Hamentaschen Cookies/ Purim Cookies

Our Friday Bible study just finished a study on Esther. I was asked to make Haman's cookies. I used strawberry jelly and Nutella for the filling. They are tasty--although they took a bit of time to make.
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For the shortbread cookie dough
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 c White sugar
3 1/2 c All-purpose flour
4 T Cornstarch
1 tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Egg large
1 Egg yolk
2 tsp Vanilla or orange extract
4 tbsp Orange juice


Making the Dough
Sift and combine together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
Cream butter, sugar until light and fluffy.
Add vanilla or orange extract.
Next, add egg and egg yolk one at a time.
Add flour and orange juice.
This is a soft dough.
Divide the dough into two.
Form each into a flat disc.
Wrap in cling/plastic wrap.

Chill Dough /Roll Cookies
Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll.
Roll the dough using as little flour as possible.
Using a 3 inch round cookie cutter cut as many discs as you can.
Place the circles on a baking tray.
If the dough has softened place in the fridge to chill again.

Add Filling and Fold
Place a small teaspoon of filling in the center of the disc.
Do not add too much filling. The cookie dough is delicious on its own too.
Too much filling will cause an overflow and open up.
Dampen the disc edges very lightly with water or egg white ( very lightly - just to secure them).
Overlap or pinch the three sides of the circle to make a triangle.

Chill cookies and Bake
Preheat the oven at 180 C / 350 F.
Chill the cookies for at least 20 minutes while the oven is preheating. (Chilling helps the cookies hold their shape better).
Bake in a preheated oven for about 12 to 14 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack completely before you store in a cookie jar.

Storage
These cookies will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks but they taste best in the first week of baking.
The cookie dough can be chilled for a week in the fridge or frozen for up to three months in the freeze.
Fruit fillings will last for a week in the fridge.




These cookies will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks but they taste best in the first week of baking.
The cookie dough can be chilled for a week in the fridge or frozen for up to three months in the freeze.
Fruit fillings will last for a week in the fridge.