Purim is one of the most exciting holidays on the Jewish calendar, yet its signature food, hamantaschen, is not! Triangle-shaped and traditionally filled with uninspired flavors, it’s no wonder this pastry is frequently disappointing. Fortunately, I’m on a mission to transform hamantaschen from bland and boring to tasty and tantalizing.

This recipe is courtesy of “The Holiday Kosher Baker” by Paula Shoyer.

Prep time: Dough 5 minutes, roll and shape 20 minutes

Cook time: 14-15 minutes

Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days or freeze for up to three months

Advanced prep: May be made three days in advance or frozen

Granola Hamantaschen

Yields 60 cookies

Ingredients

  • Dough:
  • 4 large eggs
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ cup canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
  • ½ cup whole-wheat flour
  • Dash salt
  • 1 ½ cups granola, pulsed in food processor for 15 seconds, until no whole oats remain (recipe below for homemade granola)
  • Filling:
  • ¾ cup apricot preserves
  • ¼ cup raspberry jam
  • ½ cup chopped dried apricots
  • ½ cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
  • 2-3 tablespoons granola for sprinkling on top

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla and mix well. Add the two types of flour and salt and mix until the dough comes together. Add the crushed granola and mix well. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for one hour to firm up.
  2. To make the filling, in a small bowl combine the apricot preserves and raspberry jam, chopped apricots and cranberries. Cover and set aside.
  3. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line three large cookie sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats, or bake in batches. Divide the dough in half.
  4. Take another two pieces of parchment paper and sprinkle flour on one, place one dough half on top, and then sprinkle a little more flour on top of the dough. Place the second piece of parchment on top of the dough and roll on top of the parchment to roll out the dough until it’s about ¼-inch thick. Every few rolls, peel back the top parchment and sprinkle a little more flour on the dough.
  5. Use a 3-inch drinking glass or round cookie cutter to cut the dough into circles. Use a metal flat-blade spatula to lift the circle and place on another spot on the parchment, sprinkled with a little flour. Place a heaping ½ teaspoon of filling in the center and then fold in the three sides toward the middle to form a triangle, leaving a small opening in the center. Pinch the three sides together very tightly. Place on the prepared cookie sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough and roll and cut any dough scraps you have, making sure to sprinkle a little flour under and over the dough before you roll.
  6. Sprinkle a little granola on top of the jam filling. Before you bake the cookies, pinch all of the edges a second time to seal them tightly.
  7. Bake for 14 to 15 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly browned. Slide the parchment onto wire racks to cool.
  8. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days or freeze for up to three months.

Homemade Granola

Yields 6 cups (so you will have extra to nosh on!)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups oats (not the quick-cooking kind)
  • 1 cup dried coconut flakes
  • 1 cup pecan halves, chopped into ½-inch pieces
  • ½ cup cashews, chopped into ½-inch pieces
  • ⅓ cup sliced almonds
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper, making sure the paper goes ½ inch up the sides. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, coconut, pecans, cashews, almonds, cinnamon and salt.
  2. Place the honey, oil and brown sugar into a glass measuring cup or microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 45 seconds, or until the honey and sugar can be dissolved. Stir well. Pour over the oat mixture and toss to coat.
  3. Spread evenly on the prepared baking pan and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the oats and nuts are browned. Let cool on the pan for 30 minutes.
  4. Store in a freezer bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

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