

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h35m

Yield 32 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
6 ounces chilled cream cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 tablespoons cherry preserves
8 tablespoons dried tart cherries
8 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips
8 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
1/3 cup whipping cream (approx)

Steps:

  • Dough:.
  • Blend first 3 ingredients in processor. Add butter and cream cheese and cut in using on/off turns until dough begins to clump together. Gather dough into ball. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces; flatten into disks. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate 2 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.).
  • Filling:.
  • Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Roll out 1 dough disk on floured surface to 9-inch round. Spread 3 tablespoons cherry preserves over dough, leaving 1-inch border. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons dried cherries, then 2 tablespoons chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar and 2 tablespoons walnuts. Press filling firmly to adhere to dough.
  • Cut dough round into 8 equal wedges. Starting at wide end of each wedge, roll up tightly. Arrange cookies, tip side down, on prepared baking sheet, spacing 1 1/2 inches apart and bending slightly to form crescents. Repeat 3 more times with remaining dough disks, preserves, dried cherries, chocolate chips, cinnamon sugar and walnuts. Place baking sheet in freezer 30 minutes.
  • Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F Brush cookies lightly with whipping cream. Bake frozen cookies until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks and cool completely. (Can be made ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week or freeze up to 1 month.).

WALNUT AND DRIED CHERRY RUGELACH



Walnut and Dried Cherry Rugelach image

This recipe is from the Jewish Holiday Feasts cookbook and is a recipe for Purim. All times are guesstimates and do not include cool or chill time.

Provided by Ducky

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h10m

Yield 32 pieces

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 lb unsalted butter or 1/2 lb margarine, cut into small pieces,at room temperature (2 sticks or 16 Tbsp)
1/2 lb whole milk cottage cheese
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup cherry jam, whisked until smooth
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped pitted dried cherries
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Steps:

  • Combine dough ingredients in food processor or blender until smooth dough forms.
  • Divide dough into 4 pieces, forming each piece into a 5-inch disk.
  • Wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.
  • Preheat overn to 375°F.
  • On lightly floured surface, roll out piece of dough into an 8-inch circle, 1/8-inch thick.
  • Spread 2 Tbsp of jam onto each circle.
  • Sprinkle each circle with 1/4 of walnuts and 1/4 of cherries.
  • Cut each circle into 8 wedges using a sharp knife or pastry wheel.
  • Starting with the outside edge, roll each wedge, enclosing the filling.
  • Place point side down onto greased cookie sheet.
  • Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle onto each pastry.
  • Bake until golden brown, approximately 35 minutes.
  • Let pastries rest approximately 10 minutes before removing from cookie sheet.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 108.4, Fat 7, SaturatedFat 3.8, Cholesterol 15.2, Sodium 7.4, Carbohydrate 10.5, Fiber 0.4, Sugar 3.3, Protein 1.2

BROWN SUGAR & WALNUT FILLED RUGELACH



Brown Sugar & Walnut filled Rugelach image

These are worth the work. You have to double this recipe, because if you don't you will not be able to sample them. This recipe is a Jewish favorite, but you do not have to be Jewish to love them. These are a typical recipe for the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, my non Jewish friends have made them as one of their Christmas...

Provided by Meryl Hausner

Categories     Cookies

Number Of Ingredients 16

PASTRY
1 c unsalted butter, room temperature
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 tsp salt
2 c all purpose flour
FILLING
1 1/2 c walnuts, toasted & finely ground
1/3 c brown sugar, firmly packed
1/3 c sugar, granulated
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 c unsalted butter, melted & cooled
TOPPING
1/4 c granulated sugar
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
EGG WASH
1 egg white, beaten with 1 tbsp. water

Steps:

  • 1. To make Pastry: In a large bowl, combine the butter & the cream cheese.
  • 2. Using the electric mixer, set on high speed, beat until smooth.
  • 3. Mix in the salt. Reduce the speed to low, add the flour & mix just until dough forms.
  • 4. Turn dough out onto floured work surface. Using floured hands, form the dough into a log. Cut into 4 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a disk & wrap each disk in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
  • 5. PREHEAT oven to 375.
  • 6. TO MAKE FILLING & ASSEMBLE RUGELACH:
  • 7. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • 8. Remove dough disks from the refrigerator. Unwrap the dough disks & let stand at room temperature for about 10 minutes to soften slightly.
  • 9. Meanwhile in small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, granulated sugar & ground cinnamon.
  • 10. Flour one dough disk & place between two sheets of waxed paper. With a rolling pin, roll out into a round 10 inches in diameter & 1/8 inch thick.
  • 11. Remove the top sheet & brush the dough with the melted butter, then sprinkle with 3 tbsp. of the sugar mixture. Top with about 1/3 cup of the finely ground walnuts (pressing mixture into the dough to help it adhere to the dough).
  • 12. Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife cut the round into 12 wedges. Starting at the wide end roll up each wedge, jelly-roll style. transfer to prepared baking sheet, arranging the cookies point side down & spacing them at least one inch apart.
  • 13. TOPPING:
  • 14. In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar & ground cinnamon.
  • 15. Using a pastry brush, brush the cookies with the egg white/water egg wash, then sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
  • 16. Bake until golden brown, about 18-20 minutes. Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough, filling & topping.
  • 17. Can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Makes about 4 dozen rugelach cookies.

Tips:

  • Prep your dough in advance: Making the dough ahead of time allows it to rest and develop more flavor, resulting in flaky and tender rugelach.
  • Keep the butter cold: Using cold butter helps create distinct layers in the dough, contributing to the rugelach's signature flaky texture.
  • Chill the dough before shaping: Chilling the dough makes it easier to handle and prevents it from becoming too sticky, ensuring a cleaner and more precise shaping process.
  • Don't overfill the rugelach: Overfilling can cause the filling to ooze out during baking, resulting in a messy and less appealing appearance.
  • Bake until golden brown: The rugelach should be baked until they reach a golden brown color, indicating that they are cooked through and have developed a delightful caramelized flavor.

Conclusion:

Walnut rugelach are a delightful pastry that combines a flaky dough with a sweet walnut filling, creating a perfect balance of flavors and textures. By following these tips and the detailed instructions provided in the recipe, you can easily prepare these delectable treats at home. Whether you enjoy them as a special occasion dessert or a delightful afternoon snack, walnut rugelach are sure to impress and satisfy your sweet cravings.

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