Triangle-shape treats filled with fruit preserves or poppy seeds, and traditionally served during the Jewish holiday of Purim.
Directions for: Hamentashen
Ingredients
4 cups flour
2 Tbsp baking powder
tsp kosher salt
cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
1 cup sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Juice of 1/2 orange
2 Tbsp brandy
Raspberry or apricot preserves, or Poppy Seed Filling, recipe follows, for filling
1 egg, lightly beaten
Poppy Seed Fillingcup raisins
cup fresh poppy seeds* (see Cook's Note)
cup milk
4 - 5 Tbsp sugar
pinch salt
cup honey
1 tsp lemon zest plus 1/2 tsp of the juice
1 slightly beaten egg
Directions
1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk the oil, eggs, egg yolk, sugar, zest, both juices and brandy until smooth. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until a sticky dough is formed. Wrap in plastic wrap, flatten into a disk and chill overnight.
2. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375F.
3. Working with about one quarter of the dough at a time and leaving the remaining in the refrigerator, roll on lightly floured surface a little less than 1/4-inch thick. Cut circles (or other fun shapes) using cookie cutters 2 1/2 to 3 inches. Place a spoonful of filling in center (about 1 teaspoon per cookie) and then pinch one side up. Turn and pinch second and then third to make a triangular shape. Leave a little bit of the filling showing at the top. For non-traditional shapes, use your imagination: tubular, squares, bite-size or even some flat cookies depressed in the center with a bit of filling there.
4. Place cookies on parchment paper on cookie sheet, brush with a little beaten egg for sheen and bake until nicely browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Keep room temp in airtight container but consume within 3 to 4 days, tops.
Poppy Seed Filling1. Combine everything except the lemon zest and juice and the beaten egg into a saucepan and cook over moderate heat until thick, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir often. Add zest and juice. Take a bit of the filling and mix it into the beaten egg. Repeat, then mix the egg mixture into the pot of filling. Cool overnight.
Tips and Substitutions
Cook's Note
Other types of fillings may be used such as apricot, raspberry, prune mixed with chopped nuts, etc. Personally, I'm going to use some Robertson's English Mincemeat in my next batch and drizzle with rum or hard sauce. Not traditional, but might be a fun way to introduce them to non-Jews.
*Poppy seeds go rancid quickly after opening.
See more: Dessert, Cookies, Fruit, Holiday/Event