Chocolate Rugelach Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipesDessertsCookiesChocolate Rugelach

Kelly Senyei

Posted: November 28, 2018

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A not-so-secret ingredient in this recipe for Chocolate Rugelach guarantees these little treats will be a big hit with cookie lovers of all ages.

Chocolate Rugelach Recipe (2)

Rugelach and I go way back, back to the holidays of my childhood, when my siblings and I would scarf down batch after batch of jam-filled rugelach at my Hungarian grandmother’s house.

She would purchase the rugelach, or “little twists” as it translates to in Yiddish, from a local European bakery, but their distinctive shape and oh-so-flaky texture were impossible to forget.

Chocolate Rugelach Recipe (3)

I’ve done my best to recreate that perfect pairing of flaky cream cheese dough and filling of your choice. Julian got his mom’s sweet tooth, and he’s been requesting the little “chocky cookies” overflowing with a mix of shaved semisweet and bittersweet chocolates. (I love this combination, as it guarantees the filling won’t be overly sweet.)

Chocolate Rugelach Recipe (4)

This recipe makes nearly 50 of the croissant-shaped sweets, but they’re only a few bites each, so don’t let the high yield overwhelm you.

If you’re looking to save a little time, you can freeze the unbaked rugelach then defrost them and bake off batches as needed. They taste just as great on days 2, 3 and 4 as they do the day they’re made, so don’t hesitate to use this recipe as your go-to make-ahead dessert for the holidays.

Chocolate Rugelach Recipe (5)

Becausethey maintain their stellar flavor and texture, these chocolate rugelach are also a great option for packaging up and gifting, no matter how far the destination!

Chocolate Rugelach Recipe (6)

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Dessert

Thecookie crazecontinues, with this week’s recipe starring bittersweet chocolate chunks rolled into flaky cream cheese dough for the ultimate Chocolate Rugelach.

Author: Kelly Senyei

Chocolate Rugelach Recipe (7)

Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Servings 48 Rugelach

Print Recipe

Ingredients

For the cream cheese dough:

  • 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, cold and cubed
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 2 1/2 cups flour, plus additional for rolling out the dough
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the chocolate filling:

  • 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into small pieces or shavings
  • 4 Tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 large egg, whisked with 1 Tablespoon water

Instructions

  • Make the dough by combining the cream cheese, butter, flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Blend the ingredients together until the fat becomes evenly dispersed within the flour and it begins to form into a ball.

  • Remove the dough from the food processor (squeezing it into a ball as needed) then place it in a bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap then refrigerate the dough for one hour or up to one day.

  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator and cut it into 4 pieces. Place 3 pieces back into the refrigerator.

  • Combine the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Set it aside.

  • Lightly flour your work surface, then using a rolling pin, roll it into a circle about 1/8-inch thick. (The dough will be very hard, so it's best to first beat it down with a rolling pin to flatten it slightly. It will loosen up as it comes to room temperature.)

  • Immediately brush the rolled out dough with one-fourth of the melted butter and sprinkle it with one-fourth of the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Sprinkle one-fourth of the chocolate onto the dough, pressing it lightly into the dough.

  • Cut the dough into 12 wedges.

  • Roll each wedge up, starting from the thickest end, until you form a crescent shape.

  • Repeat the rolling, topping and shaping process with the other three pieces of dough.

  • Place the rugelach on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate it for 30 minutes. (You can also freeze the rugelach at this point for later use.)

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

  • Brush the tops of the rugelach with the egg wash then sprinkle them with additional cinnamon-sugar.

  • Bake the rugelach for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer the rugelach to a cooling rack to cool completely.

  • ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!

Nutrition

Calories: 77kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 8mg, Sodium: 48mg, Potassium: 33mg, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 95IU, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 0.6mg

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Recipe adapted from BellaOnline.

Chocolate Rugelach Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between American and Israeli Rugelach? ›

Some bakeries began to use a laminated yeast dough, with layers of butter, similar to that used for making croissants. Secondly, the filling was given a Middle Eastern spin with the use of halva. Israeli rugelach are lighter and fluffier than their American counterparts.

What is chocolate rugelach made of? ›

The best way I can describe Yeasted Chocolate Rugelach is like a miniature babka cookie! Thin layers of enriched pastry, rolled up with a dark chocolate filling, baked till golden brown, and brushed in a light sugar syrup. It almost sounds like too much, but trust me, it's just right.

What country is rugelach from? ›

Rugelach (/ˈruːɡələx/ ROO-gəl-əkh; Yiddish: ראגעלעך, or Yiddish: רוגעלעך, romanized: rugelekh and Hebrew: רוגלך rōgalaḵ) is a filled baked confection originating in the Jewish communities of Poland.

How long will rugelach keep? ›

Storage: Rugelach will keep at room temperature for 3 days (wrapped tightly) or 1 to 2 weeks longer in the refrigerator. Freezer: Freeze the discs of dough for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before proceeding with the recipe. Or freeze the shaped Rugelach cookies for up to 3 months.

What is the difference between babka and rugelach? ›

Babka is a yeast bread that is rolled with chocolate filling. It's usually made in a loaf pan. Rugelach is rolled like croissants. The main differences between the two of them are their shape and the type of dough they use.

What is the most famous dessert in Israel? ›

The most authentic Israeli traditional recipes are for knafeh (shredded filo pastry, soft cheese, and sweet syrup); mutabak (stuffed, fried pastry); muhallebi (milk pudding), and halva crack pie. Every Holy Land bakery sells delicious rugalach, a rolled pastry filled with chocolate.

What is a fun fact about rugelach? ›

Historically, Rugelach is said to be linked with the Viennese Kipfel, crescent shaped pastries which commemorate the lifting of the Turkish siege in the Battle of Vienna. Rugelach is also similar in shape to the French croissant, which may be a descendant of the popular sweet pastry.

When should I eat rugelach? ›

In the early 20th century, American Jewish cooks took the concept of kipfel and added cream cheese to the dough, resulting in the delicious rugelach we know and love today. Rugelach are often served on Jewish holidays like Hanukkah and Shavuot, though of course they can (and should!) be made throughout the year.

Is rugelach Ashkenazi? ›

Rugelach (or Ruglulach) is a Jewish pastry of Ashkenazi origin and is made with a cream cheese dough and different fillings that can include raisins, walnuts, cinnamon, chocolate, or apricot jam preserve.

What is a rugelach in English? ›

noun. , Jewish Cooking. , plural rug·e·lach. a bite-size pastry made by rolling a triangle of dough around a filling of jam, nuts, raisins, etc.

What is similar to rugelach? ›

Unfortunately, schnecken is harder to find than its more popular sweet sister rugelach (also rolled with similar fillings). But the sweet story behind this underappreciated confection will leave you salivating and, we hope, game to try a change of pace when it comes to your morning pastry.

Can I freeze rugelach? ›

You can freeze rugelach pastries before or after baking them. Before baking, you can freeze them on a parchment-lined baking sheet until frozen. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Can you reheat rugelach? ›

Storage: Store in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 3 days. To refresh, place the rugelach on a sheet pan and reheat at 300 degrees until warm.

What does rugelach taste like? ›

A traditional Jewish treat, rugelach tastes like buttery, light, and flaky croissants, but aren't nearly as fussy.

What is Israel signature dish? ›

Israel does not have a universally recognized national dish; in previous years this was considered to be falafel, deep-fried balls of seasoned, ground chickpeas.

What is the Israeli food pastry? ›

Bourekas or burekas (Hebrew: בורקס) are a popular baked pastry in Sephardic Jewish cuisine and Israeli cuisine.

What is the difference between rugelach and Kifli? ›

What is the difference between rugelach and kifli? Rugelach and kifli are very similar rolled cookie desserts but the biggest difference comes down to the fillings with kifli usually being filled with walnuts while rugelach can be filled with fruit preserves, chocolate, etc.

What is shawarma made of in Israel? ›

In Israel, most shawarma is made with dark-meat turkey, commonly served with tahina sauce instead of Yogurt for kashrut reasons. It is often garnished with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, pickled vegetables, hummus, tahina sauce, sumac, or amba mango sauce.

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