When I was a kid, my parents always bought rugelach for holiday desserts. My dad got me so hooked on it, that I will eat any flavor any time of day.
If you don’t know what it is, think of the softest, most buttery pastry wrapped around some kind of jam or chocolate. It’s rolled in sugar and melts in your mouth. It’s so delicious and it’s one of my favorite desserts, EVER!
Rugelach is not easy to make, evident by my flop of a wreath this year. But, I’m posting the recipe because it tastes delicious! I’ll make it again and take a better picture next time. 🙂
Raspberry-Fig Rugelach Wreath
Ingredients
Dough:
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cubed and chilled firm
Filling:
- 5 ounces dried figs, hard stems trimmed if needed
- 1/2 cup raspberry jam
- 1/2 cup cranberry-raspberry juice
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten with 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons white sanding sugar
Directions
- Pulse together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and salt in a food processor until smooth. Add the flour and butter and pulse until the dough just comes together in a solid mass (chunks of butter should be visible), about 6 to 8 long pulses. Shape the dough into a rectangle about 1/2-inch-thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. Wipe out the food processor.
- Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine the figs, raspberry jam and juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the figs are plump and the juice is syrupy, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Puree in the food processor until smooth and set aside to cool completely.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Generously spray the back side of a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
- Put the chilled dough between 2 pieces of parchment. Roll out the dough into an 11-by-13-inch rectangle and 1/8-inch-thick (see Cook’s Note). Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Remove the top piece of the parchment, to free it from the dough, then place it back on top. Turn the dough over and remove the top piece of parchment. Spread the fig mixture evenly over the dough.
- Roll the dough into a tight log using the parchment as a guide (the dough is very soft and the parchment will make it easier to roll). Transfer the log to the prepared baking sheet, brush with the egg wash and coat with the sanding sugar. Cut 10-12 slits across the log, about 1/2-inch apart. Each slit should go about three-quarters of the way through the log so that it is still completely intact. Bend about a quarter of the log by turning some of the newly cut “tabs” out so that the pinwheels of filling are facing up. Continue turning the “tabs” out and bending the log until you have a ring. Butt the ends up against each other.
- Spray the outside of a 3 1/2-inch round ramekin with cooking spray and place in the center of the ring. Chill the shaped rugelach dough for 30 minutes. Bake until cooked through and golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Remove the ramekin and let the ring cool for 5 minutes then slide a flat spatula underneath to free the ring from the baking sheet. Gently slide the ring onto a cooling rack and let cool completely before serving. Enjoy!
Adapted from: foodnetwork.com
Season Generously 