Let’s Make Hamantaschen Cookies!

Hamantaschen cookies are a tasty treat made for the Jewish celebration of Purim. They are shaped to resemble Haman’s 3-cornered hat or some people believe they resemble his ears. Haman is the antagonist from the biblical story of Esther whose mission was to wipe out the Jews living in Persia. Jews celebrate Esther’s triumph of defeating Haman by celebrating with feasts and costume parties during the holiday that takes place in early Spring.

The Hamantaschen cookies are made with a shortbread crust and are usually filled with poppy seeds, chocolate, dried fruits, or other types of fruit fillings. These delicious cookies are great for celebrating Purim but they are also good year-round.

Ingredients for Hamantaschen Cookies

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/3 cups margarine
• 2 large eggs
• 6 tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups flour
• Fillings of your choice
• Powdered sugar (optional)

Directions for Baking Hamantaschen Cookies

Step 1:  Mix together sugar and margarine.

Step 2:  Mix in eggs until smooth and add water and vanilla extract.

Step 3:  Add flour and mix until dough forms into a ball.

Step 4:  Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for a few hours.

Step 5:  Take walnut-sized pieces of dough rolled into a ball and press between two pieces of waxed paper.

Step 6:  Place the flattened dough on the baking sheets lined with parchment paper spaced 1 inch apart.

Step 7:  Take a teaspoon of filling and place in the center of each of the flattened dough.

Step 8:  Bake in a preheated oven of 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until the dough is slightly browned.

Step 9:  Carefully remove the cookies with a spatula and sprinkle with powdered sugar (optional) Step 10:  Place on a wire rack to cool. Once they’re cooled, you can enjoy them with friends and family! The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container.

Looking for more recipes?

Check out our Learn Center for more authentic Jewish recipes for any time of year. If you’re interested in baking more sweets, check out our delicious Honey and Nut Baklava recipe.