Macadamia Nut Coffee Rugelach Food

RUGELACH

Steps:

• Add the cheese and butter to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until light. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the salt, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and mix until just combined. Dump the dough out onto a well-floured board and roll it into a ball. Cut the ball in quarters, wrap each piece in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• To make the filling, combine 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar, the brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the raisins, and walnuts.
• On a well-floured board, roll each ball of dough into a 9-inch circle. Spread the dough with 2 tablespoons apricot preserves and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the filling. Press the filling lightly into the dough. Cut the circles into 12 equal wedges-cutting the whole circle in quarters, then each quarter into thirds. Starting with the wide edge, roll up each wedge. Arrange the cookies, points tucked under, on a baking sheet(s) lined with parchment paper. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush each cookie with the egg wash. Combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle on the cookies. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven to a wire rack and let cool. Arrange on a large platter and serve.

RUGELACH

Steps:

• For the rugelach: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Combine the flour and salt in a food processor and pulse to mix. Scatter the cubed butter and cream cheese over the flour. Pulse 10 to 12 times for coarse crumbs to form.
• In another bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and vanilla, then pour over the butter-flour mixture. Run the processor until the dough starts to clump together.
• Turn the dough out onto a counter and gather the pieces into a ball. Divide into 2 portions, wrap each in plastic wrap, press into a disc and chill for 8 to 10 minutes.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll each disc out like pie dough to a thin round about 1/8 inch thick.
• For the filling: Melt the butter and brush half over one of the rounds of dough. Sprinkle with half the brown sugar, and then drizzle with half the honey, pecans and lemon zest. Cut the dough like a pizza into 12 slices. If the dough is sticky, chill it for a few minutes.
• Roll up each slice into a crescent shape. Repeat with the second disc of dough and filling ingredients to make 24 rugelach total. Transfer them to 2 parchment-lined baking sheets.
• Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool, then squeeze lemon juice and sprinkle lemon zest over the tops.

COFFEE-MACADAMIA NUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, coffee, cocoa powder, baking soda and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Combine the sugar, butter, honey, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture until just combined. Stir in the macadamia nuts with a wooden spoon.
• Form the dough into two 3-by-8-inch logs on the prepared baking sheet, about 3 inches apart. Bake until browned, about 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices using a serrated knife.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Arrange the slices cut-side down on the baking sheet; return to the oven and bake 20 more minutes, flipping the cookies halfway through. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Melt the white chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water), stirring until smooth. Dip the biscotti partway into the melted chocolate, then roll in the coconut. Place on a baking sheet lined with fresh parchment; refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

CRANBERRY-PECAN RUGELACH

Steps:

• With electric mixer (beater), cream together butter and cream cheese. With mixer on low, gradually add in flour. Form into 3 squat disks. Wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, cover the cranberries with water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool. Drain. In a small bowl, combine pecans, brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll dough into a 10-inch circles. Paint with the melted butter. Sprinkle with the sugar/nut mixture and cranberries. With a pizza wheel, cut into 12 wedges. Roll up the wedges and line them up on a parchment lined or nonstick cookie sheet. Paint the rugelach with the egg wash. Bake for 15 minutes or set and light golden.