Hamantashen Cookies

Purim is celebrated with large feasts, caravans of parades, and lots of merry making. Jews are commanded to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity. The sending of gifts of food and drink is referred to as shalach manos (which means "sending out portions.") Among Ashkenazic Jews, a common treat at this time of year is Hamentaschen cookie (Haman's pockets.) These triangular fruit-filled cookies represent Haman's three-cornered hat.

While there are a myriad of recipes for Hamantaschen cookies, I am going to share one that I found at Recipezaar.com with you. Being part Czech myself, I can see a very close resemblance in these cookies to that good 'ol czech favorite...the Kolache.

Hamantaschen Cookies
4 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 cups white flour
2 cups wheat flour
1 (12 ounce) can poppy seed filling, prune filling, apricot filling, or any filling of your choice

Grease cookie sheets.

In large bowl, beat eggs slightly.


Add sugar, orange zest and margarine; beat until mixture is light and fluffy.

Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Add flour gradually; mix well.


Cover dough with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 1/2 hours for easier handling.

Heat oven to 350°F.

On lightly floured surface, roll out 1/4 of dough at a time to 1/4-inch thickness. Keep remaining dough refrigerated.


Cut with floured 3-inch round cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheets.

Spoon heaping teaspoonful of filling on center of each circle. Moisten edges of dough circles with water. I am using both poppy seed and strawberry filling.


Shape into triangles folding 3 sides in without completely covering filling; pinch corners to seal.

Bake at 350° for 8-12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets.

Click HERE for printable recipe.