Chocolate Rugelach Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipesDessertsCookiesChocolate Rugelach

Kelly Senyei

Posted: November 28, 2018

from 11 votes

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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

4.55 from 11 votes

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 chocolate rugelach made of? ›

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 does rugelach mean in Yiddish? ›

Yiddish for “little twists” or “rolled things,” rugelach have become a popular dessert in America, enjoyed by Jews and non-Jews alike. They descend from an Eastern European pastry known as kipfel, which is a croissant-like cookie made with flour, butter, sour cream, sugar, and yeast.

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 a fun fact about rugelach? ›

These croissant-shaped treats are believed to have originated in the Jewish communities of Poland and are also popular in Israel as well as the Jewish diaspora. They make the perfect treat for Rosh Hashanah because we eat sweets in the hopes of a sweet new year.

What are the chocolate ingredients? ›

Dark Chocolate Ingredients: Cacao liquor, sugar, cacao butter, lecithin, and vanilla. Milk Chocolate Ingredients: Cacao liquor, sugar, cacao butter, milk solids, milk fat, lecithin, vanilla. White Chocolate Ingredients: Sugar, Cacao butter, milk solids, milk fat, lecithin, vanilla.

What is the history of the chocolate rugelach? ›

Rugelach's history can be traced back to medieval times in Eastern Europe, specifically within Ashkenazi Jewish communities. Rugelach is a type of pastry that originated in the Jewish communities of Poland. It is popular in Israel and among Jews around the world.

What is the difference between American and Israeli rugelach? ›

Rugelach

In Israel, rugelach are still made with yeasted dough, which results in squidgy, dense pastries, while in the States, the yeast — a complex, time-consuming ingredient to work with — was replaced sometime around the 1930s by a simpler dough enriched with cream cheese, yielding a flakier cookie.

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 does rugelach symbolize? ›

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.

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.

Why do Jews eat rugelach? ›

because it was a cheap, easy way to get calories. In late 19 30s, Jewish bakeries start making their beloved rugelah. with this shortcut, useless cream cheese dough. And rather than shaping them like horns or crescents, they cut them like cinnamon rolls, and the rest is history.

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 country makes Rugelach? ›

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.

What does rugelach taste like? ›

Like cinnamon rolls, but without any yeast. A traditional Jewish treat, rugelach tastes like buttery, light, and flaky croissants, but aren't nearly as fussy.

What is chocolate custard made of? ›

Beat eggs and vanilla extract together in a medium bowl until combined; set aside. Whisk milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, brandy, and salt together in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling and thickened, 6 to 8 minutes.

What is rugelach dough made of? ›

Satiny soft dough made with butter, cream cheese, and sour cream wrapped around a filling of sugar, nuts, and dried fruit: that's rugelach, which in Yiddish means "little twists." Beloved in many Jewish communities, these cookies flake like a Danish or croissant with its buttery flavor the perfect foil for the sweet ...

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