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Rosemary Walnut And Plum Rugelach

Rugelach

Rugelach

I make rugelach every year for the holidays and every year I try to come up with a new flavor profile. Last year I did chocolate hazelnut which was really nice. This year I wanted a subtle herbal note and an altogether different jam I was kind of stuck on apricot. I thought that buttered walnuts and rosemary would make a nice combination and I made some spiced plum jam this summer, the combination sounded really good to me so I gave it a go. The walnuts have a very subtle rosemary taste (I am not a huge fan of strong rosemary) and the plum jam with gently spicing was wonderful with the walnuts. The crust is my standard cream cheese rugelach recipe, it never fails.

Rosemary Walnuts

1 1/2 cups walnuts

2 tbs butter melted

1 tbs fresh rosemary chopped

Pre heat oven to 350. place parchment sheet on small sheet pan. Mix walnuts, melted butter and rosemary in mixing bowl, pour onto sheet pan and roast for 15-20 minutes, they are done when you can smell the nuts. Remove from oven and let cool.

Makes 4 dozen

The Dough and filling:

8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature

2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature

1/4 cup granulated sugar + more for sprinkling on cookies

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cup rosemary walnuts

1/2 cup plum jam

1/4 cup light brown sugar packed

  1. In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment cream the cream cheese and butter until light. Add the sugar, salt and vanilla. With mixer on low add the flour and mix just to combine. Dump dough onto work surface form into a ball cut into four quarters and wrap each in plastic wrap, refrigerate for one hour
  2. Chop walnuts and add brown sugar, mix together.
  3. Remove one of the dough quarters from the refrigerator, roll into a circle on floured work surface. I use the lid of my dutch oven to cut an even circle. Spread jam on the dough round, sprinkle nut/sugar mixture on top of the jam and press down gently with your hand. Cut into quarters and cut each quarter into 3 pieces. Roll from widest end to smallest.
Rugelach

Looks like pizza right??

Place each rugelach on parchment lined baking sheet. Put in freezer for 15 minutes before baking. While they are in freezer pre heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Remove to cooling rack.

Yum!

Yum!

61 Comments Post a comment
  1. Extraordinary combination Suzanne! How wonderful those walnuts must taste! Enjoy the holidays, Merry Christmas!

    December 22, 2013
    • Thanks so much Viviana, oh yes the walnuts are really nice. They would be great on a salad also.

      December 22, 2013
  2. I like the rosemary in the recipe! Rugelach is a family favorite here!

    December 22, 2013
    • Thanks Shanna, I wasn’t sure how the rosemary would taste but it’s very subtle and very nice. Happy Holidays.

      December 22, 2013
      • Very, very smart. I love sweet and savory. Rosemary is common in shortbreads here and different sweet treats. šŸ™‚ However, we have never thought to put it in rugelach. Genius! Have a wonderful holiday. Your blog is so impressive! Best wishes + happy New Year! – Shanna

        December 22, 2013
  3. Absolutely wonderful-sounding combination. I can almost smell them! You make some such wonderful things around the holidays… Happy holidays!

    December 22, 2013
    • Thank you so much and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. The pugs blow kisses to Hugo!

      December 22, 2013
  4. Rugelach is not commonly eaten at my place but with this recipe, I could change that – it looks delicious šŸ˜€

    Happy Holidays!
    CCU

    December 22, 2013
  5. Looks pretty nice and seems easy to do !

    December 22, 2013
    • Thanks so much, yes they are very easy to do and they can be tailored to your taste or go with the traditional flavors. Happy Holidays!

      December 22, 2013
      • Happy holidays too šŸ™‚ I was wandering… Do you know if the 3 other pastry balls can be frozen ? I may try to do it (in order to finish a apricot jam) these day !

        December 22, 2013
      • Yes they can. I never make all 4, as a matter of fact 2 are in my freezer right now. Thaw in the refrigerator, it freezes beautifully!

        December 22, 2013
  6. Rugelach is one of those things I always wanted to make but never have tried, thanks for the yummy recipe in advance! Have a great holiday!

    December 22, 2013
  7. The Editor #

    Reblogged this on Jane Doe (at-your-service).

    December 22, 2013
  8. I am learning all the time, would you believe I had never heard of rugelach before. Your combination of ingredients for the filling sounds delicious as does last year’s one of hazelnut and chocolate.

    December 22, 2013
    • Really, wow. They are delicious, little bites, not big at all but really loaded with flavor from the different fillings. I just made the hazelnut and chocolate and used orange marmalade, it’s really good. Thanks so much.

      December 22, 2013
  9. I love rosemary, what a nice added touch! These look so delicious, Suzanne!

    December 22, 2013
    • Thanks so much Sophia, the rosemary is very subtle but you do know it’s there. It’s really nice with the plum jam.

      December 22, 2013
  10. Liz #

    looks lovely and delicious šŸ™‚ A nice counterpoint to all of the uber-sweet stuff we serve this time of year.

    December 22, 2013
    • Thanks Liz, uber sweet yes a real overload of sweets right now. Have a wonderful holiday!

      December 22, 2013
  11. What a great combination of ingredients… mouth watering.

    December 22, 2013
  12. Roasting the walnuts with melted butter and rosemary is a touch of genius! Would never have thought of doing that, nor using that combo of flavours. Like you I’m not keen on anything with a robust rosemary flavour. Which is why I hardly ever use it these days. But that! Try and keep me from buying in a pack of rosemary over the next couple of days. As for the rugelach I’ve only ever seen them on blogs. Have never tasted them. So! Shall be trying these over Christmas. Oh, have just baked thee most delicious date and walnut loaf (tea bread) by A Taste of Wintergreen. Going to try and get photos tomorrow.
    Hope you’ve recovered! And that you’re well for these coming Hols.

    December 22, 2013
    • Thank you so much Johnny, I can’t wait to see the recipe for the date nut loaf. I will make that, I need to make some loaves. Merry Christmas hope you have a wonderful holiday!

      December 22, 2013
  13. I’m certain they are exquisitely delicious but they are also so pretty and darling! Wonderful!

    December 22, 2013
  14. I have always wanted to make rugelach, but to this day, have never done so! 😦 Your look wonderful, and perfect for this time of year! Lovely!!

    December 23, 2013
  15. Suzanne these look incredible! I’ve fallen in love with the addition of herbs in fruit preserves, cakes and other baked goods recently. The slight savoury note adds such a beautiful complexity. I’d love to try these rugelach soon, I’ve never heard of them and I think I’ve seriously missed out. Yum! Thanks so much… cannot wait to try the recipe! I hope that you and your family will have a beautiful Christmas xx

    December 23, 2013
  16. These look absolutely delicious! The combination of walnuts and rosemary sounds like a perfect match šŸ™‚ Thanks for the recipe, Suzanne. I have never made rugelach before but I sure plan to do so now.

    December 23, 2013
    • Thanks so much Julian, yes the rosemary and walnut and plum is a great combination. It’s very easy to make albeit a bit labor intensive but totally worth it. Happy Holidays!

      December 23, 2013
  17. I love rugelach but have ever made it – always thought it was too complicated – but you have broken it down so well! What a lovely flavor combo this rugelach is!Thanks so much for sharing

    December 23, 2013
  18. shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com #

    I love rugelach but have ever made it – always thought it was too complicated – but you have broken it down so well! What a lovely flavor combo this rugelach is!Thanks so much for sharing

    December 23, 2013
  19. Wow Suzanne these look amazing! šŸ™‚

    December 23, 2013
  20. These are my favorite. I eat them all year round!

    December 23, 2013
    • They are delicious, you are so right they are good any time of year!

      December 23, 2013
  21. These rugelach sounds exquisite, sophisticated yet not overly stuffy or complicated. Wonderful! Perfect for the holidays. I love finding herbs in unexpected places and these are simply lovely.

    December 23, 2013
    • Thanks so much Kate. Me too, I love adding herbs into dishes (especially sweets) where they are not expected.

      December 23, 2013
  22. I love the idea of making the same cookies each year with a different flavor profile. I love these three flavors that you combined here – sweet but not too sweet. Yum! Have a great Christmas, Suzanne!

    December 23, 2013
    • Thank you so much, yes I like to mix it up a bit, keep it new and get a little adventurous. You too, have a great holiday.

      December 23, 2013
  23. Thanks for the reminder to make these. They are Myles’ favorite cookie from his childhood. And I love the idea of adding the rosemary. Plum is so great with herbs!! Yum!!

    December 23, 2013
  24. These are so cute! and look really Christmasy delicious! I’ve never baked with plum jam, but this combination sounds so so yummy. Hoping you have the merriest Christmas Suzanne with friends and family there.

    December 23, 2013
    • Thank you I love plum jam and the combination is really good. You also have a very Merry Christmas with lots of fun, food and festivities!

      December 24, 2013
  25. I love the look of these Suzanne and the fact that the fillings can be changed depending on the seasons or personal preferences! I remember seeing rugelach in a couple of places in New York (that was the first time I’d ever heard of it) – I look forward to trying your recipe! Wishing you a very happy Christmas!

    December 24, 2013
  26. Very nice! Happy Holidays, Suzanne! šŸ™‚

    December 25, 2013
  27. Rosemary flavored walnuts?!?! Oh goodness…I have to try that! These not only sound wonderful, but they look beautiful too! Mmmmmmm. Merry Christmas Suzanne!

    December 25, 2013
    • Merry Christmas Brandi, yes those rosemary walnuts are delicious, I was thinking of making more and just eat ing the walnuts plain, even sweetened they would be delicious.

      December 25, 2013
  28. Those look amazing Suzanne!!! I love apricot jam. It goes well with everything and everybody loves it but lately I prefer to indulge myself with different flavors. I think your choice to go with the plum jam was perfect. The combination with the rosemary walnuts (I have never heard of it before! šŸ™‚ ) must be divine! šŸ™‚

    December 27, 2013
    • Thank you so much Francesca, I am a jam fan. Love all varieties wish I made more this summer. I had never heard of the combination of the plum, walnuts and rosemary but luckily it went together beautifully.

      December 27, 2013
  29. These special treats are on my list to make tomorrow. They look just tasty & so beautiful. Yummmmmm. šŸ˜€

    December 30, 2013

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