Chocolate Raspberry Linzer Hamantaschen

Chocolate Raspberry Linzer Hamantaschen

Before I get going here, I’m trying to win an opportunity to be on the Today Show baking desserts for all, so please vote for me. I’m the underdog (that’s an understatement) in this joyous contest, but wouldn’t it be a great story if I made it? It’ll take two seconds. Just click next to “vote up.” Thanks so much, friends!

Purim is on Thursday. Who knows what I’m talking about?

Every spring, the Jewish holiday of Purim occurs. It’s one of the fun ones, following the whole “they tried to kill us, they failed, let’s eat” mode of celebration. On that day, people dress in costume, deliver baskets of treats to friends, give charity, and eat hamantaschen.

This delightful cookie is named after the villain of the Purim story, Haman. These are triangular-shaped cookies that are traditionally filled with fruit or chocolate, but I’ve switched things up a bit. The dough here has a Linzer cookie twist with ground almonds, and the filling is chocolate raspberry. Talk about celebrating in style!

Chocolate Raspberry Linzer Hamantaschen

Holidays are the most fun with children. And I’m not really a kid person, which often surprises people because I both teach for a living and have three children of my own. But really, that’s not relevant. I don’t teach because I love kids; I teach because I want to help them. And as for my children, they’re mine. I love them. But other people’s? Well, depends on how well-behaved they are.

Anyway, I digress. It’s so much fun to see kids get excited about holiday celebrations. For weeks, I’ve been watching my kids prepare for Purim. They’ve been singing songs, making masks, and doing project after project. If I became bored with it all before they were born, now I’m right back into it.

Chocolate Raspberry Linzer Hamantaschen

In fact, my costume is all set to go. As long as my daughters insist on being Disney princesses every year (this year it’s Aurora and Rapunzel, while last year was Anna and Belle), I will persist in being a Disney villain. Last year I was Maleficent; this year I am Cruella.  It actually works really well in making them less afraid of the evil parade of women Disney loves to share. Because really, they’re all quite terrifying.

Oh, well. We’ll leave the discussion of sexist portrayals of women as evil throughout history for another blog post. I’m already excited about a holiday. Let’s keep the energy there!

Chocolate Raspberry Linzer Hamantaschen

Hamantaschen are deceptively hard to make. They seem just like cookies, but the epic fail rate is pretty high for so many people. Among the possible issues you can encounter: dough is too sticky, not sticky enough, puffs up obscenely the oven, the edges open, the filling explodes. See? This Purim thing isn’t all fun and games.

This recipe is foolproof if you follow it. Please don’t improvise! And once your dough is rolled out in circles, pinch those edges together really well. You want almost no filling showing through. When I made these with my kids, they definitely had issues. But they’re kids, so it’s fine. It was fun anyway. The ones they made aren’t pictured here, of course.

Chocolate Raspberry Linzer Hamantaschen

Happy Purim to all of my readers. Whether you celebrate or not, try and get your hands on some hamantaschen! They’re worth the effort!

 

Chocolate Raspberry Linzer Hamantaschen

Ingredients

Dough
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups flour
1 cup ground almonds
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Filling
1 cup dark chocolate chips
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line two cookie sheets with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Add the sugar and beat again until light and fluffy. Add the egg, lemon juice, vanilla and almond extract. Mix until smooth.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, baking powder and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer and stir until just combined.
  4. Shape the dough into a flat disc and place in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least one hour or up to two days.
  5. When you're ready to bake, take the dough out the fridge and let it soften for 10-15 minutes.
  6. While that's happening ,make the filling. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for one minute. Stir until smooth, microwaving an additional 30 seconds if needed. Mix the melted chocolate with the raspberry preserves and lemon juice until all ingredients are combined. The filling will harden quickly, but you will still be able to use it.
  7. Place the dough on a floured surface and roll it out to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a circular cookie cutter or the top of a drinking glass, make circles in the dough.
  8. Place about 1/2 tablespoon of filling in the center of each circle. Pinch two sides together at the top, and then fold the bottom side up to meet the other two, forming a triangle. Make sure the sides are pinched well together, leaving very little space in the middle. The hamantaschen will open slightly while baking.
  9. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. Cool completely.
  10. Store in an airtight container.
http://justaboutbaked.com/chocolate-raspberry-linzer-hamantaschen/

Mir

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner. This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker. Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This Post Has 21 Comments

  1. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    Good luck with the Today Show votes, Mir! Just voted! I don’t know much about Jewish holidays, but I do know that this dessert looks amazing. Chocolate and raspberry are one of my favorite combos. These definitely look like they’re worth the extra effort to make!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Blueberry Granola Oatmeal MuffinsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Gayle! We’ll see how it goes. I love chocolate and raspberry, too!

  2. Kate @ Framed Cooks

    First of all – I voted!! If only you could run for President, too! And second, I love the sound of these scrumptious cookies, and I learned something (which I pretty much always do from your posts!) xo
    Kate @ Framed Cooks recently posted…Easy Salmon TartareMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Nah, don’t wanna be President. Too much time spent not watching Netflix and chilling!

  3. David @ Spiced

    I absolutely love that you play the role of villain to your girls’ princesses! Cruella was one of the best. You should go all out and rent a Cruella car. And then post pictures. Ok, even if you don’t rent the car, I still want to see some Cruella pics. Deal? Also, these cookies sound amazing! I’ve heard of hamantaschen, but I’ve never tried my hand at them. I have this strange attraction to making difficult and unique baking recipes (I think it’s because I want to say I made them once)…so these are going on the list! 🙂
    David @ Spiced recently posted…Thai Peanut WrapsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I would LOVE a Cruella car. Like, that’s a dream, David. You hit right on it!

  4. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

    Mir, I love that amidst all of these Easter posts, I find this amazing chocolate raspberry linzer hamantaschen recipe and a bit of a history lesson! I’ve never heard of Purim and I had a ton of Jewish friends growing up?! Well, I love linzer cookies and these look fabulous!
    Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Easter Basket of GoodiesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I should be getting in on the Easter posts, but I don’t celebrate it so it’s hard. But I do love the chocolate bunnies and eggs!

  5. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary

    Totally voting for you to be on the Today Show, girlfriend! Fingers are crossed for you, because I know you would be absolutely FABULOUS! I saw these cookies on IG and totally thought, “hama-who?”. I’ve never heard of Purim or Hamantaschen, but both sound fun and delicious! I am a huge fan of linzer cookies, so I’m thinking I would easily devour a baker’s dozen of these! Wishing you and the family a wonderful Purim, dear! Cheers and Good Luck with the Today show!! <3
    Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Crab Cake Stuffed Deviled EggsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Chey! I don’t think I have a shot, but I had to try!

  6. Aria

    Ooh! I know all about Purim! I’m not Jewish nor do I have Jewish friends but I read a wonderful series of books about a Jewish family living on the East Side of New York in the early 1900’s preceding WWI. I learned so much about Jewish customs and traditions! Plus, I’ve read the account of Esther, and it’s so beautiful! This Hamantaschen cookie looks so delicious! I really need to try it. Especially since it’s filled with chocolate and raspberry – best combination ever!

    1. Mir

      Is that All of a Kind Family on the Lower East Side? I love those books!!

      1. Aria

        Yup! I love them too! They’re such a wonderful, historical series. The last one, “Ella of All of a Kind Family” was my favorite!
        Aria recently posted…Flowering TreesMy Profile

  7. mira

    Definitely voting for you Mir! Have a nice holiday! I did not know about Purim. These cookies look gorgeous! Need to try them!
    mira recently posted…Blueberry Cheesecake Granola Yogurt ParfaitsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Mira! It’s a really fun holiday.

  8. Miriam - londonkitchendiaries.com

    They look fantastic – so nice to learn about Purim.

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Miriam! That’s my full name, too!

  9. Michele @ Alwayzbakin

    These cookies are gorgeous Mir! So interesting to learn about Purim. I didn’t know anything about it. Happy Purim!
    Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Orange Yogurt CakeMy Profile

    1. Michele @ Alwayzbakin

      I forgot to tell you I voted! And tweeted and FB about it too. Good Luck!!
      Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Orange Yogurt CakeMy Profile

      1. Mir

        Wow, thanks so much, Michele. You are awesome!!!!

    2. Mir

      Thanks, Michele. Purim is so much fun!

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