TWD: Rugelach

Rugel what? This was fun for me because I have never even heard of this cookie. We were discussing how many TWD's that we have absolutely loved and there are few, I am sad to say. However, this was a huge hit one way and a total bomb the next. Because the dough chilled in two balls we decided to try each ball of dough with different ingredients.

Dough #1 included: our family jam(peach berry), cinnamon/sugar, dried cherries, white chocolate and macadamian nuts(that was my husbands brilliant idea!) These were the ones that were absolutely amazing. They went VERY fast!

Dough #2 included: our family jam, forgot the cinnamon/sugar, craisins, chunks of pretzels, and mini chocolate chips. I thought the pretzels were a good idea. However, it is classified as a crime in this household to pair chocolate and fruit and this recipe was no exception. My husband only ate one bite of one of these.

Here is our version:

Cherry White Chip Rugelach

Dough:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
8 T butter
1 C flour
1/4 tsp salt
Filling:
2/3 C family jam
2 T sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 C macadamian nuts
1/4 C dried cherries
2/3 C white chocolate chips
Glaze:
1 lg egg
1 tsp water
2 T decorating sugar- coarse

Preheat oven to 350 degrees- unless you have my oven and then do 325.
In a food processor combine flour, salt, cream cheese, and butter and pulse until dough looks curdled. Then turn out on lightly floured surface. Divide into two balls and put in saran wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours.
Heat jam in microwave until it is almost like liquid. Combine cinnamon/sugar. Roll out a ball of dough into a large circle. Spread on half of the jam, sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar, layer nuts, chocolate, and cherries. Then cut into 16 triangles with a pizza cutter. Roll each triangle from the largest end to the smallest.
Combine the egg and water. Brush on the top of each cookie. Sprinkle with decorator sugar. Bake for 10 minutes and then rotate the pan and bake another 10 minutes.