rugelach

American  

[ruhg-uh-luhkh] / ˈrʌg ə ləx /

Sometimes rogelach rugalach

noun

Jewish Cooking.

rugelach plural

1. a bite-size pastry made by rolling a triangle of dough around a filling of jam, nuts, raisins, etc.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• rugelach
  plural

Etymology

Origin of rugelach

First recorded in 1940–45; from Yiddish rugelekh, rogelekh, plural of rugele, rogele

Explanation

Rugelach are baked pastries made with a dough containing cream cheese or sour cream. Resembling little croissants, most rugelach are filled with nuts, chocolate, or cinnamon sugar. These traditional Jewish treats originated in Poland, and the name rugelach derives from the Polish rogaliki, "little twists." The pastries are rolled and twisted into a crescent shape, using a deliciously rich dough that's wrapped around a sweet filling. Rugelach, long a favorite special occasion food in Jewish communities, is now so widely popular that it can be found in many bakeries, delis, coffee shops, and grocery stores.

Example Sentences

For crescents and rugelach: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 15, 2022

Could it be babka, a rugelach, or a date-smeared pistachio pizza?

From Washington Post • Jun. 27, 2022

He’s an O.G. of the hood and has been making rugelach for over 30 years.

From New York Times • Mar. 4, 2022

It’s always been a nexus of tradition and assimilation, old country and new, with rugelach for dessert.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 2021

“I have to check the oven. I’m trying to break the world record for baking the biggest rugelach ever.”

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan