Raspberry-Almond Rugelach Recipe

Orange zest in the dough zings in contrast with a jammy, almond-studded filling.

By
Cathy Barrow
A headshot of Cathy Barrow, a Contributing Writer at Serious Eats
Cathy Barrow
Cathy Barrow is an award-winning cookbook author, knitter, traveler, cook, teacher, and gardener. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Serious Eats, Food52, and several other food publications. Her books include Mrs. Wheelbarrow’s Practical Pantry (2014), Pie Squared (2018), When Pies Fly (2019), and Bagels, Schmears, and a Nice Piece of Fish (2022).
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Updated February 04, 2023
Three almond-raspberry rugelach on a ceramic plate.

Serious Eats / Emily Dryden

Why It Works

  • Cream cheese in the dough means a tangy flavor, easier rolling, and a sturdy pastry that holds its shape for a bronzed, buttery, flaky cookie.
  • Sprinkling fresh bread crumbs over the filling thickens any potential runniness.
  • Baking the rugelach on stacked baking sheets prevents the bottoms of the cookies from burning.
  • Egg-washing the cookies before baking gives them a shiny, bright finish.

My grandmother was famous for her rugelach: She kept them at the ready under a cake dome where us kids could easily reach them, and she offered them at bake sales and parties. Hers were the “American-style," made with cream cheese dough, and always included a secret ingredient: fresh breadcrumbs sprinkled over the filling to keep it in place. 

You have a few decisions to make—the filling is ripe for creativity. Try this nutella-brown butter-peanut filled version. Rugelach can also be made savory: think olives, ham, or onion jam and everything bagel seasoning.

Also, what shape? My grandmother always rolled her cookies into crescents, which takes a little more time, but you can also choose spirals. This classic rugelach recipe has a more detailed explanation of making the dough and shaping.

Overhead view of a pan of crescent-shape rugelach, fresh from the oven.

Serious Eats / Emily Dryden

Lastly, I bake rugelach on two stacked baking sheets, which tempers the heat and ensures you get golden, caramelized bottoms, instead of burnt ones. 

Close-up of a spiral-sliced raspberry-almond rugelach.

Serious Eats / Emily Dryden

For this raspberry-almond version, I add a whisper of orange zest to the dough, which zings in contrast with the jammy filling studded with nuts. You can substitute any jam, nut, or citrus here—this recipe is like a roadmap to rugelach. Start with rich, flaky cream cheese dough; add the citrus zest; and wrap it around the filling. This is less about the spices and more about the jam, so select a good spread, and be stingy while spreading it. Just a scant half cup will do the trick.

December 2017

Recipe Details

Raspberry-Almond Rugelach Recipe

Active 45 mins
Total 3 hrs
Serves 12 to 16 servings

Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 4 1/4 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup, spooned; 118g), plus more for dusting

  • 4 ounces unsalted butter (8 tablespoons; 115g), cut into large cubes

  • 4 ounces cold cream cheese (8 tablespoons; 115g), cut into large cubes

  • 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest

  • 1/8 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use half as much by volume or use the same weight

For the Filling and to Finish:

  • 1 ounce (about 1/4 cup) almonds, toasted and finely chopped

  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

  • 2 tablespoons fresh bread crumbs

  • 1/2 cup raspberry jam, homemade or a good-quality store-bought brand, such as Bonne Maman

  • 1 egg yolk whisked with 1 teaspoon (5ml) cool water

  • 1 teaspoon sparkling sugar

Directions

  1. For the Dough: In the work bowl of a food processor, combine flour, butter, cream cheese, orange zest, and salt. Pulse 4 to 5 times, then turn the processor on and process until the dough forms a shaggy ball, about 1 minute.

    Dough ingredients in food processor before and after pulsing.

    Serious Eats / Emily Dryden

  2. Transfer dough to a lightly floured sheet of plastic wrap and lightly flour your hands. If making crescent cookies, gently form a disk 5 inches in diameter. If making sliced cookies, form dough into a 3- by 4-inch rectangle. Dust surface with flour and wrap tightly. Lightly press with a rolling pin to smooth, then lightly tap the disk or rectangle's edges on the counter. The smoother the edges, the less prone they will be to cracking later on. Chill until the dough registers 40°F (4°C) on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 hour. The dough may be frozen for 3 months; defrost overnight in the refrigerator to proceed.

    Two images: disk of rugelach dough and a brick of rugelach dough.

    Serious Eats / Emily Dryden

  3. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 375°F (190°C). Stack 2 baking sheets and line the top one with parchment paper.

  4. For the Filling: In a small bowl, combine almonds and sugar.

  5. For Crescent-Style Rugelach: On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 9-inch circle, using a dinner plate and paring knife to trim edges. Spread jam over surface of dough using an offset spatula, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle almond mixture evenly over jam, then top with bread crumbs. Using a sharp knife, pastry wheel, or pizza cutter, cut disk into 16 equal wedges. Starting from the wide end of each long triangle, roll up and press on the pointy end to seal. Place seam side down on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining triangles, working quickly and placing cookies about 2 inches apart. Transfer baking sheet to the freezer for at least 20 minutes before proceeding. Alternatively, freeze hard and transfer to freezer bags or containers for up to 6 months; defrost in the refrigerator overnight to proceed.

  6. For Sliced Rugelach: On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 4- by 12-inch rectangle. Spread jam over surface of dough using an offset spatula, leaving a 1/2-inch border along the two 12-inch edges. Sprinkle almond mixture evenly over jam, then top with bread crumbs. Starting at one 12-inch edge, tightly roll dough into a spiral. Aim to make 3 full revolutions, pressing seam firmly to seal. Place roll on baking sheet and freeze or refrigerate for at least 30 and no more than 45 minutes. (If chilled for longer, allow dough to warm very slightly at room temperature, so it will not crack when sliced.) Using a sharp knife, pastry wheel, or pizza cutter, cut roll into 12 cookies, each the shape of an isosceles trapezoid. Keep the smaller edge of the trapezoid no less than 1/2 inch in length, and the larger edge no more than 1 1/2 inches in length. Place seam side down on baking sheet and transfer to freezer for at least 20 minutes before proceeding. Alternatively, freeze hard and transfer to freezer bags or containers for up to 6 months; defrost in the refrigerator overnight to proceed.

    Collage showing the rolled-out dough being slathered with jam, sprinkled with chopped almonds, rolled up, and sliced into trapezoidal spirals.

    Serious Eats / Emily Dryden

  7. To Finish and Bake: Brush cookies' surface with egg wash using a small pastry brush. Sprinkle with sparkling sugar. Bake cookies until browned and flaky, about 22 to 25 minutes. Some filling may squish out; that’s okay. The bottoms of the rugelach should be caramelized, not blackened. Transfer the cookies (still on the parchment) to a rack to cool completely, about 1 hour. Store in an airtight container, layered between sheets of wax paper, for up to 3 weeks, or freeze for up to 1 month.

Special Equipment

Food processor, rolling pin, instant-read thermometer, two rimmed baking sheets, offset spatula, pastry brush, wire rack

Notes

It’s absolutely normal for the filling to squish out when the cookies bake, but if there are burnt puddles surrounding the cookies, leave a bigger border at the edge of the dough. The dough, unbaked cookies, or baked cookies may all be frozen.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
156Calories
10gFat
15gCarbs
2gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 16
Amount per serving
Calories156
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g13%
Saturated Fat 5g27%
Cholesterol 46mg15%
Sodium 58mg3%
Total Carbohydrate 15g5%
Dietary Fiber 1g2%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 1mg5%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 1mg3%
Potassium 47mg1%
*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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