The origins of rugelach cookies date back to the Hungarian kifli or kiffle cookies, Austrian kipfel, Polish rogal and kolacky or kolacki cookies. The crescent-shape filled pastries are specific to rogal and kiffles, with kolacky shaped more like mini danish; small squares with the corners folded over. These related pastries were originally made with yeast dough and filled with fruit jams, poppy seed paste or spices and nuts. Cream cheese or sour cream based pastry is a popular American interpretation.