Raspberry Snowflake Pull Apart Bread Food

RASPBERRY-FIG PULL-APART COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and salt in a food processor until smooth. Add the flour and butter and pulse until the dough just comes together in a solid mass (chunks of butter should be visible), about 6 to 8 long pulses. Shape the dough into a rectangle about 1/2-inch-thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. Wipe out the food processor.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine the figs, raspberry jam and juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the figs are plump and the juice is syrupy, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Puree in the food processor until smooth and set aside to cool completely.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Generously spray the back side of a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
• Put the chilled dough between 2 pieces of parchment. Roll out the dough into an 11-by-13-inch rectangle and 1/8-inch-thick (see Cook's Note). Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Remove the top piece of the parchment, to free it from the dough, then place it back on top. Turn the dough over and remove the top piece of parchment. Spread the fig mixture evenly over the dough.
• Roll the dough into a log using the parchment as a guide (the dough is very soft and the parchment will make it easier to roll). Transfer the log to the prepared baking sheet, brush with the egg wash and coat with the sanding sugar. Cut 20 slits across the log, about 1/2-inch apart. Each slit should go about three-quarters of the way through the log so that it is still completely intact. Bend about a quarter of the log by turning some of the newly cut "tabs" out so that the pinwheels of filling are facing up. Continue turning the "tabs" out and bending the log until you have a ring. Butt the ends up against each other.
• Spray the outside of a 3 1/2-inch round ramekin with cooking spray and place in the center of the ring. Chill the shaped rugelach dough for 30 minutes. Bake until cooked through and golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Remove the ramekin and let the ring cool for 5 minutes then slide a flat spatula underneath to free the ring from the baking sheet. Gently slide the ring onto a cooling rack and let cool completely before serving.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND BACON PULL-APART BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Heat a large skillet with a lid over medium-high heat and add the bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is golden brown, about 9 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a plate using a slotted spoon. Add the onions to the skillet and cook, covered, stirring occasionally and scraping up the stuck bits on the bottom of the pan as needed, until the onions release their juices and are caramelized, golden and soft, about 30 minutes. (If the onions begin to brown before they soften, stir in a tablespoon water, lower the heat and return to cooking.)
• Combine the butter, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and some pepper in a medium bowl. Stir in the onions until the butter melts and becomes saucy.
• Meanwhile, with a large serrated knife, shave 1/4 inch off the bottom crust of the bread.. Make 1-inch wide crosshatch cuts on the top of the bread, three-quarters of the way through to the bottom. Put the bread on the prepared baking sheet.
• Spoon 3/4 of the onion mixture into all of the slits. Mix together the Gouda and mozzarella in a small bowl, then stuff three-quarters of the cheese inside all of the slits. Spoon the remaining onion mixture on top, followed by the remaining cheese. (The bread will be very stuffed and messy.) Cover the bread loosely with foil and bake until the filling is warm and the cheese is melted, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a platter or cutting board and top with the bacon and parsley. Serve immediately.

CHEESY JALAPEñO-BACON PULL-APART BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to low and medium: On a gas grill, turn the center burner(s) to low and the side burners to medium; on a charcoal grill, bank the coals to the sides with a few coals in the center.
• Combine the cheddar, pepper jack, bacon, jalapeños and scallions in a medium bowl.
• Slice the bread with a serrated knife in 1-inch intervals, cutting almost all the way through. Rotate the bread 90 degrees and repeat to create a crosshatch pattern. Set the bread on 2 large stacked sheets of heavy-duty foil.
• Gently spread the bread open and brush between the cuts with 4 tablespoons melted butter. Stuff the cheese mixture into the spaces. Press the bread back together and brush the outside with the remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter; wrap in the foil.
• Once the grill registers 350˚ F to 375˚ F, set the bread in the center of the grill over low heat, cover and cook until warmed through, about 15 minutes. Pull back the foil to expose the surface of the bread (do not remove). Continue to grill, covered, until the top of the bread is crisp and the cheese melts, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.