This Israeli Chocolate Rugelach Has a Hint of Cinnamon Spice (2024)

By

Giora Shimoni

A kosher food enthusiast and home cook with hundreds of published recipes, Giora Shimoni has worked in online publishing for over 20 years.

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Updated on 04/20/22

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While many adults prefer rugelach filled with preserves and nuts, kids tend to enjoy the chocolate-filled variety. Americans typically fill their chocolate rugelach with mini-chocolate chips, while Israelis will make their own chocolate filling. This version follows that Israeli tradition, which usually includes a touch of cinnamon.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 7 ounces unsalted butter

  • 8 ounces cream cheese

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

For the Chocolate Filling:

  • 1 tablespoon cocoa

  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1/2 cup grated bittersweet chocolate

  • 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted

For the Topping:

  • 1 large egg

  • 1/4 cup sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    This Israeli Chocolate Rugelach Has a Hint of Cinnamon Spice (2)

  2. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese together. Add sugar and vanilla, and mix until smooth.

    This Israeli Chocolate Rugelach Has a Hint of Cinnamon Spice (3)

  3. Add flour and mix lightly.

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  4. Refrigerate dough for an hour or more. Preheat oven to 350 F.

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  5. Divide the dough into four balls. On a floured surface, using a floured rolling pin, roll 1 ball out into a circle until about 1/8-inch thick.

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  6. In a small bowl, mix together the cocoa, cinnamon, sugar, and grated chocolate.

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  7. Spread some melted butter on the center of the circle. Sprinkle the chocolate mixture on top.

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  8. Cut the pastry into pie-shaped wedges. For bite-size and nice looking rugelach, the thick end of the wedge should about an 1- to 1 1/2-inch wide.

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  9. Start at the wide edge of the wedge and roll the dough up toward the point.

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  10. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place each pastry, seam-side down, on the paper.

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  11. Brush each pastry with the egg and sugar.

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  12. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.​

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  13. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Be careful with how much filling you're adding—using too much leads to messy-looking rugelach.
  • If you don't want to use parchment paper, you can spray the cookie sheets with nonstick spray.
  • A pizza cutter makes it easier to cut the dough into pie-shaped wedges.
  • After rolling the dough up and placing on the parchment paper, you can stick them in your freezer. When you need fresh rugelach, take them right from the freezer into the oven and add a few minutes to the baking time.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
270Calories
18g Fat
24g Carbs
3g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 18
Amount per serving
Calories270
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g23%
Saturated Fat 11g56%
Cholesterol 54mg18%
Sodium 136mg6%
Total Carbohydrate 24g9%
Dietary Fiber 1g5%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 27mg2%
Iron 1mg8%
Potassium 72mg2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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This Israeli Chocolate Rugelach Has a Hint of Cinnamon Spice (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between American and Israeli rugelach? ›

Rugelach are a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish treat made from a sweet yeast dough folded over a filling of your choice. Although the American version uses Cream Cheese for the dough, these Israeli-style Rugelach are made from a yeasted enriched dough that is quite similar to a Babka.

What is chocolate rugelach made of? ›

If you love chocolate, you'll this Chocolate Rugelach - a bite-sized cookie made with a cream cheese dough and filled with dark chocolate. They're flaky, buttery, chocolatey, and absolutely delicious. They're the perfect Christmas cookie, but can be made any time of the year.

What nationality is 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 is a fun fact about rugelach? ›

It is popular in Israel and among Jews around the world. Rugelach is made by rolling a triangle of dough around a sweet filling, such as nuts, chocolate, jam, or poppy seeds. The name rugelach means “l*ttle twists” or “l*ttle corners” in Yiddish, because of the shape of the pastry.

Why do Jews eat rugelach? ›

Rugelach are often served on Jewish holidays like Hanukkah and Shavuot, though of course they can (and should!) be made throughout the year. Our family typically serves them during Rosh Hashanah, when sweet foods are made to signify a sweet new year.

When should I eat rugelach? ›

Traditionally, Rugelach is eaten on the Jewish Sabbath, but it can also be enjoyed all year round, and makes a lovely gift to give to celebrate Hannukah or any other holiday.

Should you refrigerate rugelach? ›

How long will my Rugelach last? Our Rugelach are very hearty, they stay fresh unrefrigerated for about three days. However, If you want them to last longer, putting them in a plastic bag in the fridge will keep them fresh for from 8 to 10 days.

Is babka the same as rugelach? ›

Babka is a yeast bread that is rolled with chocolate filling. Babaka usually made in a loaf pan as one cake. Cooks roll rugelach like croissants, creating a more individual dessert. The main differences between the two of them are their shape and the type of dough they use.

What is a rugelach in Yiddish? ›

What does “Rugelach” mean? The word “Rugelach” in Yiddish means “little twists.” The cookies originated in Ashkenazi Polish Jewish communities, but are popular with people of all backgrounds and cultures nowadays.

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? ›

Rugelach and schnecken are the subject of much confusion in the world of Jewish baking. They are both treats made from the combination of cookie or yeast dough and are filled with different ingredients, like ground nuts, raisins, and jam.

What does the rugelach symbolize? ›

Some people believe that Austria was the birthplace of rugelach, where it was made to commemorate the expulsion of the Turks. Bakers in Austria celebrated the victory by baking crescent-shaped pastries called 'kipferin'.

What is the difference between a croissant and a rugelach? ›

However, while the croissant remained plain to be eaten with butter or cheese, the Rugelach was seen as more of a dessert pastry, being filled with an assortment of fruit jams or poppy seed pastes.

How many calories are in a chocolate rugelach? ›

: DELANCEY DESSERT, HAND ROLLED RUGELACH, CHOCOLATE
NameAmountUnit
Energy208kcal
Protein4.17g
Total lipid (fat)12.5g
Carbohydrate, by difference20.83g
9 more rows

What is the difference between regular and Israeli couscous? ›

Israeli couscous is markedly larger than plain couscous and lacks the butter-yellow hue signature of its diminutive namesake. Beyond size and color, the Nosher writes that Israeli couscous has a more toasted-wheat flavor, as the pasta pearls are toasted before drying and packaging.

What is the difference between Neveila and Treifa? ›

Technically speaking, if a kosher species of animal or fowl was attacked by a predator, the meat of the victim may be deemed treif, non-kosher. However, the meat of an animal improperly kosher slaughtered is not treifa, it is called a neveila. Technically, meat of a non-kosher animal species is the meat of a temeiah.

What's the difference between schnecken and rugelach? ›

Some people make Rugelach that looks like Schnecken but it's the dough that really makes the difference. Schnecken is made with sour cream, whereas Rugelach is made with Cream Cheese.

What does an Israeli breakfast look like? ›

The extravaganza of all breakfasts includes, and is not limited to, eggs any style, shakshuka, chopped salad, roasted eggplant, tahini, avocado salad, pickles, lox and herring, fresh and hard cheeses, breads and pita, babka and danishes and excellent coffee (an Israeli obsession).

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