Celebrate Purim With Hamantaschen Cookies

The Jewish holiday Purim is here, and one of the most traditional Purim cookies is hamantaschen, a triangular-shaped cookie with a sweet filling. Here is a recipe for hamantaschen cookies that is easy to follow and yields delicious results. —Vita Daily

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup fruit jam or other filling of your choice

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Beat in the egg, orange juice, and vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
5. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
6. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one of the dough disks to a thickness of about 1/8 inch.
8. Use a round cookie cutter or drinking glass to cut out circles of dough.
9. Place a small spoonful of filling in the center of each circle of dough.
10. Fold up the sides of the circle to create a triangular shape, pinching the corners together to seal.
11. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly golden.
12. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.