Ingredients

  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • Juice and zest (very finely grated rind) of 1 whole orange
  • Juice and zest (very finely grated rind) of 1 whole lemon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Sugar to sprinkle over hamantaschen before baking
  • Shortening to grease cookie sheet
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup finely pulverized almonds (you can do this in a food processor or by hand with a mortal and pestle)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 ounces (1 stick) softened butter (use margarine for a pareve version)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • Shortening to grease cookie sheet
  • 1 egg, beaten and diluted with 1 teaspoon water and 1 tablespoon heavy cream (use nondairy creamer to make a pareve version)
  • 1 cup pitted prunes
  • 1/2 cup plum jam
  • 2 teaspoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
  • 1/4 teaspoon orange extract or 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 3/8 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 3/4 cup poppy seeds
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup dark raisins, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 3/4 cup dried apricots
  • 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit (apples and pears, not prunes)
  • 1/2 cup apricot jam
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 2/3 cup peeled and cored McIntosh apples, diced into 1/4-inch pieces
  • 1/8 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped raisins
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Method

  • To Make Dough No.
  • 1:
  • In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Set aside.
  • In another large bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer until fluffy, and set aside.
  • In a third bowl, combine sugar, vegetable oil, orange and lemon juices and zests, and vanilla.
  • Add this juicy mixture to the eggs and blend well.
  • Then add flourbaking powdersalt mixture, and continue mixing until your dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  • Turn dough out onto a well-floured board, and knead until it no longer sticks to your fingers.
  • Divide dough into 4 sections.
  • On a well-floured board, using a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to a 18-inch thickness.
  • Have filling, egg glaze, sugar, cookie cutter, flatware teaspoon, pastry brush, and greased cookie sheet close at hand.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Use a cookie cutter (or jar lid) to create circles about 4 inches in diameter.
  • Place about 1 teaspoon (a flatware teaspoon, not a culinary measuring spoon) of the filling in the center of the circle, fold in sides, and press dough to seal, creating two sides of a triangle.
  • Use a little of the egg glaze mixture as glue if you need it.
  • Then fold the bottom of the circle up to form the third side of your tricorne, leaving a little of the filling visible in the center.
  • Brush top side of each pastry well with egg glaze mixture, sprinkle with sugar, and place on the greased cookie tray.
  • Since cutting circles leaves a lot of marginal dough, youll have to gather scraps in a ball and roll them out again.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until your hamantaschen are a light golden brown (check after 15 minutes to see how theyre doing).
  • Let hamantaschen cool before you remove them from the baking pan with a spatula.
  • To Make Almond-Flavored Dough No.
  • 2:
  • In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Add almonds, and mix thoroughly.
  • Set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer until fluffy, and set aside.
  • In another large bowl, cream sugar and butter with your electric mixer until completely blended.
  • Add eggs, vanilla, and almond extract, and mix thoroughly.
  • Add almond-flour mixture, and, using your hands, blend until the dough begins to form a ball and pull away from the sides of the bowl.
  • Turn out onto a well-floured board, and knead the dough until it no longer sticks to your fingers.
  • Steps 4 and 5 are the same as in previous recipe.
  • To Make the Prune Filling:
  • Puree all ingredients except nuts in a blender or food processor.
  • Transfer mixture to a bowl, and thoroughly blend in finely chopped nuts.
  • To Make the Poppy Seed Filling:
  • Pour boiling water over the poppy seeds and set aside for 15 minutes.
  • Drain and grind (or put them in your food processor with the honey, brown sugar, raisins, and lemon rind).
  • Transfer mixture to a bowl, and thoroughly blend in finely chopped nuts.
  • To Make the Apricot Filling:
  • Puree all ingredients except nuts in a blender or food processor.
  • Transfer mixture to a bowl, and thoroughly blend in finely chopped nuts.
  • To Make the Apple Filling:
  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
  • Put in a blender or food processor and pulse for a few seconds to make mixture a little moister and easier to use.