Rugalah - Rugalach - Rugelach

However you spell it - Rugelach means "little twists" in Yiddish, and has Jewish Ashkenazic (Polish) origins. They are rolled cookies typically made for Hanukah. Everyone loves these!



Pastry:

2 Sticks Unsalted Butter
1 8 oz. pkg. Cream Cheese
2 Cups Flour
½ tspn. Salt

Filling:

1 Stick Unsalted Butter
1 ½ Tbspn. Cinnamon
1 ½ Cups Sugar
6 Tbspn. Finely Chopped Walnuts

Make the Pastry:

Soften the butter and cream cheese to room temperature.
Beat the butter, cream cheese, and salt with an electric mixer. Mix in the flour.
Divide the dough into 4 portions. Shape each portion into a disk. Wrap and chill until firm.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix cinnamon with sugar.
Roll 1 portion of dough into a circle.
Brush with Melted Butter.
Sprinkle with Cinnamon/Sugar Mix and Chopped Walnuts.
Cut the circle into 12 wedges.
Roll up from the wide edge to the point.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet, bending the dough into a crescent shape.
Bake 20 minutes until golden brown.
While still warm, brush with more melted butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mix.

Repeat with the remaining 3 circles.

Filling alternatives: Add a few chocolate chips or, use jam and walnuts for the filling.