Gluten Free Apple Walnut Rugelach Recipes

APPLE BUTTER RUGELACH

Steps:

• Prepare the dough: In a stand mixer or in a large bowl, using a handheld mixer, on medium, beat the butter, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and salt until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the flour and beat until just combined. Don't overwork it. Tip the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap and press it together into a ball, using the wrap to help. Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a 6-inch circle and wrap each with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days. (Dough can be frozen for up to 3 months.)
• In a small bowl, mix together the apple butter, honey, sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
• On a floured surface, roll one slab of dough out to a 11-inch circle with neat edges. (If, at any point, the dough becomes too soft, you can transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet and pop it in the fridge for a few minutes.) Spread half of the apple butter mixture on the top of the dough, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Sprinkle with half of the walnuts and half of the currants. With a pizza wheel or sharp knife, cut the dough into 16 equal triangles. Starting from the wide end, gently roll each triangle up and tuck the end under. Transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, at least 1 inch apart. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough, apple butter mixture, nuts and dried fruit, and transfer to another prepared sheet. Refrigerate until cold, about 15 minutes.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Brush each cookie with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until they are puffed and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes, rotating the sheets once. Transfer the sheets to a rack to cool.

GLUTEN-FREE APPLE, WALNUT RUGELACH

Steps:

• Cream the butter, cream cheese, and sugar together until smooth and soft. Add in the orange zest and eggs, and beat until well combined. Mix in the flour until a dough is formed. This may require a bit of kneading.
• If you want to ferment the dough, leave it to rest at room temperature for 2-6 hours. See the section above for more details on fermenting the dough. Otherwise, leave the dough to rest for 10 minutes while you put together the filling. The dough can also be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• To make the filling, mix the grated apple with lemon juice, cinnamon, and chopped raisins. Then stir in the walnuts.
• To form the rugelach, divide the dough into three balls. Roll one ball out into a large circle, it should be about 1/4-inch (5 mm) thick.
• Spread a thin layer of cream cheese over the circle, then sprinkle on 1/3 of the filling.
• Cut the circle into 8 or 12 triangular wedges (depending on if you want large or small rugelach.)
• Carefully roll the rugelach into a crescent shape. Place on a cookie sheet. They can be packed quite closely as they won't rise very much. See the section above for more details, including photos, to help you form the rugelach.
• Repeat the process with each of the other two balls of dough.
• To get a puffier pastry, chill the formed rugelach for 30 minutes in the fridge before baking. For a crisp brown pastry, glaze with a beaten egg. (I haven't done that for the photos).
• Bake for 20-30 minutes at 375F, rotating halfway through to ensure even baking. Serve right away, or freeze for longer storage. (See the section above for details).

WALNUT RUGELACH

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together onto a sheet of waxed paper.
• Beat 1/4 cup white sugar, butter, and cream cheese together in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla.
• Stir flour mixture into butter mixture until dough is just combined. Divide dough into 3 equal portions; shape each portion into a disk, wrap disks in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Beat egg white in a bowl with an electric mixture until frothy. Mix walnuts and 1/2 cup white sugar into egg white.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove dough from plastic wrap and roll each disk out into a 7-inch circle. Spread 1/3 the egg white mixture onto each dough circle, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edge of each circle. Cut each circle into 12 wedges. Roll up each wedge from the edge to the point and place, point-side down, on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool and dust with confectioners' sugar.

CINNAMON, RAISIN & WALNUT RUGELACH

Steps:

• Beat the soft cheese and butter together using electric beaters or in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the 50g of caster sugar, the salt and vanilla extract, and beat to combine.
• Add the flour gradually, beating on a low setting until just combined. Do not overwork it or the dough will become tough and chewy. Add a little more flour if it's very sticky.
• Press the dough into a ball and divide it into quarters. Wrap each ball of dough and press into a flat disc. Chill for at least 30 mins to firm up a little.
• Meanwhile, mix together the 30g of caster sugar, the brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins and walnuts. If you prefer a less chunky finish, give them a quick whizz in a food processor or chop them very finely.
• Take one of the discs from the fridge, and on a well-floured board, roll out the first ball into a large circle of at least 23cm diameter.
• Cut out a 23cm circle and spread the circle thinly with a tablespoon of the apricot jam, then sprinkle evenly with about 2-3 tablespoons of the filling, so the circle has a fine covering.
• Using a pizza cutting wheel or sharp knife, divide the circle into 8 or 12 wedges, depending how large you want your biscuits to be - 12 wedges makes mini rugelach.
• Roll each wedge up from the wider, outside edge to the thinnest point, tucking the point under. Arrange on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment, allowing at least a centimetre or two between them.
• Put the tray in the fridge while you repeat with the remaining balls of dough. You should have enough dough left over to make a fifth circle, and you may need to bake them in batches.
• Chill the formed rugelach for at least 30 mins. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and mix the last 2 tbsp of caster sugar with the 1 tsp cinnamon.
• Brush each rugelach with the egg wash, then sprinkle with a little cinnamon sugar and bake for 25 mins until lightly browned. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

GLUTEN-FREE FLOURLESS WALNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 160°C and line a 22cm springform cake tin with baking paper.
• Using an electric beater, beat the egg yolks and the sugar together. COntinue beating until light and fluffy. This should take about five minutes.
• Meanwhile, grate the zest of the entire lemon. Add the zest to the egg yolk mixture. Set aside.
• Using a food processor or mini-mill grind the walnuts. You are looking for a fine nut meal texture. Set aside.
• In a seperate bowl, beat the egg whites and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
• Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Add the ground walnuts to the egg yolk mixture as well. Stir until thoroughly blended.
• Very carefully, fold in the remaining egg whites. Do not overbeat as you are looking to keep a light airy texture.
• Pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 50 to 60 minutes. WHen done should be firm to the touch and golden brown.
• Allow the cake to cool comepletely in the tin befoore removing to serve.
• Suggested serving with freshly whipped cream.