Cookies can come in so many shapes, sizes, and flavors. But when Purim is right around the corner, you might develop a hankering for hamantaschen. The triangle-shaped cookies are almost impossible to miss on store shelves, what with their pointy angles and decadent fillings. Singer Mama Doni (that’s Doni Zasloff to you and me) created this yummy recipe that’s just right for the holiday— or anytime you have a craving for a really good cookie that also happens to have roots in the religious holiday of Purim.
Mama Doni's Hamantaschen Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz. bar cream cheese (reduced fat is fine) at room temperature
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. lemon zest
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 jar blueberry jam
- 1 egg yolk, separated
Instructions
- In a big bowl beat cream cheese, butter, and sugar together with an electric mixer until fluffy.
- On low speed add flour, beat until just combined.
- Add vanilla and lemon zest and knead into the cookie dough by hand.
- Divide dough into three pieces, flatten each section into a disk, and wrap with plastic wrap.
- Place in refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Working each dough portion one at a time, roll out the dough and, with the rim of a drinking glass, cut out cookie.
- Spoon 1 tsp. of blue-berry jam into center of circle and pinch up the sides into familiar hamantaschen shape.
- Mix egg yolk with a teaspoon or two of water; brush dough with egg wash.
- Bake until hamantaschen are golden brown, about 15 minutes.
- Recipe yields about 3 dozen.