Chocolate Chip Hamantaschen

Hamantaschen are a traditional Jewish pastry typically eaten during the festival of Purim, celebrated annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. In 2025, it is celebrated from the evening of Thursday, Mar 13 – Fri, Mar 14. It is a festive holiday that includes the reading of the biblical book of Esther, a Jewish woman who became the queen of Persia. Purim is a holiday of joy, celebration, and community. Children are encouraged to participate in these festivities in a variety of ways, such as dressing up in costumes and exchanging baskets of treats with friends and family.

The triangular-shaped cookie is usually made with fruit jam or poppy seed filling, but Hamantaschen filled with chocolate chips are a favorite with children (who make great helpers) in the kitchen. The name “hamantaschen” means “Haman’s pockets”, and  they are named after the villain in the Purim story, Haman, who was said to have worn a three-cornered hat. The pastries are traditionally eaten during the festival to celebrate the defeat of Haman and the salvation of the Jewish people.

Adapted from https://toriavey.com/

1. 1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar. Cream together for a few minutes till light and fluffy.

2. Add the egg, vanilla, and zest to the bowl. Beat again till creamy and well mixed.

3. Sift flour and salt into the bowl. Mix on low speed till a crumbly dough forms. Knead dough to form a smooth ball,  add water slowly, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the dough is smooth and slightly tacky (not sticky). If the dough seems too wet, knead in a little flour till it reaches the right texture. Form the dough into a flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator to chill for 3 hours to overnight.

4. Preheat oven to 177°C (350°F). Lightly flour the rolling pin and roll out the chilled dough to .3-.6 cm (1/8-1/4 inch) thickness. Use a 7 (3-inch) cookie cutter or the 7 cm (3-inch rim) of a glass to cut circles out of the dough. Gather the scraps and roll them out again.
5. Assemble the hamantaschen by placing one teaspoon of chocolate chips in the center of each circle Draw the edges up at three points to form a triangle., overlapping the edges to keep the from opening while baking. Bake on a lightly greased cookie sheet for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool the cookies on a wire rack.