Friday, June 17, 2011

Poppy Hamantaschen Cookies


Those cookies are traditionally in triangle shape, which represents the three corners of Haman’s hat, filled with poppy seeds or prune filling. The shape may also represent the three Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who inspired Queen Esther. More information can be found here.
Adapted from Smitten's Kitchen

DoughPoppy Seed Filling
  • 270 g All-purpose flour
  • 100 g Powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp Finely grated lemon zest
  • 1/3 tsp Salt
  • 1 Large egg yolk
  • 200 g Unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 Egg, beaten for glazing
  • 170 ml Milk
  • 70 g Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Finely grated lemon zest
  • 80 g Poppy seeds, ground
  • 40 g Dried cherries, roughly chopped
  • 1 tbsp Lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp Butter
  • 1 tbsp Lemon extract
  1. Place the flour, powdered sugar, lemon zest, and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to blend. Add the butter and egg yolk and process until the mixture forms a ball. Scrape onto a sheet of plastic and wrap it tightly. Chill the dough for an hour or overnight.
  2. If you can't find ground poppyseeds, use a spice mill or coffee grinder with whole poppyseeds. Heat milk, sugar, lemon zest, ground poppy seeds and chopped dried cherries in a small saucepan over medium heat. On a low simmer, cook until the seeds have absorbed the milk and the mixture has thickened, about 15 minutes. Add the lemon juice, and butter and cook for 2 minutes more. Turn the heat off and stir in lemon extract. Cool completely.
  3. Preheat the oven 180C/350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 4mm/1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter or glass to cut 6cm/2.5 inch circles. Put a teaspoon of the filling in the center of each and press up the sides to form a triangle or any desired shape.
  4. Place them on the prepared trays and brush the tops with the beaten egg for glaze. Return tray to the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes; chilling them again will help them hold their shape while they are baked. Bake until cookies are golden, about 15 minutes. If trays are on different racks, switch them after about 10 minutes.

88 comments:

  1. Cookies look so scrumptious! A recipe I would love to try. Surely delicious.
    US Masala

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  2. these cookies are so cute! And I guess versatile too as the filling can be varied...

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  3. Anonymous17/6/11 07:19

    No matter the shape, these little treats looks super tasty.
    :-) Mandy

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  4. looking beautiful and gr8 recipe of cookies must try it

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  5. I love the look of all your cookies, they all looked so delicious! This one is no exception!

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  6. So pretty and delicious looking!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  7. Pretty interesting recipe, thanks for sharing and the cookies looks perfectly done

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  8. You did an amazing job on these. My mom loves hammantashen and next time I am home I will be making these for her. Bookmarked!

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  9. the poppy seed filling looks really good! wish I can have these cookies for tea break now :p

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  10. These look so irresistible!

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  11. Pretty scrumptious cookies, looks elegant and addictive..

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  12. These are so delightful! Love the colors and that sweetness.

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  13. Beautiful and yummm.

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  14. Angie, I love the fillings. Other than bialys, seldom ppl used poppy seed fillings. The cookies look really inviting. Thanks for sharing. Hope you're going to have a great weekend.
    Kristy

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  15. Oh my...I have never seen such interesting looking cookies! Those seem like a labour of love to make with getting the shape and filling just right. I've never eaten poppy seeds and cherries together as a combo either...sounds delicious though.

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  16. These are suck lovely cookies. Love poppy seeds. I bet these would be nice with fruit, too.

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  17. What a delightful and interesting cookies! Never tried ground poppy seeds before! These are lovely, and sounds wonderful with the dried cherries!

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  18. Instructions and the cookies are perfect, if you saw my posts on these, they were not where near this beautiful great job!

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  19. Oh I LOVE sweets with poppy seeds. These look so cute and delicious. Would love to nibble some right now. :-)

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  20. I love hamantaschen cookies!!.....I have tried them with two filling figs and apricots.....your version is FANTASTIC!!......I would love to try with poppy seeds.....WONDERFUL!!.......Abrazotes, Marcela

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  21. I have never tried hamantaschen but they look delicious. I love poppy seeds so the filling really appeals to me!

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  22. A friend of mine just baked me a batch of Hamantaschen cookies. They are so delectable!! Yours look wonderful!

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  23. Anonymous17/6/11 17:40

    I've always wanted to try making hamantaschen. THese look fantastic :D
    *kisses* HH

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  24. This cookies look so pretty and delicious! Wish to have some for my tea break too :)

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  25. i thought they look like mini galettes from the first picture. stylish and one of those cookies with distinctive flavour!

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  26. beautiful delicious cookies
    check out the event in my site

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  27. Love hamantaschen! Your poppy filling looks delicious.

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  28. Adorable treats! And the name uses 'schen!' That increases its cute factor even more :) Well done!

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  29. Cookies look so pretty..

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  30. that looks so good! I am definitely going to try this. Thanks for sharing.

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  31. Looks scrumptious Angie...:)

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  32. How innovative...I don't think I've had a cookie quite like this. We all need more poppy seeds in our life. At least I do.

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  33. Those teeny-weeny cookies are so pretty.Will be a great team time snack for me.

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  34. The poopy seed filling is wonderful!!


    sweetlife

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  35. Oh, I love hamantaschen with poppy seed filling, they're also good filled with chocolate chips;-)

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  36. I love poppyseed sweets of all sorts and the lemon zest here must go so well with the seeds.

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  37. I have a couple friends who rave about these cookies! Yours look fabulous, Angie...and I hope to be able to sample some one day soon~

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  38. Poppy seeds and cherries sounds wonderful together!

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  39. Oh my goodness - with my love of poppy seeds these are just looking so good to me! I love the idea of using cherries too! And they're perfect.

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  40. I seldom make cookie, yours look good .

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  41. Very interesting cookies! The poppyseed filling sounds very tasty. Have a great weekend!

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  42. I'm not sure how you pronounce the name, but these cookies sure look scrumptious! :)

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  43. This is a new one for me, Angie. Interesting background too. Lovely crusty pastry with a poppyseed/cherry filling. They look marvelous!

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  44. Ooooh, I love these. They are so pretty and the poppy filling would be so tasty.

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  45. What a coincidence, Angie...I was just popping over to comment, and let you know about the award, when you already beat me to it.
    You have no idea what wonderful memories the Hamantaschen cookies you made...btw...so perfect, and gorgeous!
    To be perfectly honest, I've never made them, since my grandmother made them years ago, have not even tasted one that was nearly as good as hers.
    Love the poppyseed filling, and am cherishing the recipe, to make these, for sure!
    Thanks for sharing, my sweet friend!

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  46. Angie, these really look delicious. I love this kind of treat. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  47. Really adorable! I have recently acquired a packet of blue poppy seeds. Would love to try this recipe of yours. :)

    But i reckon would be tough since i don't have the cutter right?

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  48. These are gorgeous! I love hamantaschen cookies... now I like them even more because of the poppy seed filling... that's delicious!

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  49. @maameemoomoo
    Just use a round cutter or a glass to cut out the circles, then push up the sides to have a triangle or a square.

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  50. I've always wanted to try that poppyseed filling! Sounds so good!

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  51. I actually made some hamantaschen earlier this year for a co-worker. They really are tasty and the pastry dough is just exceptional!

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  52. I love Hamantaschen and we make them for Purim every year. The poppy seed variation is great fun and have noted it!

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  53. Such beautiful photos! They sound delicious too, and I love their cute little shapes. What lovely cookies!

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  54. Such an exotic cookie- and really lovely.

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  55. Yum! These must be delicious, so unusual with wonderful flavors:)

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  56. These cookies sound great. The cherries must make them burst with flavor!

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  57. My girlfriend remembers these growing up. Her mother would always make them for Purim. They look so cute.

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  58. Anonymous19/6/11 18:44

    What a fantastic recipe...these cookies are a must-try! :)

    Tammy~

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  59. Oh these look so pretty (and I imagine they taste even better!) Thank you for sharing such a yummy cookie recipe with me today. I need to get baking!

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  60. Oh, I have so many childhood memories of these cookies. Haven't had one in ages.
    My grandma used to make us but shaping them in triangle.
    Thanks for sharing Angie

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  61. Angie this look absolutely delicious, I really love it! xxgloria

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  62. How cool...I love the history on the cookies, I didn't know that. Your version looks divine...that filling is stellar!

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  63. these look wonderful always enjoy your cookies

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  64. Beautiful cookies and poppy seed filling is one of my favorites. I remember my grandmother making these when I was growing up.

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  65. Oooo! What fantastic looking little cookies. So fancy!

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  66. Anonymous20/6/11 21:36

    Having a bit of trouble pronouncing the name of these cookies, but they sure look and sound fantastic!

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  67. Incredibly cute and tasty looking cookies!!

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  68. Angie, these cookies look delicious, love the filling, poppy seeds and cherry...would love to enjoy them with a cup of tea :-)
    Have a wonderful week ahead!

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  69. Perfect sweet treats for tea time :D

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  70. looks wonderful and delicious!

    have a nice day,
    Lucy,

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  71. They have an interesting historical story! I would like to try to make them if I can find some ground poppy seeds... Very appetizing pictures, Angie!

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  72. Love the shape of these cookies you made, the fillings on top are very inviting. Yum!

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  73. Are these typically Arabec or Lebonese? I wonder where they originate from. I will have to look up the name. I have been in a serious blogging slump and working to climb out of it... just trying to get my posts caught up and the overdue reading is overwhelming. I have missed you!
    :)
    Valerie

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  74. Such a pretty cookie. The filling looks delicious.

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  75. @A Canadian FoodieYou have been missed terribly too! ;-)
    They are Jewish cookie made for the Purim, I think they originate from Israel...not 100% sure.

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  76. These are adorable and I love this filling!

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  77. I would LOVE to make these. So glad you shared this. Yours look perfect!

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  78. These cookies are awesome. Used to have poppyseeds here but think they can't be imported anymore. They're unique!

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  79. this are the sweetest cookies, I must try them .. and we love poppy seeds :)

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