I’ll be honest. I do not have a great success rate at making hamantaschen. Try as I might, year after year, they come out looking pretty mediocre.
What are hamantaschen?
Hamantaschen (ha-men-tosh-en) are cookies that are eaten on the Jewish holiday of Purim, which is tomorrow. Shaped like three-cornered hats, they are filled with preserves, chocolate, poppy seeds or other concoctions. This year I made apricot, raspberry and nutella hamantaschen.
The trick is to make them look uniform, which mine do before they go in the oven. See?
But all too often they spread while baking and come out like this:
Grr! Even Max is sympathetic.
I have tried many different recipes with varying success. I have tried freezing the unbaked cookies for 10 minutes and then baking. I have tried using an egg wash to hold the sides of the dough together. No matter what I do, chances are about 50-50 that they will come out the way I want them to.
Maybe my hamantaschen-baking readers will have some tips to share.
But this year, thanks to inspiration from My Jewish Learning, I have found the perfect solution to forlorn, misshapen hamantaschen. Melt chocolate, dip the cookies, and then coat with sprinkles. Voila! No one will notice the flaws and who wouldn’t bite into one of these?
This hamantaschen recipe was given to me by my friend Myra and it is my favorite.
Myra Wolpert’s Hamantaschen
1 cup butter, softened
scant 3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
3 t. vanilla extract
approx.. 2 – 3 c. flour
1/2 t. baking powder
Combine butter and sugar. Add egg and beat together. Add vanilla and mix thoroughly.
Sift flour and baking powder together and add to butter mixture. Dough should be pliable and not sticky. Form dough into a flat disk and wrap in wax paper. Chill one hour or longer.
Roll onto floured surface, about 1/4″ thick.
Cut in circles. I used a 3″ round cutter but they can be larger. You can also use the top of a drinking glass to cut the circles. Add filling to center of circle and pinch sides together.
Bake at 375 degrees for 15 – 20 minutes until edges are slightly brown.
Cool on rack.
To finish off with chocolate, melt 1 c. chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet for half of the batch and white for the others) in the microwave, being careful not to burn. Add 1/2 T. vegetable oil and stir to blend.
Dip side of hamantaschen in chocolate and shake off the excess. Dip in sprinkles or other topping (coconut, chopped nuts, crushed candies, e.g.) Let dry on rack. Keep at room temperature for a day or freeze.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016 Helene Cohen Bludman
I would love to be sitting at your table with Max to share a cookie and a cup of coffee! They look delightful.
Terri recently posted…Sitting on the Fringe
Thank you, Terri! You’re welcome anytime. 🙂
I think they look like they taste great! And sprinkles fix everything right? 🙂
Ashley @irishred02 recently posted…Easter Gift Ideas for Little Boys
Sprinkles, always!
These look so delicious and Myra is a genius! I can just taste them now. And Max? What a cutie patootie. He’s so smart about life, isn’t he? 🙂
Haha! He would have jumped up on the counter if I had let him!
Max wants to help roll the dough.
and eat it!
These look good enough to eat and I am not a fan of this treat! Must have been too much prune filling when I was growing up.
No prune filling here, Anna. I agree!
What do they say about the mother of invention? I am not that even handed with my baking either but these look yum!
Carol Cassara recently posted…San Francisco: the city of love
Hamentashen are one of my favorite cookies, so I feel your pain! I know Helene you are a much more experienced baker but I always have exploding ones too if I overstuff. The chocolate trick is brilliant!
Haralee recently posted…My Favorite Holiday, Purim
I just learned about the Purim holiday yesterday on another blog. It’s sounds like a fun and wonderful holiday. The cookies sound delicious. If they taste good, no one will care what they look like, but it does look you discovered the perfect fix!
Helene, I would eat your hamentaschen no matter what they looked like – and they happen to look delicious! You know who makes my favorite hamentaschen, surprisingly? Alex! He took over when my mother decided it was too hard for her to make them any more.
Lois Alter Mark recently posted…care’s special delivery project #withsyria
Please ask him the secret of making them look good!
I second the notion that chocolate is the best helper. When I was a young teenager, a friend’s mother told me what to do if my cake failed: “Dim the lights and scoop ice cream on top. No one will be the wiser.” She could’ve added the sprinkles and chocolate too! These look good to me! Enjoy!!
I love the photo you posted of the hamantaschen costume, Risa. Too cute!
It really doesn’t matter what the hamantaschen look like as long as they taste great! And the chocolate and sprinkles idea is terrific. I may have to bake next year just to try it.
I suppose you’re right, Meryl. And they do taste good.
These look yummy. I would love the chocolate!! Max looks like a great helper. 🙂
Thank you, Lory! Yes, Max is my helper when he isn’t getting into everything. 🙂
They already look delicious — but anything goes well with chocolate! Chag sameach.
Chag sameach to you, my friend. xo
They look yummy, regardless, Helene. I more or less fold the corners over and get better results that way. Try that next year. Call me when you make them–I’ll drop by to “consult.”
Mindy, I was hoping you would have some advice. Next year we’ll Face Time, ok?
No matter what they look like, they look yummy! Celebrate!
Tam Warner Minton recently posted…Fab Photos Friday: Hyatt Newport Beach in the Fabulous OC
Thank you!
YUMMMM.
I’m itching for some, so I might have to try to make them – tonight or tomorrow – but these look so good! Even bright and cheery!
Andrea B. recently posted…Book Review: The Crooked Heart of Mercy, Billie Livingston
Let me know how yours turn out!
I have never heard of these cookies, but they do look good. I love looking at traditional foods.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy recently posted…Friday Favorites – Week 312 – New To The Party
Depending on where you live, you might find them in bakeries this time of year.
I love those cookies! I’m going to have to make them and soon. Love the pic with your pooch lol so cute!
Thanks, Carolann!
Look good to me! Sorry I don’t have any words of wisdom. Maybe photo them before they are cooked and just enjoy them afterwards?
Heidi BK Sloss recently posted…Repeat Mammograms Suck
I’m determined to find the solution. I won’t give up!
Ohh, these look delish! I loved having them when I went to the Purim festival in college. Now I can try to make them on my own. Thanks!
Good luck! Let me know how they turn out.
I always hate when something looks good before baking, and then looks totally different afterwards! I love the sound of Nutella Hamantaschen.
And the taste is even better, Dawn!
I have got to try these. I love the sounds and adorable look of them, too.
I wish you success, Carol!
Yum these taste as good as they look!? 🙂 Look good!
Thank you, Karissa!
I am not Jewish but those cookies looks very good and your fix is awesome
Laura Funk recently posted…Celebrate Basketball with Easy Recipes and Pfizer #GameforBasketball [ad]
Thanks, Laura!
I admire that you are not one to give up. A great outcome is a good reward 4 tenacity. 🙂
I’m glad you understand me, Rosey!
Now those are great looking cookies. I love that they’re special for the holiday too!
Thanks!
I would eat your hamentaschen no matter what they looked like and they do look delicious!
Claudia Krusch recently posted…Girls And Trucks – A Love Affair
Thank you, Claudia!
Even the first batch you showed look delicious!
Thank you, Gilly!
Helene, I think your hamantaschen in distress look divine even without the sprinkles. Enjoy the celebration.
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