
Yields:
2 dz.
Prep Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
9 hrs
Shortbread-like cookies filled with jam, hamantaschen are the traditional Jewish treat served around the holiday of Purim. If you usually buy these cookies at your local bakery, this year, you should try your hand at making them at home! The hardest part of this recipe? Waiting for the dough to chill before filling and baking your tiny treats. Make the dough the night before, then be ready to fill your cookies (with your filling of choice), serve, and celebrate the next day!
What are hamantaschen?
Hamantaschen are shortbread-like cookies, often filled with jam or another sweet filling. Reminiscent of thumbprint cookies, the buttery cookie and sweet jam make for a perfect combo in this traditional recipe. We went with a fruit filling for our recipe, but you can really experiment with your favorite combination of flavors!
The tradition of hamantaschen.
These cookies are traditionally served around the Jewish holiday of Purim. The holiday refers to the story of Queen Esther, who saved her people from being eradicated by Haman, a court official. Shaped like Haman’s hat, the villain of the Purim story, the cookies represent and celebrate his defeat.
What are the most popular fillings?
The filling in these cookies varies from recipe to recipe. We went with a fruit filling in our recipe; feel free to choose any you please (apricot and raspberry would work perfectly). Want to switch things up? Chocolate or even a poppy seed filling are also very popular choices.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
Editor's Note: This recipe was updated in November 2021.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Ingredients
- 1 cup
(2 sticks) butter, softened
- 1 cup
granulated sugar
- 3
large eggs
- 3 1/2 cups
all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
- 1 1/2 tsp.
baking powder
- 1 tsp.
kosher salt
- 1 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
Egg wash, for brushing
- 1
(12-oz.) can Solo fruit filling
Directions
- Step 1Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Mix in flour, baking powder, salt, and vanilla.
- Step 2When thoroughly mixed, cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Step 3Preheat oven to 375º. Roll dough on well-floured surface. (Keep unused dough cold.) Cut circles, using a glass or clean Solo can, dipped in flour. Brush each circle with egg wash, then top with fruit filling.
- Step 4Bring up 3 corners and pinch to form a triangle. Place on cookie sheet.
- Step 5Brush outsides with egg wash and bake until slightly browned, 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below