Post by Loupy on Mar 19, 2016 2:05:43 GMT -7
Apricot Hazelnut Brown Butter Hamantaschen
By: Deb Perelman @ smittenkitchen.com/
Let me be the first to admit that the only reason that the hamantaschen archives on this site aren’t stronger are that I’m completely stubborn and generally a pedant and this gets in the way of what I know needs to be done to achieve hamantaschen perfection. If you read that sentence and thought “I know what some of those words mean but maybe not in that order,” don’t worry, you’re not alone. Hamantaschen are triangular cookies traditionally eaten during the Jewish festival of Purim (think: Jewish Mardi Gras) that falls next week. Haman, the villain in the biblical story, was said to wear a tricorne hat — with the brim turned up on three sides, something that was wildly fashionable in the 1800s which means it’s due for a hipster revival any day now — and this is where the cookies get their shape.
To make these cookies dairy free, simply use a non-dairy butter, olive oil or another cookie oil of your choice instead of the of butter in the dough. This works. I have not made the filling, a frangipane-style paste, with non-dairy butter before, but I have a hunch it should work just fine. If hazelnuts aren’t your thing, use 3/4 cup of another nut of your choice — almonds are traditional, pecans and walnuts are excellent. I’ve even made this paste with pistachios before. You’re going to have twice the paste you need because it seemed more trouble than it was worth to scale it down. The paste keeps in the fridge for several days and can be frozen for future treats. Or, you can just make more hamantaschen. Nobody will mind.
Yield: About 36 cookies
Ingredients:
Brown butter
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold is fine
Dough
1/4 cup browned butter, from above
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Seeds from half a fresh vanilla bean (optional)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons cups all-purpose flour
Filling
3/4 cup (3.6 ounces) toasted hazelnuts, skins rubbed off
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
Few pinches of sea salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
4 to 5 tablespoons browned butter, cold, from above
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon brandy, or another flavoring of your choice (totally optional)
1/2 cup (rough estimate) apricot jam
Instructions:
Brown your butter: You’re going to use this in two places.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Keep cooking it after it has melted, stirring frequently, until it begins to smell nutty and pale brown flecks appear at the edge of the pan, which takes a few minutes.
Once these reach a dark beige/medium brown color (you’ll want to watch this like a hawk, this happens quickly once it begins to toast) remove from heat.
Pour 1/4 cup exactly of this browned butter mixture into the bottom of the large bowl you’re going to make your cookie dough with.
Place the rest (this will be 4 to 5 tablespoons) in a small-medium dish and freeze it until you need it for the filling, which uses a more flexible amount of butter.
Make your dough: Let the 1/4 cup browned butter cool slightly in the bottom of a large bowl, then whisk in sugar, vanilla extract, scraped vanilla bean seeds (if using).
Whisk in eggs, one at a time, followed by salt and baking powder.
Switch to a spoon and add first cup flour, stirring to combine.
Repeat with second cup of flour, then 1/4 cup.
Dough is going to become stiff, just do you best.
Add the last 2 tablespoons flour and if it’s too stiff to stir with a spoon, knead it in with your hands.
Divide dough into two parts and wrap each in a flattish disc in plastic in the fridge for 2 hours, or up to a few days. Impatient? So am I?
Place discs in freezer until firm but not frozen, 20 to 30 minutes.
Make your filling: Place nuts, flour, salt and sugar in the workbowl of a food processor and run the machine until the nuts are finely ground but not yet forming a paste.
Remember that browned butter you froze?
Scrape it into the machine and run it until combined.
Add egg and any flavorings and run the machine until a smooth paste forms.
Scrape hazelnut paste back into that browned butter dish (fewer dishes) and place it in the fridge until needed.
It doesn’t have to be cold to work, but it is easier to scoop.
Assemble and bake cookies:
Heat oven to 350 degrees and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
Roll chilled dough, one packet at a time, out on a floured counter until 1/8-inch thick.
These cookies puff in the oven, so err on the thin side.
Cut into 3-inch circles.
In the center of each circle, dollop the tiniest amount (a scant teaspoon, this expands in the oven so use less that it seems you’d need) of the hazelnut paste and a little (1/2 teaspoon, tops) dab of apricot jam.
Fold sides up, forming a triangular shape and pinching the corners closed well.
Arrange on baking sheet with an inch or so between cookies.
Reroll scraps as needed.
Repeat with remaining packet of dough.
Bake cookies for 11 minutes to start, then check the color and return them to the oven, a minute at a time, until they’re nice and golden at the edges.
For me, this usually takes a couple more minutes.
Let cool on racks.
Cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, and longer in the freezer.
By: Deb Perelman @ smittenkitchen.com/
Let me be the first to admit that the only reason that the hamantaschen archives on this site aren’t stronger are that I’m completely stubborn and generally a pedant and this gets in the way of what I know needs to be done to achieve hamantaschen perfection. If you read that sentence and thought “I know what some of those words mean but maybe not in that order,” don’t worry, you’re not alone. Hamantaschen are triangular cookies traditionally eaten during the Jewish festival of Purim (think: Jewish Mardi Gras) that falls next week. Haman, the villain in the biblical story, was said to wear a tricorne hat — with the brim turned up on three sides, something that was wildly fashionable in the 1800s which means it’s due for a hipster revival any day now — and this is where the cookies get their shape.
To make these cookies dairy free, simply use a non-dairy butter, olive oil or another cookie oil of your choice instead of the of butter in the dough. This works. I have not made the filling, a frangipane-style paste, with non-dairy butter before, but I have a hunch it should work just fine. If hazelnuts aren’t your thing, use 3/4 cup of another nut of your choice — almonds are traditional, pecans and walnuts are excellent. I’ve even made this paste with pistachios before. You’re going to have twice the paste you need because it seemed more trouble than it was worth to scale it down. The paste keeps in the fridge for several days and can be frozen for future treats. Or, you can just make more hamantaschen. Nobody will mind.
Yield: About 36 cookies
Ingredients:
Brown butter
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold is fine
Dough
1/4 cup browned butter, from above
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Seeds from half a fresh vanilla bean (optional)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons cups all-purpose flour
Filling
3/4 cup (3.6 ounces) toasted hazelnuts, skins rubbed off
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
Few pinches of sea salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
4 to 5 tablespoons browned butter, cold, from above
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon brandy, or another flavoring of your choice (totally optional)
1/2 cup (rough estimate) apricot jam
Instructions:
Brown your butter: You’re going to use this in two places.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Keep cooking it after it has melted, stirring frequently, until it begins to smell nutty and pale brown flecks appear at the edge of the pan, which takes a few minutes.
Once these reach a dark beige/medium brown color (you’ll want to watch this like a hawk, this happens quickly once it begins to toast) remove from heat.
Pour 1/4 cup exactly of this browned butter mixture into the bottom of the large bowl you’re going to make your cookie dough with.
Place the rest (this will be 4 to 5 tablespoons) in a small-medium dish and freeze it until you need it for the filling, which uses a more flexible amount of butter.
Make your dough: Let the 1/4 cup browned butter cool slightly in the bottom of a large bowl, then whisk in sugar, vanilla extract, scraped vanilla bean seeds (if using).
Whisk in eggs, one at a time, followed by salt and baking powder.
Switch to a spoon and add first cup flour, stirring to combine.
Repeat with second cup of flour, then 1/4 cup.
Dough is going to become stiff, just do you best.
Add the last 2 tablespoons flour and if it’s too stiff to stir with a spoon, knead it in with your hands.
Divide dough into two parts and wrap each in a flattish disc in plastic in the fridge for 2 hours, or up to a few days. Impatient? So am I?
Place discs in freezer until firm but not frozen, 20 to 30 minutes.
Make your filling: Place nuts, flour, salt and sugar in the workbowl of a food processor and run the machine until the nuts are finely ground but not yet forming a paste.
Remember that browned butter you froze?
Scrape it into the machine and run it until combined.
Add egg and any flavorings and run the machine until a smooth paste forms.
Scrape hazelnut paste back into that browned butter dish (fewer dishes) and place it in the fridge until needed.
It doesn’t have to be cold to work, but it is easier to scoop.
Assemble and bake cookies:
Heat oven to 350 degrees and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
Roll chilled dough, one packet at a time, out on a floured counter until 1/8-inch thick.
These cookies puff in the oven, so err on the thin side.
Cut into 3-inch circles.
In the center of each circle, dollop the tiniest amount (a scant teaspoon, this expands in the oven so use less that it seems you’d need) of the hazelnut paste and a little (1/2 teaspoon, tops) dab of apricot jam.
Fold sides up, forming a triangular shape and pinching the corners closed well.
Arrange on baking sheet with an inch or so between cookies.
Reroll scraps as needed.
Repeat with remaining packet of dough.
Bake cookies for 11 minutes to start, then check the color and return them to the oven, a minute at a time, until they’re nice and golden at the edges.
For me, this usually takes a couple more minutes.
Let cool on racks.
Cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, and longer in the freezer.
