Alternative:Rugelach

Rugelach is a Jewish pastry dish with raisins, walnuts, and sometimes chocolate.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plus 4 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup loosely packed golden raisins, chopped
• 1 1/4 cups walnuts (1/4 lb), finely chopped
• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup apricot jam or raspberry jam
• Milk to brush Rugelach

Procedure

1. Whisk flour and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Beat butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer until well combined.
3. Stir in flour until the contents is the consistency of dough.
4. Roll the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic; flatten into a 5x7 inch rectangle.
5. Refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
6. Line a large shallow baking pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350F.
7. Cut the chilled dough into 4 even pieces, and return all but 1 to the fridge in plastic wrap. Roll the remaining piece into a 12x8 inch rectangle on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin (to prevent sticking).
8. Put the flattened dough on parchment paper, and then return to the fridge to chill while you repeat the flattening process on all other dough quarters.
9. After you are done flattening the dough, return the last piece to the fridge.
10. Whisk the 1/2 cup sugar with cinnamon in a medium bowl.
11. Take one dough quarter out of the fridge and spread 1/4 cup of the jam over the dough with a spatula. Over the dough, scatter 1/4 cup of raisins and then walnuts, finally 2 tablespoons of the whisked cinnamon sugar.
12. Roll the dough quarter up into a tight cylinder. Place the dough cylinder seam-side down in the baking pan and close and tuck the ends.
13. Repeat the same process with the other 3 dough rectangles.
14. Finish the cylinders by brushing with milk, sprinkle each with a teaspoon of sugar. Using a large knife, score the dough cylinders with 3/4 inch deep cuts, at one inch intervals.
15. Bake at 350F for 45-50 minutes.
16. Take out of the oven, cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Transfer cylinders to a cutting board and cut slices from the cylinders to make rugelach.

Notes, Tips, and Variations

• Instead of using raisins, try substituting mini chocolate chips.Rugelach Recipes