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Posts tagged ‘chocolate rugelach’

Dec 4

25 Comments

Chocolate Hazelnut Rugelach-Day 4 Of 7 Days Of Holiday Cookies

Photo taken by Whole Foods

Photo by Joseph De Leo for Whole Foods

I love rugelach and have eaten the traditional and non traditional varieties. I also love chocolate and hazelnuts together (nutella!!) and thought that it would be wonderful in rugelach, the combination is fantastic and the apricot jam with the chocolate and nuts takes it to a whole new level.

I entered this in the Whole Foods Holiday Cookie contest in 2011 and won, these are exceptional and it’s another cookie that is included in my gift box every single year.

Making rugelach is a bit labor intensive but so worth it, I am not very good at making each wedge evenly sized but it’s alright, part of the beauty of homemade baked goods is that they are not always perfect. I used the traditional apricot jam for these cookies but this year I think I will use orange marmalade, I think the orange with the chocolate and hazelnut will be a wonderful combination.

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 hazelnuts

1/2 cup apricot jam(If you have preserves puree in food processor until smooth

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped into small pieces (or mini chips)

1/4 cup light brown sugar packed

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

  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. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees, line a sheet pan with parchment and spread hazelnuts on pan. Toast in oven approximately 6-8 minutes take them out when you can smell the nuts. If you want to remove the skins you can do so by rubbing the nuts in a tea towel. I don’t do that. Chop the nuts and mix with the brown sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
  3. If using preserves add to food processor and puree until smooth, remove and set aside. Chop chocolate into very small pieces, cover and set aside.

Making the rugelach:

dough

jam

hazelnuts

chocolate

1 egg beaten with a tsp of water for egg wash

sugar to sprinkle on rugelach

  1. Take your dough out of the refrigerator working with one quarter at a time. On floured work surface roll dough into a 9 inch circle. (I use a lid from my dutch oven and cut around it making a neat circle) spread jam on dough, sprinkle with hazelnuts and chocolate. Press the nuts and chocolate lightly with your hand. Cut first into quarters and then each quarter into 3 equal wedges, you will have 12 when finished, Roll each wedge starting from the largest end rolling to the smallest end.
  2. Place rugelach on parchment lined sheet. pan Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.Chill in the refrigerator before baking for 15 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Repeat with each quarter of the dough. Dough can be refrigerated for 2-3 days or frozen for later use.
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