Party Cookie Recipes - Hamantaschen Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups/375 g vegetable shortening

• 1 cup/200 g granulated sugar

• 3 large eggs

• 3 tbsp honey

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

• 6 tbsp cold water

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract/essence

• 4 cups/600 g all purpose/plain flour

• 1 lb/500 g dried pitted prunes, soaked overnight and drained

• 1 1/4 cups/125 g coarsely chopped walnuts

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

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Method:

1. Beat the shortening and 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until creamy. Add 2 eggs, beating until just blended.

2. Stir in the honey, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, water, and vanilla. Mix in the flour to form a smooth dough. Press into a disk, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C/gas 5. Butter three cookie sheets. Chop the prunes coarsely.

4. Mix the prunes, walnuts, remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a small bowl.

5. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/4 inch (5 mm). Use a 3-inch (8-cm) cookie cutter to cut out the cookies.

6. Gather the dough scraps, re-roll, and continue cutting out cookies until all the dough is used. Drop teaspoons of the prune mixture into the center of the cookies.

7. Lift up three sides of each circle to form a triangular shape, pinching the edges of the dough together to seal. Beat the remaining egg and brush over the cookies.

8. Mix the remaining sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the cookies. Use a spatula to transfer the cookies to the cookie sheets, placing them 2 inches (5 cm) apart.

9. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 12-15 minutes, or until just golden at the edges. Transfer to racks and let cool completely.