EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Cherry Cardamom Hamantaschen Sweeten Purim
Photo: Liz Rueven

Cherry Cardamom Hamantaschen Sweeten Purim

Hamtaschen, the triangular cookie treats we eat on the holiday of Purim, are no longer just the classic versions we knew as kids. Sure, it’s still easy to find these traditional treats with raspberry, apricot, prune and poppy seed fillings. And we haven’t stopped loving them.

But I’m more curious about why cherry and cardamom are such intriguing flavor companions and what inspires bakers and creative home cooks to dream up these out-of-the-box pairings with such gusto.

Scroll down to find recipe for kosher and dairy-free cherry cardamom hamantaschen. 

kosher dairy free hamantaschen
Photo: Liz Rueven

This year, I turned to Rachel Berger aka The Kosher Dinner Lady to see what she’s creating. Last year we baked Lemon Meringue hamantaschen together and she wow’ed me with her lemon curd filling topped with citrusy meringue. Her torching skills are enviable (not essential; a quick run under the broiler will toast the meringue as well).

For more on the Purim story and why we eat triangular filled cookies that resemble an evil doer’s ears, click here.

kosher dairy free hamantaschen
Photo: Liz Rueven

This year, Rachel was inspired to combine bright red cherry preserves with peppery cardamom flecked dough after tasting a cherry liqueur she received from a friend. As her friend was cleaning out her Mom’s liquor cabinet after shiva, she gifted Rachel a sealed bottle of  vishnick. Her friend knew that Rachel would put it to good use in some way.

As it turned out, this bottle of sweet cherry liqueur inspired her to think about flavors that would be the perfect counterpoints to sweet cherry preserves. The results are these cherry cardamom hamantaschen with orange zest and pistachio crumble.

kosher dairy free hamantaschen
Photo: Liz Rueven

Scroll down to find the recipe and enjoy!

If you live in Fairfield County, CT/Westchester, NY area, you may order Rachel’s hamantaschen (kosher and pareve) by heading over to her facebook page and following her link to order.

Purim begins on the evening of March 20 and ends on the evening of March 21, 2019. Let’s make some noise!

kosher dairy free chocolate hamantaschen
Photo: Liz Rueven

For past hamantaschen recipes scroll through our PURIM tab (in the header at this top of this page) or click these links:

Lemon Hamantaschen with Swiss Meringue Swirls

Chocolate Glazed Hamantaschen with Southern Citrus

Chocolate Halva Hamantaschen

Falafel Filled Hamantaschen

The Perfect Hamantaschen Dough (with coconut oil)

Chocolate Chocolate Hamantaschen

Hamantaschen with Apricot and Anise

Peanut Butter and Jelly Hamantaschen

Basic (and oh so delicious) Hamantaschen dough with jam (using butter or margarine)

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