I’m pretty sure my most tried-and-true recipes are the ones I collected when I lived in Eretz Yisrael just after I got married. I’m not sure if it’s due to the recipes themselves or to the fond memories I have attached to them! These lemon rugelach are one example. Back then, they were a staple in my freezer. I kept them there because they were inhaled if left out on the counter. Truthfully, they were just as delicious from the freezer, so it didn’t help much. What’s magical about this recipe is that although it’s pareve, it somehow ends up tasting dairy. (Shelly Strom, it’s been more than 20 years, but your name is still on my recipe card!) Yields 6 dozen mini rugelach or 4 dozen medium sized

Directions

Prepare the Dough

1. In a small bowl, combine yeast, sugar, and water and let sit for five to 10 minutes, until foamy.

2. In the bowl of a mixer, beat margarine until creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add eggs one at a time, mixing between each. Add salt and then alternate between flour and yeast mixture. Mix until you have a nice dough.

3. Wrap and refrigerate for one hour.

Prepare the Syrup

1. While the dough is resting, prepare the syrup: Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Form Rugelach and Bake

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).

2. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a rectangle, approximately 17×11 inches (43×28 centimeters). Cut the rectangle into three long strips. Cut each rectangle into triangles — 12 triangles for mini rugelach or eight for medium (I prefer the mini).

3. Working with one triangle at a time, fold in the bottom two corners of the wide end and roll up towards the narrow point. Place on a lined cookie sheet, leaving one inch (two and 1/2 centimeters) between them. Bake for 10 minutes for mini rugelach, and one to two minutes longer for regular size. Don’t overbake, or they’ll dry out.

4. Remove rugelach from oven and dunk them in the lemon syrup to fully coat. Remove from syrup and place on a rack to dry. Dust the tops with confectioners’ sugar. Enjoy!

Tips:
– This recipe is easily doubled and freezes very well.

– The dough will be sticky when it’s first mixed. Allowing it to sit in the refrigerator will help firm it up so it’s easier to roll out.

– When rolling, place a piece of Gefen Parchment under the dough and top with a second piece of parchment paper. This will help avoid the need for adding extra flour. You may need to add just a bit, but you don’t want to add too much or it will make the dough tougher.

Notes: If freezing the rugelach, dust them with some fresh confectioners’ sugar when defrosted.