Really Easy Hamentaschen is a simple 2-ingredient recipe.
All you need is ready-made pie dough and your favorite filling and, within no time at all, you have a delicious Purim treat!
Hamentaschen is one of the best parts of Purim, but why wait for the holiday? Just make the delicious dough from this Easy Hamantaschen recipe, add your favorite filling, fold, bake and voila!! A tasty pleasure for everyone…any time!
Want to make hamantaschen with homemade dough? Try: Easy Hamentaschen With Oil or Easy Hamentaschen.
If I can bake, anyone can
I am the type of person who, when she sees something that looks easy to create, will try to do just that. It doesn’t really matter what it is.
And if I don’t at first succeed, I will continue to try and try until I complete the project or until I decide that I have at least given it my best effort and have had enough.
For example, when my eldest son (I have 5) sent me a video of an apartment he was thinking of renting, I saw a painting on a wall. The canvas was completely covered with uneven clouds of various colors and a long line of white squiggled randomly over it. My first thought was why something so simple could actually be considered a work of art, and my second thought was, Hey, I totally can paint something like that, and I did (MUCH smaller, of course).
But then there was the picture with crayon drippings in various beautiful colors (I am a sucker for colors). I had a bunch of old crayons, and I tried it. However, when I heated them to melt, the colors kept dripping across one another, and I couldn’t get them to drip straight down in their own paths. The repeated attempts didn’t pan out too well, and not only did I get crayon drippings on the canvas, I got them all over the kitchen. So, THAT was one of those times where I agreed with myself to give up.
And there have been so many other projects (people like me are a thing—we will spend $80 to craft something that would cost $5.99 to buy in the store).
Anyway, so, one day after a visit to a bakery one day, I decided that I should totally try baking (I could already cook).
I started with chocolate chip cookies. While chocolate chip cookies aren’t hard to make, and they always come out tasting good (unless I forget to take them out of the oven on time and they burn), I found it a challenge to get them to come out the way I had envisioned.
Sometimes they came out too cakey, sometimes too dry, sometimes too flat, and sometimes they spread out into one another.
But every so often, they would even come out just right. And it was those times—and the fact that my kids loved them no matter how they came out—that gave me encouragement to try again. And again. And again.
My next attempt at baking was birthday cakes. I am not sure why I decided to do this since the boxed kind are perfectly fine, but whatever.
I started with a 9″x13″ pan, and those sheet cakes came out fine, but they weren’t “real” birthday cakes. You know, like a round one. With layers.
So, I baked a cake with layers.
As with the sheet cakes, it came out tasting terrific, but the layers weren’t flat and the cake came out lopsided. Like with other things, I tried over and over (we have a lot of birthdays), but the layers always came out unlevel. I solved the problem by filling out the valleys with frosting.
I knew that when this happens, the layers need to be leveled off by cutting away the excess, but that would’ve meant removing too much, and I would’ve ended up with a very short cake, so I wouldn’t do it.
Luckily, I did find out that there is a way to prevent uneven layers, which is by using baking strips. Simple as that.
I did learn a very valuable lesson while I was still struggling with the lopsidedness of my cakes, and that was NEVER to put frosting on the cake until the layers have completely cooled because if the layers are still hot, or even warm, the frosting will get runny. Not only will this prevent a nicely decorated cake, but if it is not level, everything you put on top of the cake will…slide…right…off. Seriously.
Actually, I learned another lesson as well. If you have unevenness in your layers, just cut the higher portion of the cake (the part that you would cut off to make it level) horizontally down the middle and flip the top part of that over on to the lower part of the layer, it will mostly level it off. THEN you can spread on the frosting and decorate without losing height.
Talking about height, with the issue of the uneven cake layers solved, the next thing I wanted to improve was the height of my cakes. For some reason, I didn’t think that the layered cakes that were higher were probably three-layer cakes. I just thought that my two-layer cake should be higher. So, I did what any person who didn’t bother to do ANY research would do. I doubled the recipe.
Just like before, the cake came out tasting good, but it was no longer moist and fluffy. In fact, it was kind of heavy.
I am pretty sure now that my issues with baking were because of the way that I cook because I am the type who can eyeball some of the ingredients, and the food still comes out good.
That is NOT so with baking. At least not with me.
Anyway, so back to my heavy cake.
I couldn’t figure out what was wrong, and I complained to my daughter, Elissa, about how my cake wasn’t coming out like it used to, and her first question was the obvious.
“Mom, did you follow the instructions?”
I told her, “Yes, I followed the directions. But look at it!”
Elissa insisted that I must’ve done SOMETHING wrong and decided that she would make the same cake (she always follows directions) and see how HERS came out. So, I read the instructions to her while she made the batter.
When Elissa’s cake came out just as heavy as mine, she almost cried, but I felt kind of gratified that whatever was wrong wasn’t MY fault. Ha!
Then she asked to see the recipe for herself so she could see what could possibly have gone wrong, and she was surprised.
“These are half of the quantities that you read to me. You doubled the recipe. Why??”
I told her that I wanted a higher cake.
“That is NOT considered following directions. The recipe is for two pans, and you put double in each pan, so it couldn’t rise.”
Oh.
I took back my “ha” and never did THAT again.
So, I learned that I need to follow instructions better when baking. Fine.
One day, while I was in the kitchen baking something and yes, following instructions, Elissa walked in.
“Mom. You are NOT really measuring oil in the palm of your hand, are you?!”
I told her I was in a rush and didn’t want to take the time to look for the measuring spoons in the baking drawer, it was only a tablespoon, and I certainly know what a tablespoon of oil should look like, even in my hand. At least I wasn’t trying to measure a cup.
Sheesh.
Sometimes, when someone is very familiar with a recipe, they might be able to make little adaptations to some of the ingredients, but overall, it’s a good idea to remember to follow instructions and measure properly when you are making cakes or cookies or whatever it is you are trying to bake.
Baking Pantry Essentials
I never know when someone in my family is going to want a dessert at home, to bring to a friend’s house, or need for an event, so I like to make sure I can bake anything with very short notice. To that end, I keep a variety of supplies and ingredients in the house that will allow me to do just that.
I can’t tell you how many times I was glad to have whatever I needed within reach for the last-minute visitor or for when one of my kids went to a friend or had a school event without much prior notice.
I have slowly collected things over the years as I needed them (or if I found a good sale) and like to keep more than one of the smaller items, in case I don’t want to wash dishes in the middle of baking.
My basic “equipment” includes:
- a stand mixer, which I use mostly for dough and, sometimes whipping
- a hand mixer (for things that aren’t dough and I don’t want to mix manually)
- a small scale
- different sizes and shapes of baking pans, including loaf pans
- mixing bowls (or just large bowls—I have plastic, glass, and metal)
- cookie sheets
- pie dishes
- dry measuring cups
- liquid measuring cups
- whisks
- rubber spatulas (really good for when you don’t want to leave anything in the bowl)
- rolling pins
- a baking mat for rolling out dough
- baking strips
- a good supply of baking (or parchment) paper (also round for layer cakes)
I can certainly get by without a lot of the above, but it makes baking so much simpler when I just have whatever I need at my fingertips.
In addition to the equipment, there are the baking ingredients that I try to keep in the house at all times:
- flour
- white granulated sugar
- brown sugar (light/dark—I usually keep dark)
- confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
- salt
- baking powder
- baking soda
- cocoa powder
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- ground ginger
- ground cloves
- baking chocolate
- chocolate chips
- instant dry yeast
- vanilla and/or vanilla sugar
- cooking oil/cooking spray
- margarine or butter
- eggs
- honey
- instant coffee
- various extracts (real or imitation)
I also make sure that I have the following on hand to be able to make a variety of fillings, frostings, and toppings:
- whipping cream
- powdered pudding mix
- powdered sugar
- a good chocolate spread
Then, there is the following to make last-minute quick desserts:
- packaged pie dough or ready-made pie crusts
- puff pastry dough
Lastly, it’s not a bad idea to keep fun toppings, such as chopped walnuts, raisins, and the oh-so-important container of sprinkles.
About Purim and Hamentaschen
What is Purim?
Purim is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman (Hamen) – the vizier of the Persian king, Xerxes (Ahashverosh) – by Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai.
The king’s first wife – Vashti (who had inherited the crown and made him king) disobeyed him and he was beside himself with anger. His advisors told him to get rid of her, with the explanation that everyone’s wife would feel it’s ok to disobey their husbands if she was allowed to get away with it. He agreed and complied.
Sometime after this, maidens were brought from far and wide for the king to choose a new queen. He chose a nice Jewish girl, Esther (although she kept her religion to herself).
Esther’s uncle, Mordechai (who had adopted her after the death of her parents) had accompanied her to the palace and would sit by the gates to hear of news of Esther’s well-being.
One day, Mordechai overheard two of the kings eunichs plotting to kill him and told Esther who told the king. The eunuchs were found guilty, were hanged, and the king had the incident recorded in his chronicles.
In the meantime, Haman, a sociopathic narcissist, was a promoted by the king and everyone was commanded to bow down to him.
Nonetheless, Mordechai refused, which caused Haman to become overcome with rage and hatred. So, he went to the king with a plot to murder all Jews (men, women, young, old) in revenge.
Haman told the king that there were a people who were dispersed among his nations, whose traditions were different from those of everyone else’s, and who didn’t follow the king’s laws. He told the king that he shouldn’t have to be tolerated and, if it please the king, they should be annihilated. The king told him to do as he saw fit.
A date was set and notifications were sent to all the provinces.
When Mordechai found out, he put on mourning clothes (a sack) and when Esther was told about this, she sent clothes to him via a messenger. He refused them and sent back a message telling her about the decree and insisted that she plead with the king on behalf of her people.
Esther really didn’t want to do this, because everyone – including the queen – had to be invited to see the king or risk death. Mordechai responded that she shouldn’t think that her position would protect her and that maybe this was the reason she became queen in the first place (from God).
Esther responded that everyone should fast for three days, night and day, and that she and her maidens will also fast and then afterward she will go to the king … “If I perish, I perish.”
When she went to the king, he was happy to see her and extended his golden sceptor toward her. He asked her what she wanted from him. “What is it you desire, Queen Esther, and what do you request? Up to half of the kingdom and it will be given to you.”
Esther’s request was that the king and Haman come to a banquet that she had prepared. The king agreed and ordered that Haman be quickly brought and there, again, the king asked: “What is it you desire, Queen Esther, and what do you request? Up to half of the kingdom and it will be given to you.”
Esther told the king that she would like him and Haman to come to another banquet the next day.
Of course, Haman was thrilled at the invitation. However, when he left to go home and saw Mordechai sitting at the gate, who still didn’t stand and bow for him, his joy dissipated and he was furious.
Haman went home and told his friends and his wife that nothing he had attained was worth anything to him as long as he had to see Mordechai disrespecting him. They suggested he build a tall gallows and ask the king to hang Mordechai on it. He liked the idea and built the gallows.
That night, the king couldn’t sleep and asked that his chronicles be read to him and he was reminded of how Mordechai saved his life from the eunichs. “What was done for him?” he asked. “Not a thing,” was the reply.
So, the king asked who was in the courtyard and lo and behold, there was Haman on his way to ask the king’s permission to hang Mordechai!
The king had him called to him and asked, “What should be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.”
Haman, narcissist that he was, thought: Who would the king want to honor more than me? So, he recommended that the king’s clothes and the king’s horse with a royal crown on it’s head to be given to the most noble official who will dress the man and ride him through the town square and call out: “This is what shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.”
So, the king told Haman himself to quickly do just as he mentioned…for Mordechai the Jew!
The next evening, the king and Haman went to Esther’s banquet and again the king asked her: “What is it you desire, Queen Esther, and what do you request? Up to half of the kingdom and it will be given to you.”
This time she replied that her desire is her life and her request, the lives of her people. She proceeded to tell the that they had been sold out to be annhiliated.
“Who dared to do this?” he asked.
She told him: “This wicked Haman!”
The king got up and went out into the garden in his wrath and when he came back he saw that Haman had fallen on Esther’s sofa to beg for his life and said: “Can it be that he would actually assault the queen while I’m in the house?”
One of the eunuchs who were in attendance overheard and told the king: “Also, there is the tall gallows that Haman prepared which to hang Mordechai – who spoke good of the king – by his house.”
The king replied: “Hang him on it!”
The rest of the story is that the Jews got to fight back on the days they were supposed to be slaughtered and they won.
Every year, Jews celebrate their victory and on Purim, in the morning, they give out packages of treats and baked goods to their neighbors and friends and in the afternoon they have a festive meal to celebrate.
What about hamantaschen?
Hamentaschen (spelled a variety of ways) is a favored type of cookie that is made from a circle of dough with filling and folded into a triangle.
“Tasch” is yiddish for pocket, so the word hamantashen actually means, Haman’s (Hamen’s) pockets. Some people say that the triangle actually represents the three-cornered hat that Haman supposedly wore, and in Hebrew, they called these treats, Haman’s ears (Oznei Haman).
There are several ideas about how hamentaschen got its name, but it doesn’t really matter…All that matters is the they are really good!
How to fold Really Easy Dairy Free Hamentaschen:
Cut out circle from dough (this is a 3″ diameter circle)
Fold over 1/3 of the circle from the edge toward the middle (how far you fold in is determined by how much filling you want showing.
Then fold over another 1/3 from the edge toward the middle
Then fold the last 1/3 toward the middle and tuck one side under, so each fold has one side exposed and one side under another.
…and voila! That’s it!
Really Easy Hamentaschen
Easy to make 2-ingredient hamentaschen (hamantaschen).
Ingredients
- Approximately 1 pound of chilled ready-made pie dough, preferably sweet (* see notes). Use dairy free dough if desired.
Instructions
- Roll out pie dough (rectangle shape, approximately 16" x 10" or so and 1/8" thick - a little more is fine) onto a mat or table where it won't stick and won't slide around either.
- Cut out circles. The larger the circle, the larger each piece will be, but less of them. *
- Put a dab of filling in the middle of the circle (the smaller the circle, the less filling you use).
- Fold 1/3 of the circle toward the middle (you can cover the middle or let a little of the filling show).
- Then fold in another third toward the middle.
- Fold the last third toward the middle and carefully tuck one end under the 1/3 next it so that each 1/3 has one side showing and one side tucked under the 1/2 next to it.
- Lay each hamentaschen a greased or lined cookie sheet, leaving around 1" space between each
- Place in an oven that has been preheated to 350°.
- Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until the dough has slightly browned.
Notes
* Quantity is based on circles with a diameter of 2.5 inches.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
25Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 122Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 112mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g