Orange-Scented Honey and Walnut Rugelach
Buttery rugelach pastries filled with a honey, toasted walnut, and orange zest mixture, offering a fragrant and sweet Hanukkah dessert. This Middle Eastern Hanukkah recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs cream cheese, unsalted butter, and all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 12, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 oz softened cream cheese
- 8 tbsp softened unsalted butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 cup toasted and chopped walnuts
- 2 tsp finely grated orange zest
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup for sprinkling granulated sugar
- 1 large beaten for egg wash egg
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large bowl, beat together 8 oz softened cream cheese and 8 tbsp softened unsalted butter until creamy and smooth.
- Step 2: Gradually add 2 cups all-purpose flour and mix until a dough forms. Divide dough into 2 discs, wrap in plastic, and chill for 1 hour.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, combine 1/3 cup honey, 1 cup toasted and chopped walnuts, 2 tsp finely grated orange zest, and 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Step 4: Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll one dough disc on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle. Cut into 12 wedges.
- Step 5: Spoon 1 tbsp of the honey-walnut filling onto the wide end of each wedge, spreading evenly. Roll each wedge from the wide end to the tip, forming crescent shapes.
- Step 6: Place rugelach on a parchment-lined baking sheet, brush each with 1 large beaten egg, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup granulated sugar.
- Step 7: Bake for 22-25 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely before serving.









