Rugelach are delicious crescent-shaped pastries filled with any of your favorites like sweet fruit preserves, nuts, chocolate or pretty much anything your heart could desire! Making them with the kids every year is one of our family’s favorite traditions!

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I’m lucky that my husband and I get to share and celebrate two holidays in our home with our kids: Hanukkah and Christmas. Ever since my husband and I first started dating, we have enjoyed taking part in each other’s holiday traditions. Sure, my husband freaked out that first year when he came home from work late and found a huge evergreen tree adorned with ornaments and twinkling lights in his living room, but now he loves it.

When I was growing up, my family always had sugar and gingerbread cookie making parties, so when I decided to continue the tradition with my own kids, I wanted to make sure a cookie my husband loved growing up was represented as well. Rugelach isn’t exactly a cookie, it’s more of a pastry, but it certainly looks right at home on a cookie plate.

Rugelach recipe from Weelicious.comPin

As with most of my sweet recipes, I always try to cut down on a lot of the sugar. So, instead of sprinkling a cup of sugar on the dough before adding the filling, as most traditional rugelach recipes call for, I simply fill mine with preserves and tons of chopped fruit, nuts and bittersweet chocolate (for those who really want to take them up a notch). That makes them sweet, but not too sweet.

Rugelach recipe from Weelicious.comPin

I must have done something right because my family couldn’t keep their paws off of the first batch I made. I am not exaggerating when I say I came into the kitchen shortly after they came out of the oven, and almost all of the cookies were gone before I could even photograph them! We just used it as an excuse to make more! At this time of year, laughing and baking cookies is what the holidays are all about, no matter which one(s) you celebrate!

What You Need to Make Rugelach

  • Unsalted butter
  • Cream cheese
  • Vanilla extract
  • Sugar
  • All purpose flour
  • Egg (optional for egg wash)
  • Fillings of choice: chocolate chips, walnuts, preserves, dried fruit, etc.
Ingredients for RugelachPin

How to Make Rugelach

1. Make the Dough: Place the butter, cream cheese, vanilla and sugar in a food processor or standing mixer and mix until combined. Slowly add the flour, little by little until just combined.

Rugelach dough ingredients mixed in a bowl.Pin

2. Divide and Refrigerate: Divide the dough into 2 balls, wrap each with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Two rugelach dough balls.Pin

3. Prep Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

4. Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough ball into a 9 inch round and using a pizza cutter or knife, cut into 8 equal wedges (like a pizza pie).

Dough rolled into circle shape and cut into 8 wedges.Pin

5. Add Fillings: Before separating the wedges evenly spread the round with 2 tbsp preserves or other 1/4 cup filling of choice. Press them dough gently to adhere to the dough.

6. Roll up Rugelach: Starting with the wide end of each wedge, roll up into 16 cookies.

Rolling each wedge into crescent roll shape.Pin

Bake Until Golden: Place on a baking sheet with the tip pointing down and brush with egg wash (optional). Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

More Hanukkah Recipes

Hand showing the inside of rugelach.Pin

If you’ve never made Rugelach before, give this recipe a try and let me know what you think in the comments below! It’s a super fun activity to do with your kids this holiday season, and easier than you may think to pull off. Tag me on social media if you make these!

Rugelach

Making a batch of delicious Rugelach is a great kid-friendly holiday activity! Plus, these crescent-shaped goodies are perfect for gifting or just enjoying cozy moments together.
1 from 1 vote
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Refrigerator Time: 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Equipment

  • food processor or mixer

Ingredients  

Filling Options:

  • 1/4 cup preserves (apricot, strawberry, raspberry)
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 1/4 cup chopped dried fruits (cranberries, raisins, apricots)
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions 

  • Place the first four ingredients in a food processor or standing mixer and mix until combined.
  • Slowly add the flour, little by little until just combined.
  • Divide the dough into 2 balls, wrap each with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough ball into a 9 inch round and using a pizza cutter or knife, cut into 8 equal wedges (like a pizza pie).
  • Before separating the wedges evenly spread the round with 2 tbsp preserves or other 1/4 cup filling of choice. Press them dough gently to adhere to the dough.
  • Starting with the wide end of each wedge, roll up into 16 cookies.
  • Place on a baking sheet with the tip pointing down and brush with egg wash (optional).
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 20mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 279IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @Weelicious or tag #weelicious!

About the Author

Catherine is a mama of three. A Kentucky girl living in California. Here’s what I know: all kids can be great eaters and mealtime must be easy. I create simple, healthy recipes the whole family will love.

Comments

  1. Thank you for this recipe. I have been seeking a cream cheese dough for the rugelach that I learned to make as a child. My Grandma, Bertha, was a holocaust survivor who churned out rugelach and hamentaschen in huge batches. She taught me to make them when I was young. Your recipe looks like my memories of her recipe. But, she made a cinnamon and sugar mixture that she rolled them in before baking.

  2. I have a stupid question…I’m new at baking…how do you make the dough “round”. Do you use a round plate? Or is there a better way?thanks

  3. Love this recipe and the creativity it allows for fillings! Made a couple batches today: raspberry/Choc chip, apple butter/pecans, pumpkin purée with a little cinnamon/butterscotch chips, and PB/Choc chips. All delicious! Thanks for a fun versatile recipe!

  4. Ener-G and Bobs Red Mill make good egg substitutes. A mashed banana or applesauce also work as a substitute with most recipes.

  5. Can you use the pillsberry readymade dough for moms who dont have much luck with dough or the time?

  6. just made two batches of these with cranberry-mango preserves i made with almonds and the other with raisins, almonds and i did sprinkle a little cinnamon and sugar first. 😉 one batch was vegan using margerine and nut paste i made in the blender out of almonds, oats, a little rice milk and a lil water. i put the dough in the freezer for 1 hr 20 min. they all came out just delicious!!! THANK YOU! i am a hero in my home. 🙂

  7. Wow! Made these tonight for a Hanukah get-together and they were delicious (as well as your sweet gingery tofu which was also great). Thank you!

  8. I would definitely double this recipe, one recipe makes 24 cookies and they are about the length of a small finger. I just made 2 batches and gave them to two different people 🙂

  9. Approximately, how big is each finished cookie? I’m trying to figure out if I need to double this or not to give as gifts to two different people. Thank you!

1 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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