Easy Rugelach Recipe | How To Make Delicious Rugelach Cookies (2024)

By: Author Judy Kahansky

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This easy rugelach recipe is one that you will definitely want to add to your collection of holiday desserts. We’ve included step by step instructions below, you just can’t miss.

You might want to get your family involved too, since making the cookies is definitely a labor of love. Just be sure to include about 2 hours of time for chilling the sweet pastry dough into your schedule.

I love to make them in early December because this is a cookie that freezes beautifully. Even if you don’t celebrate Hanukkah, they are just too pretty not to bake!

You will need: apricot preserves, walnuts, cinnamon, butter, all purpose flour, salt, cinnamon, cocoa, cream cheese, vanilla extract, sugar and powdered sugar.

This post was originally published December 20, 2017 and updated December 5, 2018.

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EASY RUGELACH RECIPE BACKSTORY

So here we are on the last night of Hannukah and in a few days celebrate Christmas. We celebrate both holidays in our family and I feel so blessed to be able to do so. Some years the calendar determines that Hanukkah falls right in the middle of Christmas and that’s just fine with us!

Raspberry Dream Bars are another classic Holiday Desserts recipe, and we have a great recipe for you to try!

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However even though Mark and I have been married 9 years (where does the time go?) this is the first year I’ve made Rugelach to have at Hanukkah.

Had I known they were so easy to make, and had this easy rugelach recipe to use, they would have made a regular appearance!

And while these sweet morsels of goodness are typically served to celebrate during the eight days of Hanukkah, I plan to bake a batch for Christmas, since I think they are the perfect Winter Cookie, and go really well with a big mug of hot chocolate. Know what I mean? 🙂

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There are lots of different rugelach fillings. I chose a traditional filling of apricot jam, walnuts, cinnamon and cocoa. For my next batch I’m going to use mini chocolate chips! The possibilities include just about any type of preserves or jam that you love, plus cinnamon and of course chocolate. Yum! Yum!

RUGELACH COOKIES FAQ

  • Can Rugelach be frozen after baking?You sure can! There are two ways to freeze Rugelach. You can freeze the discs of pastry dough before you make it into cookies, or you can freeze the baked cookie (much easier I think!) Both for about three months.
  • Where does Rugelach come from? Well according to Wikipedia, it’s a Jewish pastry that is very popular in Israel. I decided to bake it when Mark and I watched The Great Canadian Baking Show last week, and this was the Technical Challenge! And my sweetie remembered having them as a child during Hanukkah.
  • How long can you keep Rugelach? Well I would like to say about a week or so in the refrigerator, because of the cream cheese, but honestly, these little packages of sweetness don’t last more than a couple of days in our home!
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Once the Rugelach has cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy any time of the year at all!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE…

Our other sweet holiday recipes that are just so full of goodness: Raspberry Dream Bars, Butter Tarts, Chocolate Raspberry Tart

We did a search for different types of Hanukah desserts. I love this roundup from Martha Stewart!

EASY RUGELACH RECIPE

These sweet little morsels of goodness are so perfect with a cup of hot cocoa or tea. I usually double the recipe, so we can enjoy our rugelach during Hanukkah and then freeze a bunch to take to our daughter’s on Christmas Eve. You could do that and wrap them up as a hostess gift too! The sweet pastry, apricot jam and cinnamon sugar filling are just so yummy. You will get asked for the recipe for sure!

If you like the recipe, please give it a 5 star rating.

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Yield: 36 cookies

Easy Rugelach Recipe

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 23 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 23 minutes

A delicious winter cookie filled with apricot jam, cinnamon and cocoa wrapped in a sweet pastry. Rugelach cookies also freeze well.

Ingredients

Pastry Dough

  • 2 sticks butter, unsalted room temperature
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

  • 3/4 cup apricot preserves
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, ground
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, dutch-processed
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar , for dusting

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Blend in the vanilla and sugar. Add ½ the flour and mix until almost incorporated. Add the remaining half of flour and mix until it starts to hold together in a dough. Remove the dough to a lightly flour clean surface. Gently form the dough into a ball and divide into three equal parts. Roll each part into a disc and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours or overnight. Easy Rugelach Recipe | How To Make Delicious Rugelach Cookies (17)
  2. Blend thewalnuts, sugars, cocoa and cinnamon together in a small mixing bowl until combined. Set aside until its time to build your rugelach. Easy Rugelach Recipe | How To Make Delicious Rugelach Cookies (18)
  3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  4. Remove one disc of dough and roll out on a lightly floured surface until it is about ⅛ inch thick and 14 inches in diameter. Spread 3 tablespoons apricot preserves around the dough keeping a clean edge around the outside and a space about the size of a 2 inch circle in the center. Sprinkle ⅓ of the filling on the preserves. Easy Rugelach Recipe | How To Make Delicious Rugelach Cookies (19)
  5. Once it's rolled out, cut the dough with a pastry or pizza cutter into quarters. Then cut each quarter into three equal pieces. Starting at the wide end, fold over the corners and about ¼ inch of dough. Roll the Rugelach toward the small end. Bend the ends to form a crescent shape and place the cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Easy Rugelach Recipe | How To Make Delicious Rugelach Cookies (20)
  6. Once cool sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container and enjoy! Easy Rugelach Recipe | How To Make Delicious Rugelach Cookies (21)

Notes

Adapted from Sarahbeth's Bakery: From My Hands to YoursNB: I increased the amounts of preserves and sugar/walnut filling, as I didn't feel the original recipe made enough.

Enjoy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

36

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 131Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 31mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 2g

Like this recipe?

Be sure to follow us @pieladybakes for more recipes like this! xo

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Judy Kahansky

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Judy Kahansky is an experienced writer and baker, creating delicious desserts (including pie!) for over 40 years. She loves to take classic and vintage recipes and update them to fit the busy lives of her readers. When not baking, Judy and her husband Mark are passionate golfers, travelers and dog lovers, spending as much time as they can with their sweet pup Millie.

Easy Rugelach Recipe | How To Make Delicious Rugelach Cookies (2024)

FAQs

Why is my rugelach dough sticky? ›

Let it warm up, and it'll be annoyingly sticky. So definitely chill the dough thoroughly before using. To make the dough using a mixer: Beat together the butter, cream cheese, sour cream, and salt until smooth. Add the flour, mixing to make a stiff dough.

How long does homemade rugelach last? ›

As the rugelach bake, the butter will lightly fry their bottoms, giving them a super crunchy crust. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve warm or at room temperature. Cover leftovers and store tightly at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Should you refrigerate rugelach? ›

How long will my Rugelach last? Our Rugelach are very hearty, they stay fresh unrefrigerated for about three days. However, If you want them to last longer, putting them in a plastic bag in the fridge will keep them fresh for from 8 to 10 days.

What country is rugelach from? ›

Rugelach (/ˈruːɡələx/ ROO-gəl-əkh; Yiddish: ראגעלעך, or Yiddish: רוגעלעך, romanized: rugelekh and Hebrew: רוגלך rōgalaḵ) is a filled baked confection originating in the Jewish communities of Poland.

What to do when your dough is too sticky? ›

If your dough is too sticky and it's impossible to work with you can add some extra flour, just a little at a time. Make sure you weigh the extra flour you add and then you'll be able to adjust the recipe correctly the next time you bake.

How do you fix sticky cookie dough? ›

When cookie dough is too sticky, you may have an imbalance of wet and dry ingredients. You can fix this by adding a teaspoon of flour or cornstarch at a time until your dough is just how you want. The added flour or cornstarch will absorb the excess liquid and reduce the dough's overall stickiness.

What is a fun fact about rugelach? ›

Rugelach is a type of pastry that originated in the Jewish communities of Poland. It is popular in Israel and among Jews around the world. Rugelach is made by rolling a triangle of dough around a sweet filling, such as nuts, chocolate, jam, or poppy seeds.

When should I eat rugelach? ›

Cream cheese fillings are also a popular choice and make these little bites of deliciousness even more decadent and melt-in-your-mouth. Traditionally, Rugelach is eaten on the Jewish Sabbath, but it can also be enjoyed all year round, and makes a lovely gift to give to celebrate Hannukah or any other holiday.

Can you reheat rugelach? ›

Storage: Store in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 3 days. To refresh, place the rugelach on a sheet pan and reheat at 300 degrees until warm.

Can rugelach be frozen after baking? ›

To Freeze After Baking: Let the rugelach cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Why do Jews eat rugelach? ›

Rugelach are often served on Jewish holidays like Hanukkah and Shavuot, though of course they can (and should!) be made throughout the year. Our family typically serves them during Rosh Hashanah, when sweet foods are made to signify a sweet new year.

What is the difference between American and Israeli rugelach? ›

From a good friend of mine who is Israeli, I learned that traditional rugelach in Israel is always made with chocolate, while among American Jews it's made using jam. "As rugelach has always been a favorite of mine, I decided to take this classic dessert and put my spin on it.

Is babka the same as rugelach? ›

Babka is a yeast bread that is rolled with chocolate filling. It's usually made in a loaf pan. Rugelach is rolled like croissants. The main differences between the two of them are their shape and the type of dough they use.

Should pastry dough be sticky? ›

Mistake to Avoid No.

A perfect pie dough walks a fine line between dry and moist. If you're rolling it out and it's sticking to your rolling pin, your dough has too much moisture. What now? Adding more flour is always an option, but add too much flour and your dough will end up like a cracker—not a pie crust.

Why is my dough so sticky after bulk fermentation? ›

When the bulk fermentation goes too long — often when the dough more than doubles or triples in volume — the dough can over ferment. You know the dough has over fermented if, when you turn it out to shape it, it is very slack — if it's like a wet puddle — and very sticky and lacking any strength and elasticity.

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