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Rugelach

Yields1 ServingCook Time15 mins

While Rugelach is a classic Jewish cookie and often eaten at Hannukah, that doesn't mean you can't make it all year round.

For the Dough
 1 (8 ounce) container vegan cream cheese
 ½ lb vegan butter (I used 2 Earth Balance sticks)
 ¼ cup granulated sugar
 1 tsp vanilla
 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
 ¼ tsp salt
For the Filling
 ¼ cup brown sugar
 ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
 2 tsp cinnamon
 1 cup raisins
 1 cup walnuts
 1 cup apricot preserves
 a couple of tablespoons of non-dairy milkfor brushing on cookies
 Granulated or coarse/turbinado sugar for sprinkling
1

Using a mixer, cream together the vegan butter and cream cheese until fully blended. Add the sugar and vanilla, blend again. Mix in the flour and salt until just combined. Turn out the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap, wrap gently then refrigerate for one hour.

Make the filling by pulsing together in a food processor the sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and walnuts until well combined. The mixture should resemble coarse sand.

Preheat oven to 350ºF and line two baking trays with parchment paper. Liberally flour a clean surface. Unwrap the dough, place it on the floured surface and cut it into four equal portions. Working with the first portion, press down with your hands, forming a disc.

Use a rolling pin and start in the center, roll outward until a 9-inch circle is formed. Think of this process like making a pizza. You will roll out a circle, spread preserves, sprinkle with topping, and then cut into slices that will be rolled up into crescents.

Spread two heaping tablespoons of apricot preserves on the dough, without leaving a border.

Sprinkle about a 1/2 cup of filling on top of preserves and gently press into dough. Using a sharp knife or pizza wheel, cut the circle into 4 quarters and then cut each quarter into 3 equal pieces, like pizza slices.

Starting on the outer edge of the circle, roll each slice inward to create a crescent.

Place cookies with the narrow tip underneath on the prepared baking trays. Repeat this process with the remaining 3 pieces of dough. Brush each cookie with a little milk and sprinkle with sugar. Alternatively, you can glaze these with remaining apricot preserves instead of milk.

Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned. The apricot filling may pool a little on the baking tray, and look darker than the actual underneath of the cookies, so don’t worry that they are burning. Remove the cookies before they are too brown though, this should be a tender cookie. Let cool and serve.