Apricot Pecan Rugelach Recipes

PECAN-APRICOT RUGELACH

Steps:

• To make Cinnamon-Sugar Dough: In food processor, combine flour, 1 tablespoon sugar and salt. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add vinegar and 1 tablespoon ice-cold water, pulsing until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed (if necessary, add remaining water, 1 teaspoon at a time). Do not overmix.
• Shape dough into 1-inch-thick disk, then roll between 2 pieces of parchment paper to ⅛ inch thick. Combine cinnamon and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar; sprinkle over rolled dough and gently roll in. Refrigerate at least 20 minutes.
• To make Pecan-Apricot Rugelach: Heat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Spread Cinnamon-Sugar Dough with cream cheese. Combine pecans, sugar and apricot preserves; spread over cream cheese.
• Cut dough into two pieces and roll each half into long log. Brush each log with egg and cut into ¾-inch-thick pieces. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

APRICOT PECAN RUGELACH

Steps:

• In a bowl sift together flour and salt. Set aside.
• Cut up the butter and cream cheese into chunks, into a bowl to be creamed.
• Cream together until light and fluffy.
• Add the lemon zest, vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds to the butter mixture. Combine well.
• Beat in the flour mix. Mix well.
• Work the dough into a ball, then split the dough into 2 balls.
• Flatten each ball into a 6 inch disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 1/2 hours.
• Now it's time to make the filling...
• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then spread the nuts evenly out onto a cookie sheet. Toast the nuts in the oven for 6 to 9 minutes, or until lightly browned. Watch carefully, and don't burn them!
• When the nuts are toasted, set them aside to cool. When they are cooled, using a knife chop them up.
• Then get out your food processor!! Use it to combine the chopped nuts, jam, honey and cinnamon. Combine until the pecans are coarsely ground.
• After the dough has rested and chilled for the required time, take out one disc at a time from the fridge - it's time to roll it! (leave the other disc dough in the fridge until you are ready to work with it)
• Generously dust a clean work surface with about 2 tbsp to 1/4 cup of powdered sugar. (the more the better!)
• With a rolling pin roll the dough out into a 16 inch circle of even thickness. If the dough is too stiff, just knead it in your hands for a bit.
• Using half of the jam filling, spread it out evenly onto the dough, leaving about a 1cm space from the edge.
• Using a knife slice the dough first into 4 equal quarters.
• Then slice each quarter into 6 equal pieces.
• It's time to roll the rugelach! For each wedge, start from the edge of the dough and roll to the centre.
• Roll, roll, roll until you have a cute little crescent!
• Then take each dough crescent, generously dust it with powdered sugar, and place on a cookie sheet. Space them about 1 1/2 inches apart.
• Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 14-18 minutes, until the tops start turning golden brown.
• Immediately remove them from the pan, and place them on a cooling rack.
• Generously dust them with powdered sugar again.
• Repeat all the above steps for the second disc of dough and the remaining filling.

RUGELACH

Steps:

• Cream the cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the salt, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and mix until just combined. Dump the dough out onto a well-floured board and roll it into a ball. Cut the ball in quarters, wrap each piece in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• To make the filling, combine 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar, the brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the raisins, and walnuts.
• On a well-floured board, roll each ball of dough into a 9-inch circle. Spread the dough with 2 tablespoons apricot preserves and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the filling. Press the filling lightly into the dough. Cut the circle into 12 equal wedges?cutting the whole circle in quarters, then each quarter into thirds. Starting with the wide edge, roll up each wedge. Place the cookies, points tucked under, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush each cookie with the egg wash. Combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle on the cookies. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack and let cool.

PISTACHIO AND DRIED-APRICOT RUGELACH

Steps:

• Dough: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter with cream cheese, granulated sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add flour and beat on low until just combined. Divide dough into 3 disks; wrap each in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Filling: In a small saucepan, bring apricots, 1 1/3 cups water, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer until apricots are tender and most of liquid has been absorbed, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer apricot mixture to a food processor and pulse until smooth. Let cool completely. (You should have about 2 cups filling; if not, thin slightly with water, a teaspoon at a time.)
• Meanwhile, finely grind pistachios in food processor. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to a 10-inch circle, 1/8 inch thick. Spread evenly with 2/3 cup apricot mixture. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup ground pistachios. With a pizza wheel, cut circle into quarters, then cut each quarter in half, then in half again, so you have 16 wedges. Starting at outside edge of each wedge, roll up into a crescent shape. Arrange 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle with sanding sugar and 1 tablespoon ground pistachios. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer rugelach on sheets to wire racks; let cool completely. Rugelach can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

RASPBERRY AND APRICOT RUGELACH

Steps:

• In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat margarine or butter with cream cheese until blended and smooth. Beat in vanilla extract, salt, 1 cup flour, and 1/4 cup sugar until blended.
• With spoon, stir in remaining flour. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Wrap each with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• To Prepare Filling: In medium bowl, with spoon, stir walnuts, apricots, brown sugar, 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon until well mixed.
• Line 2 large baking sheets with foil and grease foil.
• On lightly floured surface, with floured rolling pin, roll 1 piece of chilled dough into a 9-inch round, keeping remaining dough refrigerated. Spread dough with 2 tablespoons raspberry preserves. Sprinkle with about 1/2 cup apricot filling; gently press filling onto dough. With pastry wheel or sharp knife, cut dough into 12 equal wedges. Starting at curved edge, roll up each wedge, jelly-roll fashion. Place cookies on foil-lined cookie sheet, point-side down, about 1/2 inch apart. Repeat with remaining dough, one-fourth at a time.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In cup, mix remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon. With pastry brush, brush rugelach with milk. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar.
• Bake rugelach at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) on 2 oven racks about 30 to 35 minutes until golden, rotating cookie sheets between upper and lower racks halfway through baking time. Immediately remove rugelach to wire racks to cool. Store in tightly covered container.

APRICOT RAISIN RUGELACH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until well blended. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture and mix well. Shape into four 5-in. logs; cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight., On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 log into a 12x8-in. rectangle. Spread with about 1/4 cup spreadable fruit; sprinkle with 5 tablespoons walnuts and 1/4 cup raisins. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle 2 tablespoons over the top. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Repeat with remaining logs. Chill., Place rolls, seam side down, 4 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Brush with cream; sprinkle with remaining sugar. With a serrated knife, make 1/2-in.-deep cuts 1 in. apart on roll-ups. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a cutting board; cut each roll into 12 slices. Cool on wire racks.

APRICOT-ALMOND RUGELACH

Steps:

• Dough: In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar, salt, and butter until butter breaks into pea-size pieces. Add cream cheese and process just until incorporated and a mass of dough is formed. Do not overmix or dough will be tough.
• Turn dough out onto a work surface and knead a couple times to bring dough into a cohesive mass. Divide dough in half and form two flat, round discs; wrap each in plastic and refrigerate for 45 minutes. (At this point, dough can be frozen for several months.)
• Filling: Lightly flour a work surface and a rolling pin, then roll one disc of dough into a 16-inch round (add more flour to prevent sticking). Evenly spread half the jam in a thin layer, stopping 1 inch from the edge of the dough. Sprinkle half the sugar over the top, followed by half the almonds.
• Assembly: Trim the outer edge of the dough to make a clean circle all around. Cut dough like a pizza into 12 triangles. Beginning at the wide end, roll up each triangle; place formed rugelach on parchment-lined sheet trays, pointed edge down. Repeat with remaining disc of dough. Freeze for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Bake rugelach until golden, 25-35 minutes. Remove to a wire rack, let cool, and serve.