Cottage Cheese Rugelach

Expect some of the walnut-currant filling to ooze out of these delights during baking, but don't worry—there will still be plenty inside the cookie.

32 rugelach

Active Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours (includes chilling time)

Nutrition Profile

Diabetes appropriate | Low carbohydrate | View Complete Nutrition Guidelines»

Ingredients

Dough

2 cups nonfat cottage cheese, pressed to yield 1 cup
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, (Neufchâtel) (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups sifted cake flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons Grape-Nuts cereal
2 tablespoons walnuts, toasted and chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried currants

Preparation

To make dough: Beat the cottage cheese, cream cheese, granulated sugar, oil, butter and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Mix together flour and salt and add to the cheese mixture; stir with a wooden spoon until just blended. Wrap dough in wax paper, then in plastic wrap, and chill 2 to 3 hours or preferably overnight.
To make filling: Stir together brown sugar, Grape-Nuts, walnuts and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cover and set aside.
Set oven rack in upper portion of oven; preheat oven to 350°F. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
To form and bake rugelach: Divide the dough into four equal parts. Roll each portion on a lightly floured surface into a 10-inch-diameter circle. (Keep the remaining dough chilled until ready to use.) Sprinkle with one-quarter of the brown-sugar mixture and 2 tablespoons currants, pressing slightly so that the filling adheres. Cut the circle into 8 wedges. Beginning at the widest end, roll up each wedge and curve into a crescent. Place on a prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Bake until tops are light brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Immediately transfer to a rack and let cool.

Nutrition

Per rugelach: 112 calories; 3 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 4 mg cholesterol; 19 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 0 g fiber; 101 mg sodium; 44 mg potassium.

1 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 fat