Cherry Rugelach
- 1 8 -ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 cup dried cherries
- 2/3 cup apricot jam
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 3 tablespoons milk
- Sanding sugar, for decorating (optional)
- Pulse the cream cheese, granulated sugar, both extracts and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor until smooth.
- Add the flour and butter; pulse until the butter is in pea-size pieces.
- Divide the dough into 3 pieces; pat into disks and wrap in plastic.
- Chill 1 hour.
- Make the filling: Put the dried cherries and 1/4 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and pierce with a knife.
- Microwave 5 minutes, then uncover and let cool.
- Transfer to the food processor; add the jam, cinnamon, allspice and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pulse to make a paste.
- Let the dough soften slightly at room temperature.
- Roll out each piece between floured parchment into a 9-inch round; transfer to the freezer while you roll out the next one.
- Spread 1/2 cup filling on each dough round in a ring, leaving a 1/2-inch border and a 2-inch circle in the center.
- Using a sharp knife, cut each round into 12 wedges.
- Starting at the wide end, roll each wedge toward the point.
- Arrange 2 inches apart on the baking sheets; refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
- Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Brush the rugelach with the milk and sprinkle with sanding sugar.
- Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until golden, 30 minutes.
- Transfer to racks to cool completely.
- Photograph by Andrew Purcell
cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, almond, salt, flour, butter, cherries, apricot jam, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, milk, sanding sugar
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cherry-rugelach.html (may not work)