GOLDEN RUGELACH

Golden Rugelach image

Rugelach (a Yiddish word) are often served at Hanukkah meals. The flaky dough that enfolds the fruit and nuts is made like pie dough and is easy to do in the food processor.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories dessert

Time 1h25m

Yield 3 dozen cookies

Number Of Ingredients 13

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Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, cut in pieces and chilled
8 ounces cream cheese, cut in pieces and chilled
2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt
Filling:
3/4 cup hazelnuts, toasted
1 cup apricot preserves
2/3 cup golden raisins
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar

Steps:

For the dough: Pulse the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles coarse sand with some pea-size pieces of butter, about 20 pulses. Add the cream cheese and sour cream and pulse until it comes together in a rough dough, with some uneven pebble-size pieces. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and divide into four equal portions. Pat each portion into a flat square and wrap in plastic wrap. Freeze for 15 minutes.
For the filling: Meanwhile, chop the hazelnuts in a clean food processor. Add the preserves, raisins and salt and puree to make a very smooth paste.
Roll a portion of dough into a 6- by 14-inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. (Don't worry about slightly rough edges; these will be rolled inside of the rugelach.) Spread one-quarter of the filling over the surface with a small spatula. Starting with a long side, roll the dough up into a tight cylinder, ending with the seam on the bottom. Press the top slightly to flatten and wrap in plastic wrap. Freeze for another 15 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. (The cylinders can be frozen for up to a month.)
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and evenly position the racks. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Slice the cylinders into 1 1/2-inch pieces and place seam-side down on the prepared sheets. Whisk the egg yolks together and brush over the tops. Sprinkle with sugar and bake until pale golden and crispy on top, about 25 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on the baking sheets. Carefully transfer the rugelach to a rack to cool. Store in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 days.