Hamantaschen Cookies are a tasty sugar cookie with a jelly filling.
What are Hamantaschen?
Hamantaschen (or hamantashen) are a classic cookie that is traditionally made as part of the celebration of Purim.
Purim translates to “lots” and is in reference to how lots were cast (like rolling dice or drawing straws) to choose the date to carry out a heinous act and eradicate the Hebrew people from Babylon. It was a plot concocted by an evil man named Haman. He tricked King Achashverosh (Xerxes) into making a law to allow this to happen, but Queen Esther (a Hebrew woman) was able to save her people.
Purim is a celebration of her success and the victory of the Hebrew people. It is celebrated with cheerful celebrations, costumes, exchanging gifts of food, and giving to charity.
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A reading the story of Esther is often part of the celebrations. Every time Haman’s name is mentioned, everyone boos and hisses and many people use noise-makers to drown out his name.
Legend has it that the villain, Haman, wore a tri-cornered hat and the Hamantaschen cookies mimic that shape. There are also stories that he had big, pointy ears. Whatever the reason, these cookies are a fun way to celebrate the victory. After all, had he succeeded in his evil plan, there would have been no Hebrew people…and no Jesus.
You don’t have to celebrate Purim to enjoy these lovely cookies. You can make them any time of the year as well!
To Make Hamantaschen You Will Need:
- vanilla extract
- butter
- sugar
- eggs
- salt
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- milk
- lemon zest
- jelly/jam/preserves
- baking sheet
- biscuit cutter
- rolling pin
- parchment paper
- cooking rack
- mixing bowls
- mixer
Watch me make these cookies in the video below:
To begin, combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and stir together. Set it aside for now.
In your mixing bowl, beat sugar and butter together until light and creamy.
Add in eggs and vanilla extract. Beat them together.
Stir in some fresh lemon zest.
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Mix in half of the flour mixture.
Add in the milk and mix together.
Mix in the other half of the flour mixture. Mix well.
Divide the dough in half and shape into disks. Wrap them tightly in parchment paper, waxed paper, or plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2-3 hours or overnight.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Roll one of the disks of dough out on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin to 1/8 of an inch thick.
Use a biscuit cutter to cut the dough into circles.
Place a heaping teaspoon of your favorite jelly or jam in the center of each circle of dough.
I have made these cookies with apricot jam, watermelon jelly, blackberry jelly, and even apple butter. You could also try them filled with Nutella!
Fold up three sides of the edges, pinching the corners together forming a triangular shape.
Place each prepared cookie on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper, leaving about 2 inches between the cookies.
Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the cookies are barely golden on the corners.
Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool. Repeat with all of the dough.
Enjoy!
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Hamantaschen Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 c all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 c butter, unsalted, room temperature
- 1 c granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/3 c milk
- 1/2 c jelly or jam, approximate
Instructions
- To begin, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and stir together. Set it aside for now.
- In your mixing bowl, beat the sugar and butter together until light and creamy.
- Add in the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat them together.
- Stir in the lemon zest.
- Mix in half of the flour mixture.
- Add in the milk and mix together.
- Mix in the other half of the flour mixture. Mix well.
- Divide the dough in half and shape into disks. Wrap them tightly in parchment paper, waxed paper, or plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2-3 hours or overnight.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Roll one of the disks of dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 of an inch thick.
- Use a biscuit cutter to cut the dough into circles.
- Place a heaping teaspoon of your favorite jelly or jam in the center of each circle of dough.
- Fold up three sides of the edges, pinching the corners together forming a triangular shape. (See the images in the recipe in the post above.)
- Place each prepared cookie on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper leaving about 2 inches between the cookies.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the cookies are barely golden on the corners.
- Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool. Repeat with all of the dough.
- Enjoy!
Equipment Used
Notes
Nutrition
If nutritional values are provided for this recipe, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands of ingredients you use. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste or for serving. If nutritional values are very important to you, I suggest using your favorite nutritional calculating tool with the brands you use.
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