Chocolate Rugelach

Have you been baking cookies this holiday season? Although these rugelach, originally from the Jewish community of  Poland, were never part of my Christmas cookie traditions growing up, they’ve been a favorite of mine for decades. I finally got around to making them this year, and they are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I’m going to have to tuck these away in the freezer or I’ll eat the whole batch before company arrives for the Christmas holiday.  I followed the basic dough recipe from Ina Garten, but instead of using the traditional raisins, jam and nuts filling, I opted for a chocolate filling. I also lowered the temperature to 325 degrees, and kept them in a little longer, since at 350 degrees, some of the interior dough wasn’t thoroughly cooked.

After chilling the dough, quarter it and then roll each quarter to a circumference of about 9 or 10 inches. Spread the chocolate filling all around, cut into triangles, then roll up each triangle, starting from the wide end. Place the rolled cookies on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, then brush with some beaten egg, and sprinkle with a little bit of sugar and a pinch of cinnamon.Bake for about 20 minutes at 325 degrees F., or until lightly golden. Let them cool, then sprinkle with a little powdered sugar (optional) and enjoy.

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Chocolate Rugelach

printable recipe here

Ingredients

• FOR THE DOUGH:
• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2-pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar plus 9 tablespoons
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• CHOCOLATE FILLING
• 8 oz semisweet chocolate
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ ground cinnamon optional
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• FOR THE TOPPING:
• an egg, lightly beaten with a teaspoon of water, to brush on top
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• a pinch of cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Cream the cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light.
3. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the salt, and vanilla.
4. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and mix until just combined.
5. Dump the dough out onto a well-floured board and roll it into a ball.
6. Cut the ball in quarters, wrap each piece in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
7. While the dough is chilling, melt the chocolate in a double boiler, then stir in the sugar, cinnamon and salt and mix well.
8. On a well-floured board, roll each ball of dough into a 9 to 10-inch circle.
9. Spread the dough with 1/4 of the chocolate mixture.
10. Cut the circle into 16 equal wedges, cutting the whole circle in quarters, then each quarter into four pieces.
11. Starting with the wide edge, roll up each wedge.
12. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
13. Brush each cookie with the egg wash.
14. Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on the cookies.
15. Bake for about 20 minutes, until lightly browned.
16. Remove to a wire rack and let cool.

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