Black Forest Rugalach

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

Title: Black Forest Rugalach
Categories: Cookies
Yield: 48 servings

1 c Dried cherries
1/3 c Cherry liqueur
2/3 c Granulated sugar
6 oz Semisweet chocolate; broken
-up
2 tb Unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ts Ground cinnamon
1 c Walnuts; unchopped
8 oz Cream cheese; softened
1 c Unsalted butter; softened
2 c All-purpose flour
1 pn Salt
1 Egg
1 ts Water

Recipe by: Glorious Liqueurs, Mary Aurea Morris
In a small bowl, combine the died cherries and the liqueur; cover and
let stand for at least 4 hours, or overnight, stirring occasionally. In a
large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed, blend the cream cheese and
butter until well combined, light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the flour
and salt. The dough will be very soft. Divide and flatten the dough into 4
disks; wrap each in a sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for
at least 1 hour, or overnight, until firm enough to handle.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain the cherries, reserving the
thickened syrup for another use. Place the sugar, chocolate, cocoa and
cinnamon in a food processor; cover and pulse chop until the chocolate
forms pea-sized pieces. Add the walnuts and drained cherries; pulse chop
until both are coarsely chopped. In a cup, beat together the egg and
water. Roll out the dough, one disk at a time, on a lightly floured
surface, to form and 8-inch circle. Brush with the egg glaze. Sprinkle 1/4
of the filling over the top, pressing lightly to adhere the filling to the
dough. Cut the circle into 12 wedges with a sharp knife. Roll up each
wedge from the outside in, to form a crescent; tuck in any of the filling
that falls out as the dough is rolled. Place the crescents, point side
down, 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Brush with additional egg
glaze. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden. Cool on the cookie
sheets on wire racks for about 2 minutes. Gently loosen them with a metal
spatula and transfer to the racks. Cool completely before storing in
airtight containers.
These cookies freeze well. Penny Halsey (ATBN65B).

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