Easy Rugelach Recipes

Updated August 18, 2017
Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

With highly customizable filling options, rugelach is the ultimate, crowd-pleasing Hanukkah dessert. Whether you prefer chocolate or fruit, sweet or savory, nutty or jammy, there's a rugelach out there that's just right for your holiday celebration.

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Cherry and Pistachio Rugelach

Credit: Linda Pugliese; Styling: Kaitlyn Du Ross Walker

Cherry and Pistachio Rugelach Recipe

You can switch out the cherry preserves and dried cherries for another fruit that comes in both spread and dried form, such as apricot, currant, or blueberry.

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Apricot and Walnut Rugelach

Credit: Sara Tane

Apricot and Walnut Rugelach Recipe

It's not a proper celebration of the festival of lights without a batch of rugelach. This classic Jewish cookie which is typically served during Hanukkah is an absolute must when it comes to holiday baking. Made with a super straightforward, 4-ingredient dough in the food processor, this pastry is far from intimidating. In this variation, we used our favorite apricot jam along with some hearty walnuts for the perfect fruit and nut dessert. If you don't have apricots or walnuts, any fruit and nut combination will do.

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Winn's Fig and Pecan Rugelach

Credit: Oxmoor House

Winn's Fig and Pecan Rugelach Recipe

This is a gluten-free variation of the traditional Jewish pastry. Filled with fig preserves, pecans, and brown sugar, they are the perfect treat for a Hanukkah celebration.

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Chocolate Rugelach

Credit: Sara Tane

Chocolate Rugelach Recipe

Rugelach, a classic Jewish cookie traditionally eaten during Hanukkah, is possibly the most underrated holiday cookie of all time. With a simple, no-fuss dough that comes together in the food processor, and endless ways to customize each batch, this should be your go-to holiday treat. In this chocolatey iteration, finely chopped bittersweet chocolate provides a rich depth of flavor that kids and grown-ups alike can enjoy. Dunk them in coffee or hot chocolate, or just eat them as-is, these adorable little cookies are fun to make and require ingredients that you probably already have.

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Everything Rugelach with Ricotta and Dill

Credit: Sara Tane

Everything Rugelach with Ricotta and Dill Recipe

Everybody's favorite Jewish cookie gets a savory makeover in this salty, crunchy treat. Perfect for an appetizer or breakfast bread, this everything rugelach is the perfect marriage between flaky dough and classic everything bagel toppings. Eat them on their own, or smear on a thin layer of cream cheese and top with fresh lox and capers for a non-traditional snack. With just four ingredients in the dough, this pastry is super simple and requires little effort or grunt work, as the food processor does all the mixing for you.

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Fruit Rugelach

Credit: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Trinda Gage

Fruit Rugelach Recipe

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Praline Rugelach

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Praline Rugelach Recipe

For best results, thoroughly chill the rolled cookies before baking to keep the filling from melting out of the dough.

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Peach-Pecan Rugelach

Credit: Luca Trovato; Styling: Dani Fisher

Peach-Pecan Rugelach Recipe

Rugelach are small crescent-shaped cookies that are made with cream cheese dough around various fillings. As the name suggests, our Peach-Pecan Rugelach are filled with peach preserves and chopped pecans These cookies are traditonally serve during Hanukkah.

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Pepper Jelly-Pecan Rugelach

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Pepper Jelly-Pecan Rugelach Recipe

Pepper Jelly-Pecan Rugelach are buttery and flaky with just the right amount of sweet heat thanks to the red pepper jelly.

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