Holiday baking starts here—add this to your hamantaschen recipes for Purim. Fig hamantaschen are a fun twist on a classic cookie.
What is a Hamantaschen
One of the traditional foods for the Jewish festival of Purim is a triangular cookie known as hamantaschen and said to represent the three-cornered hat worn by the Purim story’s villain, Haman.
The origin of Purim comes from the book of Esther and is annually celebrated during the spring. Other kinds of foods that feature into Purim celebrations include kreplach (pasta triangles filled with beef or chicken).
Misloach Manot Ideas
If you’re headed to a Purim party, a traditional custom is to take a food gift for the host, known as misloach manot—like these fig biscotti or this chocolate fig biscotti would be a great gift to bake and share.
What Fillings to Use in Hamantaschen
Hamantaschen recipes for Purim are usually filled with fruit jam or a poppy seed paste. But you will find savory fillings have become popular and there is even one with funfetti that’s festive too.
Fig Hamantaschen Recipe
We fill these buttery, orange-scented cookies with fig puree made from Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid Mission California Dried Figs. You could use nutty delicately sweet Golden Figs as a filling for the Fig Hamantaschen too. Another idea for the filling is this one using a coffee-infused fig filling too.
Chocolate Optional
Dip one corner of the hamantaschen into melted chocolate for an extra-special treat! Cookies will keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container.
Fig Hamantaschen Recipe
Ingredients
Hamantaschen Cookie Dough
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 10 tbsp unsalted butter cut into small cubes
- 2 eggs large
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 orange
Fig Filling
- 6 ounces Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Figs chopped
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp cardamon
Chocolate Glaze
- 4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- orange zest and crushed pistachios for garnish, optional
Instructions
Make the Hamantaschen Dough
- Place the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Add the butter and process for a few seconds until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, vanilla extract and the zest of the orange. Add the egg mixture to the food processor and process for thirty seconds.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, gather into a ball and knead until it comes together.
- Divide dough in half and form into two discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Prepare the Fig Filling:
- In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped figs, sugar, 3/4 of a cup water, and the juice from the orange. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the figs have softened, about 6-8 minutes. Remove mixture from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and the cardamom. Allow to cool slightly. Puree the fig mixture with an immersion blender or transfer to a food processor and puree.
Make the Cookies
- Remove one of the disks from the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes to make it easier to roll out. Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Roll out dough on a well-floured surface with a floured rolling pin to 1/4 inch thickness. (Do not roll them too thin or the filling will leak.)
- Using a 4-inch round cookie cutter, or round drinking glass, cut out circles of dough.. Gather up the scraps and roll them out a second time to cut out more circles. (You should be able to get a dozen circles.) Place 6 circles on each cookie sheet.
Fill the Fig Hamantaschen
- Spoon a teaspoon of the fig puree in the center of the dough circle.
- Create the classic triangle shape for the hamantaschen, by doing a series of three folds. First, fold one side of the cookie in so that the edge comes to the middle of the jam filling. Fold the second side in the same way and so that it partially covers the first side. Finally, fold the remaining side up and in so that it overlaps the other two sides. Pinch the seams together. Chill the cookies for at least ten minutes prior to baking.
- Bake for 15 minutes until the cookies are golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining disk of dough.
Make the Chocolate Glaze
- Place the chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave on medium power for 30 seconds. Stir. (If chocolate is not completely melted, continue microwaving for thirty second-intervals and stirring until melted.)
- Dip one corner of each cookie into the melted chocolate. While chocolate is still wet, sprinkle on orange zest and/or crushed pistachios, if using. Return cookies to a cooking rack to allow the chocolate to harden.
