Rugelach are the perfect little treat to have any day of the year, but they are a must-have at Hanukkah! Cookies made by rolling dough around a slightly-sweet filling like jam, chocolate, or even poppy seeds, rugelach are a favorite Jewish tradition.
And what’s even better is that these cookies are easy and fun to make! Even if you don’t celebrate Hanukkah, you can participate in this tradition by making rugelach for your friends and family.
Our rugelach dough is made with butter and cream cheese, which makes it a creamy and just a little tangy. It’s easy to roll out! Just make sure you put plenty of flour down on your counter and sprinkled on the top of the dough to keep the rolling pin from sticking. If you have trouble rolling a circle, do the best you can, then use a cake pan, plate, or other round item to trace a perfect circle on your dough.
Our favorite version is filled with jam, chopped nuts, and a little cinnamon sugar, but you can spread the dough with chopped chocolate, apple butter, and even peanut butter and jelly! Sprinkle just cinnamon sugar or some tahini, za'atar, and sesame seeds for a savory version. Just don’t add too much, since when you roll the cookies, too much filling can leak out the sides.
The dough isn’t sweetened, which means these cookies aren't super sweet. That makes them the perfect dessert to finish a big holiday meal, especially alongside a mug of warm apple cider.