Check out the interactive holiday cookie jar for an assortment of cookie and candy recipes.

Fruit Rugelach

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup butter, cut into pieces
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, cut into pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups apricot preserves
1 cup chopped almonds, toasted
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Pulse first 4 ingredients in a food processor until dough leaves sides of bowl. Divide dough into 8 portions, shaping each portion into a ball. Wrap separately in plastic wrap, and chill at least 1 hour.
Remove 1 dough portion, and roll into an 8-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Spread with 1/4 cup apricot preserves, leaving a 2-inch circle of uncovered dough in center. Sprinkle preserves with 2 tablespoons almonds. Cut circle into 8 wedges, and roll up wedges, starting at a wide end.

Place, point side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet, curving into a crescent shape. Repeat procedure with remaining dough portions, preserves, and almonds.

Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over each crescent.

Bake at 375° for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Apple Rugelach: Melt 1/4 cup butter or margarine in a large skillet; add 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and finely chopped, and 1 cup sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, 5 to 7 minutes or until mixture is thick and golden. Cool. Substitute for apricot preserves. Substitute 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted, for almonds.

Makes about 5 dozen.

Cake Mix Cookies

1 (18.25-ounce) package devil’s food cake mix
1 large egg
1/2 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

Combine first 3 ingredients, stirring well (dough will be sticky). Stir in chopped pecans, if desired. Dust hands with powdered sugar, and shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. Coat balls with powdered sugar, and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until done; remove to wire racks to cool.

Yield: about 5 dozen

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 11th, 2007 at 5:48 pm and is filed under Holiday Recipes, Gifts, Cookies and Bars, Bake Sale. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.