Rosh Hashanah :: Sweet Recipes for a Sweet New Year

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In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, “head of the year” or “first of the year ”although the holiday is typically spent very differently than January 1. There is, however, some similarity between the Jewish New Year and the American one: Many Americans use the New Year as a time to make “resolutions.” Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the New Year as well as praying for the coming year to be sweetly blessed.

Share your desire for a sweet New Year with your children by making some of these delectable treats!

Rugelach

Rugelach

Adapted from Once Upon a Chef
Servings: 48 cookies
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Total Time: 2 Hours 45 Minutes

Ingredients

For the Dough

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off with back edge of knife, plus more for rolling dough
  • Heaping 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
  • 8 oz (1 package) cold cream cheese, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 egg yolk

For the Filling

  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 4 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions

1. Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse a few times to combine.

2. Add the chunks of butter and cream cheese, as well as the egg yolk. Pulse until the dough is moistened and crumbly with curd-like pieces about the size of peas. Dump the dough out onto a work surface. Knead just until it comes together and shape into a square or rectangle. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and flatten into 1-inch thick discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

3. Wipe out the food processor. To make the filling, place the brown sugar, granulated sugar, walnuts, raisins and cinnamon in the bowl of the food processor and pulse until the walnuts and raisins are finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl and set aside until the dough is ready.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

5. Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator, unwrap it and place it on a lightly floured work surface. (If necessary, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes until pliable enough to roll, but not too soft.) Dust the top of the dough lightly with flour, then use a rolling pin to roll it into a 10-11″ circle, or just under an 1/8″ thick. Sprinkle more flour and turn as necessary so the dough doesn’t stick. Spread 1/2 cup of the filling over the dough and lightly press it into the dough with your hands.

6. Using a pizza cutter or very sharp knife, cut the dough into twelve equal wedges (just like you would cut a pizza). Roll each wedge up, beginning with the wide end and ending with the point. Place the rolls point-side down, about an inch apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough. You should have 24 rugelach on each baking sheet.

7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and the bottoms are golden and crisp (at first glance, it might look like the bottoms are burnt, but that’s just the dark filling oozing out). Transfer the rugelach to a rack to cool.

Delicious Ideas for Chocolate Fillings:

Chocolate Chips: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar and 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips over each portion of dough (you’ll need 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 cup mini chocolate chips total). Be sure to press the chocolate chips firmly into the dough before rolling the cookies.

Nutella: Warm 1 cup of Nutella in the microwave until it is just spreadable (not too hot!) and smear 1/4 cup evenly over each portion of dough. It’s a little messier to roll the cookies when the dough is covered with chocolate spread, so pull each triangle wedge away from the circle before rolling.


Candy Apples

candy apple

Nothing says Rosh Hashanah more than apples dipped in honey. Elevate the holiday with this yummy alternative!

Ingredients:

10 small red apples
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
3/4 cup water
8 drops of red food coloring

You will also need:

10 barbecue skewers

Directions:

1. Wash and dry the apples. Put each one on a skewer.

2. Mix sugar, corn syrup and water in a pot and heat it on a medium fire until the sugar melts. When it starts to boil, add the food coloring. Let it boil without stirring for 20 minutes until it gets to 160ºC (use a special thermometer for this).  Remove it from the fire.

3. Dip the apples, one at a time in this mixture. Turn the apples around so that the mixture should cover the apples completely. Set aside with the stick upward to let it cool completely.


Green Apple Soda

soda

If you have a juicer, simply juice the apple and add the remaining ingredients. Otherwise, you’ll need cheesecloth to strain the juice.

Makes 4 sodas 

Ingredients 

1 large Granny Smith apple, cored
3 tablespoons honey, or to taste
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon water
1 liter seltzer
Apple slices, for garnish (optional)
Green food coloring (in case your kids question why green apple soda is not green)

Directions

1. In a food processor, puree the apple, honey, lemon juice and water. To strain, squeeze through several layers of cheesecloth into a bowl (you should end up with about a cup of apple juice).

2. For each soda, fill a glass with seltzer and ice and stir in about ¼ cup of the apple mixture. Sweeten with additional honey if desired.

What sweet desserts will you be serving at your Rosh Hashanah meal?

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Ashleigh
Ashleigh always knew she wanted to be a mom, but a stay at home mom, not so much. At 26 she found herself trading in her lipstick and high heels for Burt’s Bee’s and nursing bras. The first of their core group of friends to have kids, Ashleigh and her husband Eric strive to maintain their fun loving lifestyle while simultaneously raising their toddler daughter. Luckily, Tiny Girl is an adorable extrovert who loves getting out and about as much as her parents. On weekends you can find the threesome strolling the aisles of Target, road tripping it to Charleston, or hosting friends in Irmo for epic board game battles.

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