Hamantaschen Recipe: Celebrating Purim with Delicious Triangle-Shaped Cookies

One of the traditions associated with Purim is the baking and sharing of Hamantaschen, triangular-shaped cookies that are filled with poppy seeds, fruit preserves, chocolate, or other sweet fillings. The shape of the cookies is said to represent the three-cornered hat worn by Haman.

To make Hamantaschen, you will need some baking essentials, including parchment paper, to line your baking sheets. Twinsaver’s Baking paper is a great option, as it is non-stick and ensures easy release of your cookies without any sticking or tearing.

Here’s a delicious recipe for Hamantaschen that you can try at home using Twinsaver’s Baking paper:

Ingredients:

Cookies

• 12 tablespoons (170g) unsalted butter or 3/4 cup (138g) vegetable shortening
• 2 tablespoons (28g) water (if you’re using vegetable shortening)
• 3/4 cup (149g) granulated sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons (12g) lemon zest (grated rind)
• 1 teaspoon King Arthur Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/8 teaspoon lemon oil
• 3 1/2 cups (420g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 3 tablespoons (21g) cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons (18g) King Arthur Easy Roll Dough Improver, optional
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 large egg plus 1 egg white (reserve the yolk)

Filling

• 1 cup (142g) poppy seeds, ground
• 2 tablespoons (28g) butter
• 2 tablespoons (43g) honey
• 1/2 cup (64g) shredded apricots or 1/2 cup (85g) diced raisins
• 1 tablespoon (14g) lemon zest (grated rind)
• 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (227g) milk
• 1 large apple, peeled and grated or finely chopped

Instructions:

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the butter or shortening, water (if you’re using it), sugar, salt, and flavorings until light and fluffy.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until a cohesive dough forms.
3. Divide the dough in half, wrap it well, and refrigerate it for 1 hour.
4. To make the filling: Place all of the ingredients in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil while stirring constantly. When the mixture thickens, remove it from the heat. Refrigerate until cold.
5. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Prepare several parchment-lined or greased baking sheets, using Twinsaver’s Baking paper to line your baking sheets.
6. Working with one half of the dough at a time, flour it thoroughly and roll it into a 16″ x 18″ rectangle approximately 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick.
7. Cut the dough into circles with a 3 1/2″ round cutter. Place the circles on the prepared baking sheets, and place a rounded teaspoonful of filling in the centre of each circle.
8. To shape the hamantaschen, envision the circle as a triangle and fold three sides together to form a tricorne hat shape. Press the edges together to seal the filling inside.
9. Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes until they are lightly browned on the bottom and edges.
10. Let them cool on a wire rack to achieve a crisp texture. The cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to five days or frozen for up to one month.