Tropical Rugelach Recipe (2024)

By Trang Doan - (updated ) - This post may contain affiliate links.

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Tropical Rugelach are delicious little bites of tender pastries filled with tropical fruit butter, coconut flake and macadamia nut. They taste like a vacation in your mouth.
Tropical Rugelach Recipe (1)I’m going to let you in on a little not-so-secret, I have a severe obsession with all things tropical. I’m sure you can already tell from all the talk about Hawaii, and coconut, and macadamia nut, and the list goes on. These Tropical Rugelach may be a bit unconventional but I assure you they are perfect for snacking while daydreaming about your next tropical vacation!

Tropical Rugelach Recipe (2)

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Make sure to let cream cheese and butter soften at room temperature in advance, especially during colder weather.
  • You can use a knife to cut the dough, but I would recommend investing in an inexpensive pizza cutter for this as it will make the cutting so much faster and easier. I like the one with longer handle.
  • I used guava and lilikoi fruit butter that I picked up during my last trip to Maui. These fruit butter are thick and almost solid when kept in the fridge. If you cannot get your hands on something like these, you can substitute guava jam. I have bought guava jam from Sprout’s before to make these Coconut Guava Thumbprint Cookies. They’re delicious!

Tropical Rugelach Recipe (3)I know not all of us are lucky enough to be able to go on a long vacation every year. But food can transport you anywhere you’d like to be in just a few bites. So if you’ve been itching to get to warmer climate, why don’t you turn on your oven and bake these Tropical Rugelach?

Tropical Rugelach Recipe (4)

More Delicious Tropical Treats

  • Guava Cream Cheese Mini Hand Pies
  • Pina Colada Cupcakes
  • Guava Coconut Mochi
  • Coconut Guava Thumbprint Cookies
  • Green Tea Coconut Mochi

Tropical Rugelach Recipe

📖 Recipe card

Tropical Rugelach Recipe (5)

Tropical Rugelach

Tropical Rugelach are delicious little bites of tender pastries filled with tropical fruit butter, coconut flake and macadamia nut. They taste like a vacation in your mouth.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Cookies, Dessert, Pastries

Cuisine: European

Servings: 24 rugelach

Calories: 281kcal

Author: Trang

Ingredients

For the Rugelach:

  • 4 ounce cream cheese – room temperature
  • 4 ounce unsalted butter – room temperature
  • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • Extra flour for rolling

For the filling:

  • 2 tablespoon guava butter
  • 2 tablespoon lilikoi (passion fruit) butter
  • ½ cup macadamia nut - pulverized
  • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flake

Egg wash & topping:

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream or milk
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flake

Instructions

  • Cream the soften butter and cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl with the whisk attachment on medium high speed until fluffy.

  • Scrape off the mixture from the whisk and replace with a paddle attachment. Add sugar, salt and vanilla extract and beat on medium to combine.

  • Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add the flour, mix until just combined.

  • Scrape the dough out onto a well-floured board, and shape into a disk. Divide into two equal portions, shape each into a ball then flatten into a disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

  • Pulverize the macadamia nut, and combine it with coconut flake and sugar in a small bowl, whisk to distribute evenly.

  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll out into a 9” circle, working with one disk of dough at a time.

  • Spread 2 tablespoon guava butter over the dough circle, leaving about ¼” from the edge clean.

  • Sprinkle half of the nut filling over the fruit butter and lightly press it down into the dough.

  • Cut the circle into 12 triangles using a pizza cutter. First cut the circle into quarters, then cut each quarter into thirds.

  • Roll the larger end of each triangle in to make a crescent shape cookie, place cookies on a parchment line baking sheet two inches apart. (Try your best to keep the nut filling from falling out.)

  • Repeat with the remaining disk of dough, this time using the lilikoi butter, and place the baking sheet in the fridge to let the cookies rest.

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.

  • Beat one egg with a tablespoon of cream or milk to make egg wash.

  • Combine 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of coconut flake in a pinch bowl for the topping.

  • Brush egg wash all over the cookies, and sprinkle coconut sugar generously over the top.

  • Bake for 18 minutes, until cookies are slightly brown.

  • Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Nutrition

Serving: 75g | Calories: 281kcal

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?If you made this recipe and loved it, please leave a comment and give us a 5 STAR review. Mention @WildWildWhisk or tag #WildWildWhisk on Instagram.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tropical Rugelach Recipe (6)Marie

    Tropical Rugelach Recipe (7)
    These look so gorgeous. That swirl is amazing. I’m off to find some guava jam.

    Reply

  2. Tropical Rugelach Recipe (8)Alice

    Nice! I make mine with Apricot jam filling, and sprinkle finely chopped pecans on top! Very similar recipe tho.

    Reply

    • Tropical Rugelach Recipe (9)Trang

      Delish!! You can really make it with anything you want 🙂

      Reply

  3. Tropical Rugelach Recipe (10)Ben Myhre

    This looks like an awesome little snack.

    Reply

    • Tropical Rugelach Recipe (11)Trang

      Thanks Ben!

      Reply

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Tropical Rugelach Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a fun fact about rugelach? ›

Historically, Rugelach is said to be linked with the Viennese Kipfel, crescent shaped pastries which commemorate the lifting of the Turkish siege in the Battle of Vienna. Rugelach is also similar in shape to the French croissant, which may be a descendant of the popular sweet pastry.

Should you refrigerate rugelach? ›

Serve warm or at room temperature. Store leftover rugelach in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. Freeze for longer storage.

How do you shape rugelach? ›

When shaping your rugelach, take the fat end of the triangle and roll tightly toward the pointed end to form a crescent shape. 6. As you work with the dough, the heat from your hands might cause it to get too warm and make it unmanageable.

What is the description of rugelach? ›

Delicious to eat and fun to make, rugelach (pronounced rug-a-lah) are miniature crescent-rolled pastries posing as cookies. They're made by rolling a triangle of dough around a sweet filling of fruit, nuts, chocolate or pretty much anything your heart desires.

Why do Jews eat rugelach? ›

Rugelach are often served on Jewish holidays like Hanukkah and Shavuot, though of course they can (and should!) be made throughout the year. Our family typically serves them during Rosh Hashanah, when sweet foods are made to signify a sweet new year.

What country makes rugelach? ›

Rugelach (/ˈruːɡələx/ ROO-gəl-əkh; Yiddish: ראגעלעך, or Yiddish: רוגעלעך, romanized: rugelekh and Hebrew: רוגלך rōgalaḵ) is a filled baked confection originating in the Jewish communities of Poland.

How long does homemade rugelach last? ›

Storage: Rugelach will keep at room temperature for 3 days (wrapped tightly) or 1 to 2 weeks longer in the refrigerator. Freezer: Freeze the discs of dough for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before proceeding with the recipe. Or freeze the shaped Rugelach cookies for up to 3 months.

When should I eat rugelach? ›

That said, the treat predates Viennoiserie pastries, so don't think of rugelach as denser, tiny croissants but croissants as lighter, larger rugelach. The Jewish high holidays—Rosh Hashanah, aka the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement—are the high season for rugelach orders.

Can you reheat rugelach? ›

Storage: Store in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 3 days. To refresh, place the rugelach on a sheet pan and reheat at 300 degrees until warm.

What is the difference between American and Israeli rugelach? ›

From a good friend of mine who is Israeli, I learned that traditional rugelach in Israel is always made with chocolate, while among American Jews it's made using jam. "As rugelach has always been a favorite of mine, I decided to take this classic dessert and put my spin on it.

What is similar to rugelach? ›

Unfortunately, schnecken is harder to find than its more popular sweet sister rugelach (also rolled with similar fillings). But the sweet story behind this underappreciated confection will leave you salivating and, we hope, game to try a change of pace when it comes to your morning pastry.

What is a rugelach in Yiddish? ›

What does “Rugelach” mean? The word “Rugelach” in Yiddish means “little twists.” The cookies originated in Ashkenazi Polish Jewish communities, but are popular with people of all backgrounds and cultures nowadays.

Does Trader Joe's have rugelach? ›

𝕮𝖎𝖓𝖓𝖆𝖒𝖔𝖓 𝕹𝖚𝖙 𝕽𝖚𝖌𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖍 ($4.99)⁣

What is an interesting fact about the dessert? ›

The word dessert comes from the French verb desservir, meaning 'to clear the table'. When dessert first appeared as part of our eating rituals, it was to allow the tables to be cleared for the after-dinner activities; sweetmeats and spiced wines were consumed standing up, away from the table.

What are some interesting facts about pastries? ›

- Ancient Egyptians were the first ones to come up with the idea of pastries. Called baklava and filo, they were made out of grain meal with honey, fruits and spices. - Pastries were brought to Europe during the Muslim invasion of the 7th century and picked up the imagination of Europeans.

What are some fun facts about flan? ›

The Roman Empire is the true origin of this dessert. The word flan is the French equivalent of the Latin word fladon, which comes from the Old High German word “flado,” meaning “flat cake.” Flan was once a savory dish, usually made from fish or meat. Today, the dessert has evolved into something sweet.

What is an interesting fact about custard? ›

Custard became a popular food in the middle ages when it was paired with pastry to become a custard tart. The origin of the word custard actually dates back to the middle ages, coined from the French term 'croustade' originally referring to the crust of a tart, and can also be linked to the Italian word 'crostata'.

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