Cranberry-Walnut Rugelach

Prep: 45 minutes plus chilling
Bake: 20 minutes • Makes: 48 cookies

Rugelach Dough

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour plus additional for dusting

Cranberry-Walnut Filling

1 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
1 cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped
1/2 cup granulated sugar plus additional for sprinkling
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup honey
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1. Prepare Rugelach Dough: In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat cream cheese, butter and sour cream until light and fluffy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Add powdered sugar, salt and vanilla extract, and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in flour just until blended. Gather dough into ball and divide into 6 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a disk and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 2 hours or up to overnight.

2. Prepare Cranberry-Walnut Filling: In medium bowl, combine cranberries, walnuts, sugar and cinnamon.

3. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick foil. In small microwave-safe bowl, heat honey in microwave oven on high 10 seconds or until melted. Sprinkle work surface with flour and roll out 1 disk into 9-inch circle. Brush dough with some of the honey. Sprinkle dough with 3 tablespoons filling; lightly press filling into dough. With pizza wheel or knife, cut dough into 8 equal wedges. Starting with curved edge, roll each wedge into jelly roll shapes, and place, point side down, onto prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, honey and filling. Brush cookies with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.

4. Bake cookies on 2 oven racks 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown, rotating sheets between upper and lower racks halfway through baking. Slide cookies from parchment or foil onto wire racks to cool. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature up to 1 week or in freezer up to 3 months.

Approximate nutritional values per serving (2 cookies):
264 Calories, 16g Fat (8g Saturated), 39mg Cholesterol,
128mg Sodium, 27g Carbohydrates, 1g Fiber, 4g Protein