Hamantaschen: New Twists on a Holiday Classic – Part Two

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25 Feb 2015
Inspiration

Due to popular demand, we present more unique twists on our Purim classics by popular kosher bloggers…because there are just too many exciting options to fit into one page!

Please note the following is a collection of meat, dairy and pareve hamantaschen and in observance with Jewish dietary laws the meat and dairy hamantaschen should not be eaten together.

Enjoy!

AliBabka by Alison Gütwaks

One of the focuses on Purim is drinking (responsibly), so I decided to create an “adult” hamantaschen for the kid inside us all.  I brainstormed some fun cocktails that I dreamed I could roll into hamantaschen.  I hope you enjoy my take on the classic hamantaschen and enjoy these as much as my band of taste testers and I did!

Note: These are kid friendly since all the alcohol is cooked or boiled out. If you want no alcohol in your hamantaschen, each recipe is great with the liquor left out.  What you do with the extra liquor is up to you.

Mojito-webMojito Hamantaschen (Pareve or Dairy)

Makes 2 ½ Dozen

Dough

2 cups flour

¾ teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

½ cup margarine or butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 egg yolk (reserve the egg white for assembling the cookie)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1 1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil

1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves, minced

Raw Sugar (optional)

Lime-Rum Curd Filling

1 cup sugar

¼ Cup margarine or butter

1/8 cup corn starch

¾ cup fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon lime zest

2 eggs, beaten

2 tablespoons Rum

Dough Directioins:

  1. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
  2. In another bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in sugar until fluffy.
  3. Beat in egg, egg yolk, vanilla, peppermint oil and mint leaves.
  4. Beat in flour mixture until combined.
  5. Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate several hours or overnight.
  6. Preheat oven to 375ºF and line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Roll out refrigerated dough on a lightly floured surface, about 1/8 inch thick. Cut rounds, until dough is finished.
  8. Fill the rounds with the lime-rum curd filling and with your pinky, dip in egg white and lightly wet the edges around the hamantaschen.
  9. Make the hamantaschen triangle shape by folding the bottom to make two corners and folding the top to make the 3rd (requires both hands).
  10. Brush the outer part of the hamantaschen with egg white and sprinkle on the raw sugar.
  11. Bake for about 12 minutes until lightly browned.

Filling Directions:

  1. Place the sugar, earth balance, corn starch, lime juice, lime zest and rum in a sauce pan. Heat the mixture till the butter melts.
  2. Pour some of the lime mixture into the eggs and stir together to temper the eggs.
  3. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and whisk constantly till mixture starts to boil and thicken.
  4. Whisk for about a minute, take off heat and strain into a bowl (this will separate any egg that may have curdled from the curd itself).
  5. Refrigerate the curd till ready to use.

*When baked, the filling soaks into the cookie and the curd deflates.  They look beautiful and you still get that flavor, but if you wish to fill the cookie all the way up with curd after baking, make a double batch of the filling and fill in all the spots after the cookies are baked and cool.

Teq Sunrise-webTequila Sunrise Hamantaschen (Dairy or Pareve)

Makes 2 ½ Dozen

Dough

2 cups flour

¾ teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

½ cup margarine or butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 egg yolk (reserve the egg white for assembling the cookie)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoon orange zest

Cherry-Tequila Jam Filling

1 17.5 oz. jar of cherry preserves (I love Trader Joes brand because whole cherries make up most of the jelly)

2 tablespoons tequila

Dough Directions:

  1. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
  2. In another bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in sugar until fluffy.
  3. Beat in egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and orange zest.
  4. Beat in flour mixture until combined.
  5. Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate several hours or overnight.
  6. Preheat oven to 375ºF and line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Roll out refrigerated dough on a lightly floured surface, about 1/8 inch thick. Cut rounds, until dough is finished.
  8. Fill the rounds with the cherry-tequila jam filling and with your pinky, dip in egg white and lightly wet the edges around the hamantaschen.
  9. Make the hamantaschen triangle shape by folding the bottom to make two corners and folding the top to make the 3rd (requires both hands).
  10. Bake for about 12 minutes until lightly browned.

Filling Directions:

  1. Mix the cherry preserves with the tequila.
  2. Add one more tablespoon of tequila if you want the filling to be stronger.

 

Alison Gütwaks in the president and chef of AliBabka.  She is a personal chef to many clients around Columbus, Ohio and all over the United States.  She ships desserts nationwide and can be hired as a personal chef on your next vacation.  If you are ever in Columbus, send her an email and she will deliver food to your hotel.  Check out her website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram

 

Kosher In the Kitch by Nina Safar

eggrolltash-webEgg Roll Hamantaschen (Pareve or Meat)

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon corn starch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon sherry wine

3 teaspoons soy sauce

3 cups cole slaw mix

1 inch piece of ginger shredded

2 green onions diced, for serving

Egg roll wrappers

Optional: Add cooked chicken, beef or tofu to the cole slaw mixture before filling up the center of each hamantaschen.

Directions:

  1. Heat up pan with some oil then stir in cole slaw mix.
  2. Add sherry and soy sauce and combine.
  3. Add corn starch mixture and stir together.
  4. Add ginger and combine together. Heat through.
  5. Using a mason jar cut out circles in egg roll wrappers (1 egg roll wrapper yields 4 circles)
  6. Place a teaspoon of batter in center of circle then using water, wet the corners and pinch together creating a triangle hamantaschen shape.
  7. Place on greased baking sheet. Cook on 350ºF for about 12 minutes until crispy.
  8. Serve with sweet chili sauce or duck sauce.

tacofull-web

Taco Hamantaschen (Dairy)

Ingredients:

1 12 oz. package of Mexican Style Veggie Crumbles (Lightlife Smart Ground)

Frozen ravioli dough pre-cut into circles, defrosted (or wonton wrappers cut into circles)

1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Guacamole for serving (optional)

Salsa for serving (optional)

Directions:

  1. Heat veggie crumbles up on stovetop.
  2. Place 1 teaspoon of veggie crumbles in center of each dough circle.
  3. Wet edges of dough with water then bring up corners and pinch together to form a triangle.
  4. Place shredded cheese on top then bake in oven on 350ºF for about 12 to 15 minutes until golden and slightly crispy.
  5. Serve with salsa and guacamole on top.

funfettitash-webFunfetti Cheesecake Hamantaschen (Dairy)

Servings: about 20 hamantaschen

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup oil

2/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoon baking powder

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup sprinkles

1 cup cheesecake filling (recipe below)

Cheesecake Filling:

1 8oz package of cream cheese

1/3 cup of sugar (you could use 1/2 cup if you like it very sweet)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Combine ingredients until smooth. Makes about 1 cup.

Directions:

  1. Cream together sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla.
  2. Slowly add flour and baking powder. Mix together. The dough might be crumbly, use your hands to smooth it out and combine it.
  3. Add sprinkles to dough. (add the sprinkles in slowly, depending on how many sprinkles you want in the dough and don’t over mix them with the dough)
  4. Roll out dough on floured surface (about 1/4 to 1/8 thick. Not too thick since then the circles are hard to shape and will open up. Not too thin since then it will rip when shaping or filling) and cut out circles using a large circle cookie cutter or the rim of a large glass cup or mason jar.
  5. Fill center of circle with cheesecake filling (about 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon) and bake on 350ºF for 12 to 15 minutes depending on how soft or crispy you want them. I like them super soft so took them out around 12 minutes.
  6. Once hamantaschen have cooled off drizzle melted white chocolate or cheesecake icing on top. Optional, top with more sprinkles!
  7. For cheesecake icing, I took leftover cheesecake filling and added some powdered sugar and milk to get a thinner consistency. Regular icing (powdered sugar and milk or water) would work great as well.

* How to shape hamantaschen: Place filling in center than slowly fold over one side. Then the next and finally bring the bottom on top. Gently pinch the corners. You can also simply bring up the sides, forming a triangle by pinching the corners together.

poptarttash-webPop Tart Hamantaschen (Pareve)

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons ground flax seed combined with 6 T water (you can also use two eggs instead but it will not be vegan)

1/2 cup oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 1/2 cups flour

1 cup raspberry Jam (or your favorite flavor!)

Frosting (recipe below)

Sprinkles for decorating

Frosting:

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoons almond milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. Cream together flax seed water mixture, sugar, oil, and vanilla.
  2. Slowly add flour and baking powder.
  3. Mix together. The dough might be crumbly, use your hands to smooth it out and combine it. Roll out dough on floured surface.
  4. Cut out triangles using a cookie cutter. If you do not have a triangle shaped cookie cutter, simply cut out circles using a round cookie cutter, donut cutter or glass cup. Once you have your circles, cut out a triangle shape.
  5. Fill center of triangle with 1/2 teaspoon jam then cover with another triangle gently pressing the edges down. Using a fork crimp the edges down all around.
  6. Bake on 350ºF for about 8 minutes.
  7. Once cookies have cooled off, combine frosting ingredients and frost the center of each triangle and immediately place sprinkles on top before the frosting hardens.

Nina Safar is the founder and foodie of www.kosherinthekitch.com. Stressed about meal planning? Sign up for her deliciously easy dinner menus and each week you will get 5 quick and tasty dinner ideas along with recipe cards and a shopping list.

In case you missed it, check out Hamentaschen: New Twists on a Holiday Classic Part I!

 

The words of this author reflect his/her own opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Orthodox Union.