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Hooray for Hamentashen: A Perfect Purim Pastry

This delicious and beautiful cookie is a Purim tradition

By Macaroni KID March 24, 2024

Purim, a joyous Jewish holiday commemorating the bravery of the Jewish Queen Esther in thwarting the wicked schemes of Haman (an advisor to the Persian king), is a vibrant celebration filled with costumes, traditional foods, lots of noise-making and jubilant festivities. This annual observance, marked by its lively spirit and communal revelry, typically falls in March on the Gregorian calendar, though occasionally landing at the end of February. As with all Jewish holidays, Purim commences at sundown, extending its festivities over two days. The holiday begins on the 14th day of Adar and continues through the 15th.  Purim dates:

Here are the upcoming Purim Dates:

  • 2024: March 23-24
  • 2025: March 13-14
  • 2026: March 2-3
  • 2027: March 23-24
  • 2028: March 11-12

Join us in embracing the spirit of Purim with its rich traditions and vibrant celebrations!

During Purim, people dress up in colorful costumes, eat triangle-shaped pastries called Hamentashen - also spelled hamantaschen, and variations between the two — there's some thought the shape is meant to resemble Haman's hat — and make noise with groggers "noisemakers" every time Haman's name is mentioned during the reading of the Megillah - the biblical book of Esther.

So, whether you're a kid or a kid at heart, Purim is a time to let loose and have some fun. Just remember — when it comes to Purim, the louder, the better!

📅 Visit the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas event calendar to find local Purim fun things to do, including the many carnivals!!


chamaleonseye | Canva

Basic Hamentashen recipe

From Merri Cohen

Hamentashen cookies are crunchy and crumbly with just the right amount of sweetness. Use a variety of fillings to make a beautiful platter! Ideas on what to use include: apricot, cherry, or raspberry preserves, prunes, poppy seed filling, chocolate chips, or Nutella.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of flour
  • 1 1/2 cups of sugar
  • 4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • Filling of choice 

 tovfla | Canva

Directions:

  1. Sift together dry ingredients. Work in butter to dry ingredients. 
  2. Add the eggs and orange juice. Mix all. The ingredients should be stiff and difficult to mix.
  3. Knead with your hands - the mixture should not stick to your hands, if it does or if it looks wet add a little more flour
  4. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least two hours, or overnight.
  5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
  6. After refrigerating, roll dough onto a floured surface. You want it to be between 1/8 and 1/4 of an inch typically.
  7. Use a cup or glass to make circles in your dough - about a 6-inch circumference. 
  8. Add about a teaspoon of your choice of filling in the center of each dough circle.
  9. Fold three sides up to make it look like a triangle. Make sure most of the filling is in the dough. Seal the sides tightly!
  10. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

chameleonseye | Canva

Chag Purim Sameach!

Tagged under:
Purim Jewish Holidays