Rugalahrussian Tea Pastry Recipes

Steps:

• Sift the flour and salt into a small bowl and set aside.
• Using electric mixer on medium speed, cream the butter and cream cheese together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Stop the mixer once or twice to scrape the bowl with a spatula.
• Add the dry ingredients and mix until blended, about 20 seconds, stopping the mixer once to scrape the bowl.
• Shape the dough into 2 equal thick rectangles, wrap each one in plastic wrap, and freeze for 2 hours.
• Remove 1 dough rectangle from the freezer and roll it out between 2 pieces of plastic wrap into a rectangle about 9"x8". It may be necessary to refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes duriing the rolling process, because it will become a bit sticky. Once rolled, refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.While it is resting, remove the second rectangle from the freezer and roll it out the same way you did the first one.
• To fill the dough, unwrap one rectangle and place it on plastic wrap on a work surface. Spread half the preserves evenly over the rectangle, leaving uncovered a 1/2" strip along the length of one side.
• Mix the cinnamon and sugar together. Sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar, nuts, and raisins over the preserves.
• Loosen the edge of the dough that is covered with jam with a knife or spatula and roll it toward the uncovered edge like a jelly roll, peeling off the plastic wrap as you roll. The seam should be on the underside. Wrap the roll in plastic and refrigerate it. Repeat the process with the other dough rectangle. Keep the filled rolls refrigerated for 2 hours.
• Fifteen minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 375*F. Line 2 cookie sheets with wax paper or lightly grease them with butter or veg. oil.
• For the glaze, lightly beat the egg with a fork. Use a pastry brush to apply the glaze to the outside of the roll. Using a thin, sharp knife, carefully cut the rolls into pieces about 1 1/4" long.
• Place the rugalah about 1" apart on the cookie sheets.
• Bake the rugalah until golden, about 25 minutes.(Some of the jam will ooze out and start to darken.) Use a spatula to remove the rugalah from the pan immediately and place them on a rack to cool. When they are cool, place them in an airtight container for a day before serving so that the taste and consistency have a chance to settle.
• Makes 30 pieces.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• 2. Combine the flour and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Cut the butter and cream cheese into several pieces about 1" square. Use a pastry blender to cut the butter and cream cheese into the flour mixture. When the butter and cream cheese are well distributed, mix in the sour cream and water and gather the dough into a ball.
• 3. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• 4. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces; use one piece at a time and keep the remaining pieces wrapped and refrigerated until ready to use. On a lightly floured pastry board, roll each piece of dough into a 9" circle, a little more than 1/8" thick.
• 5. Place the desired filling on the circle of dough; cut the circle into 12 triangles.
• 6. Roll each triangle up from the wide end and place on a parchment covered baking sheet about 1" apart. When all the dough has been rolled and filled, bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until the Rugelah are a golden brown.