Purim is a joyful Jewish holiday filled with festive celebrations, delicious food, and the giving of gifts to friends and family. One of the sweetest traditions of Purim is baking and sharing Purim cookies, also known as Hamantaschen. These delightful triangular-shaped pastries are filled with various tasty ingredients like jam, poppy seeds, or chocolate. They are not only fun to make but also make a lovely treat to enjoy during the holiday season.
**Purim Cookie**
**Ingredients:**
– 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
– ½ teaspoon baking powder
– ¼ teaspoon salt
– ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
– ½ cup granulated sugar
– 1 large egg
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– ½ cup of your favorite fruit preserves or poppy seed filling
– 1 tablespoon milk (for brushing)
**Instructions:**
1. **Preheat Oven:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. **Mix Dry Ingredients:** In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
3. **Cream Butter and Sugar:** In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, using an electric mixer or a wooden spoon.
4. **Add Egg and Vanilla:** Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated into the butter-sugar mixture.
5. **Incorporate Dry Ingredients:** Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing well until a smooth dough forms. If the dough seems too dry, you can add a tablespoon of water to help bring it together.
6. **Chill Dough:** Form the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm up.
7. **Roll Out Dough:** On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a round cookie cutter or glass to cut out circles of dough.
8. **Fill and Shape Cookies:** Place about a teaspoon of your chosen filling in the center of each dough circle. To shape the Purim cookies, gently fold up the edges to form a triangle, leaving some of the filling visible in the center.
9. **Seal the Edges:** Pinch the corners tightly to ensure the cookies hold their shape during baking.
10. **Brush with Milk:** Arrange the filled cookies on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops of the cookies with a little milk to give them a shiny finish.
11. **Bake:** Bake the Purim cookies in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
12. **Cool and Enjoy:** Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. These cookies are best enjoyed with a cup of tea or as a sweet gift to share with loved ones during the festive Purim season!
These Purim cookies are a delicious way to partake in the traditions of the holiday while enjoying a homemade treat that is sure to delight. We hope this recipe brings joy and sweetness to your Purim celebrations!
