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79 Hamantaschen Filling Ideas (With Links to Every Recipe)

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5.0 from 1 vote
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Welcome to The Storied Recipe, a podcast about food, culture, and love! 

Below are links to recipes for 79 Hamantaschen filling ideas, from traditional to super unique and creative! As you find calm in folding, pinching, and decorating your Hamantaschen, I invite you to listen to Lauren's episode Purim Traditions: Honoring a Mother’s Legacy of Love 

golden prune and apricot hamantaschen scattered on blue gray background

How To Use This List

  • To make the list more readable, I separated it into sections based on the filling's main ingredient
  • Make sure you read through the whole list. Some recipes had multiple ingredients (for instance, "Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana") and I had to make a judgment on how to categorize them.
  • Use this list as inspiration & create your own fillings
  • Or click on the link to make the Hamantaschen as envisioned by the recipe maker
  • About 40-50% of the recipes here use a non-traditional dough recipe as well. You can decide to only make the filling with a basic dough recipe. 
  • If you make one of the Savory Hamantaschen fillings, a traditional sweet dough will probably not work as well. 
  • To inspire your creativity, I've also included 14 Bonus Hamantaschen Topping Ideas. You'll find that at the bottom of the post 😉

79 Hamantaschen Filling Ideas

TRADITIONAL FILLINGS

Apple Fillings

  • Apple Pie Hamantaschen Cookies

    Cooks in 20 minutes

    Bring the classic apple pie to your favorite Purim cookies with these apple pie hamantaschen. A traditional cookie with a modern twist. Delicious shortbread cookie dough wrapped around a sweet apple pie filling.

    4 votes 5.0 Cuisine: Israel

  • Caramel Apple Filling

    Cooks in 50 minutes

    How to make Caramel Apple Filling for cookies and pastries. This aromatic creamy and fruity filling is delectable. Sweetened with dulce de leche. Perfect for hamantaschen Purim cookies, kolache, or any pastry.

    4 votes 4.7 Cuisine: Middle Eastern

  • Apple Pecan Pie Hamantashen

    Apple Pecan Pie Hamantashen

    2 votes 4.0

  • Apple Pecan Pie Hamantashen

    You can use any flavor cake mix — white, chocolate, lemon, strawberry — go crazy! And have fun with the fillings. Some of my favorites are lemon curd with lemon zest, strawberry daiquiri, and of course, the one pictured here — apple pecan pie.

Also Try:
Gingerbread Hamantaschen with Spiced Apple Filling by Jamie Gellar
Camembert Hamantaschen with Apple Cinnamon Filling by Jamie Gellar

Berry Fillings

  • Eggless Hamantaschen Cookies (strawberry)

    Cooks in 64 minutes

    Hamantaschen cookies are the highlight of Purim. And yet, traditional Purim cookies are not eggless or dairy-free. This simple and easy recipe makes dairy-free and eggless hamantaschen which any filling you want.

    6 votes 5.0 Cuisine: Israeli

  • Strawberry Shortcake Hamantaschen

    Cuisine: American

  • Strawberries and Cream Hamantaschen

    Cooks in 45 minutes

    These Strawberries and Cream Hamantaschen are berry delicious! Totally strawsome! Esther would approve of these Purim treats!

    13 votes 4.8 Cuisine: Jewish

  • Blueberry Hamantaschen

    Cooks in 167 minutes

    These triangular cookies boast lemon blueberry flavor and, although intended from the Jewish holiday Purim, they are delicious all year around!

    5 votes 4.9 Cuisine: Jewish

  • Triple Berry Hamantashen Recipe

    Cooks in 154 minutes

    I adapted my mothers original cookie recipe to to make these hamantaschen more flavourful and fun to eat. I decided on a triple berry filling packed with raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Jewish or not, I think everyone will enjoy these delicious, fun shaped cookies!

    2 votes 4.2 Cuisine: Eastern European, Jewish

Also Try:
Blueberry Cobbler Hamantaschen (with Streusel Topping) by Kosher.com

Drink & Beverage Based Fillings

Also Try:
Pumpkin Chai Hamantaschen by Style It Kosher

Favorite Cakes

Candy Fillings

Also Try:
Blue Rock Hamantaschen by Kosher.com
Almond Joy Hamantaschen by Sheri Silver

Caramel Filling

Cheesecake Hamantaschen

Also Try:
Cheesecake Hamantaschen with Cream Cheese Filling & Jam by Chabad.org
Caramel Cheesecake Hamantaschen by Kosher.com
Marbled Cheesecake Hamantaschen by Smitten Kitchen

Cherry Fillings

  • The Best Ever Cherry Hamentashen

    Cooks in 1 hour 15 minutes

    We eat hamentashen on the holiday Purim. They are triangle shaped cookies because Haman had a triangle shaped hat. My dad owns a bakery and is a baker my whole life. He makes these hamentashen every Purim. They are my favorite. When I was in college he always mailed me a box. Now I just make them myself. Hamentashen are traditionally filled with poppyseed filling or prune filling, but my Dad makes other flavors too. Cherry is my favorite, but you can also use apricot jam or use your imagination.

    28 votes 5.0

Also Try:
White Chocolate and Cherry Hamantaschen by Jamie Gellar (sharing Chef Jeff Nathans recipe)

Chocolate Fillings

Also Try:
Chocolate Glazed with Southern Citrus by Kosher Like Me
Chocolate Hamantaschen with Creamy Chocolate Halvah Filling by Kosher Like Me
Chocolate Chip Hamantaschen by NY Times Cooking

Fillings Based on Favorite Cookies

Also Try:
Cookie Butter Hamantaschen with White Chocolate by The Kitchn
Giant Spumoni Hamantaschen by Molly Yeh on the Food Network

Dried Fruit Fillings (Dates, Figs, Raisins)

  • Hamantaschen - Dates

    Cooks in 90 minutes

    A Purim party is incomplete without Purim cookies also called Hamantaschen or Oznei Haman. These dates Purim cookies are filled with naturally sweet dates and pecans folded in a shortbread cookie dough to get a traditional triangle shape before being baked until they are lightly golden on the edges.

    6 votes 5.0 Cuisine: Israeli

  • Date-Orange Filling

    This date-orange filling is one of three filling varieties you can use in our hamantaschen recipe.

    2 votes 4.5

  • Date and walnut hamantaschen

    Cooks in 45 minutes

    Israeli hamantaschen have a delicate and crumbly crust. And here they are filled with dates and walnuts. The main difference between the Israeli and American hamantaschen is the dough. While Americans make hamantaschen with cookie dough, Israeli make theirs with a type of Pt sucre, that's crumbly, buttery and rich.

    Date spread is available at Kosher and Israeli supermarkets. Alternatively, you can use dates and boiling water, as directed in the recipe below.

    Cuisine: Israeli, Jewish

  • Jam and Almond Hamantaschen Cookies

    Cooks in 18 minutes

    Almondy pastry encloses sweet, nuanced jam fillings - these Hamantaschen cookies are perfect for Purim, or any occasion that calls for delicious pastries! Many thanks to [Jamnation|https://jamnationjams.com/] for the beautiful jams. Jamnation's motto is *more fruit. less sugar. damn good jam.* And they live up to it! They use 50% more fruit that standard for rich, vibrant flavors, and add herbs and spices for a unique twist.

    Cuisine: Jewish

Also Try:
Raisin Almond Filling by Big Oven

Nut and Nut Spread Fillings

  • Pistachio Halva Hamantaschen Cookies

    Cooks in 130 minutes

    Give the classic hamantaschen a new and delicious twist this Purim. This pistachio halva hamantaschen cookies recipe uses a shortbread dough with a filling made using halva and chopped pistachio nuts.

    8 votes 5.0 Cuisine: Israel, Middle Eastern

  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Hamantaschen

    Cooks in 48 minutes

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Hamantaschen or you can call them the Elvis Hamantaschen

    Cuisine: Kosher / Vegan

  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel Hamantaschen

    This hamantaschen recipe is dairy free but you can use butter and heavy cream in place of the margarine and coconut milk to make it dairy.

  • Honey-Nut Filling

    Any combo of nuts will taste delicious in your next batch of buttery hamantaschen.

    18 votes 2.5

Also Try:
Peanut Butter Filled Brownie Hamantaschen by Overtime Cook
Marzipan Sprinkle Hamantaschen by My Name is Yeh (Molly Yeh)
Almond Butter Hamantaschen with White Chocolate Drizzle by Kosher.com

Twists on Poppy Seed Fillings

  • Poppy Seed Hamantaschen, two ways

    Cooks in 1 hour

    Israeli hamantaschen are delicate and crumbly and filled with homemade poppy seed filling. The main difference between the Israeli and American hamantaschen is the dough. While Americans make hamantaschen with cookie dough, Israeli make theirs with a type of sable dough, that's crumbly and rich.

    You have two classic options for the filling in this recipe: one is for the classic homemade poppy seed filling, the other is with the addition of chocolate. Both are wonderful.

    Poppy seeds are available in bulk online, and at most Eastern European and Middle Eastern supermarkets. Alternately, you can buy a few jars of poppy seeds from the spice rack at any chain supermarket.

    To achieve the rich texture of the cooked poppy seed, the seeds need to be ground. The way to do it is with either an electric coffee grinder or with a blender, preferably a powerful one, such as Vitamix. As you grind the poppy seed they will become darker in color and will resemble almond flour in texture. Grind the poppy seed close to when you're ready to cook with it, as it becomes rancid pretty quickly, especially when grounded. Any leftovers you can keep in a sealed container in the freezer until you're ready to use.

    Cuisine: Israeli, Ashkenazi, Jewish

  • Poppy-Pecan-Honey Hamantaschen

    These hamantashen feature a filling made with poppy seeds, milk, pecans, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, & honey plus a dough made with egg yolk, cream, & honey.

Also Try:
Lemon Poppy Seed Hamantaschen by Eating Well

Savory Fillings

  • Savory Caramelized Onion Hamantaschen

    A savory twist on traditional hamantaschen with goat cheese, red onions and and tomatoes!

    3 votes 5.0

  • Bialy Hamantaschen

    Cooks in 187 minutes

    Anything triangular can be a hamantaschen if you really believe! Like these Bialy Hamantaschen (Bialytaschen?) stuffed with cream cheese, caramelized onions and poppy seeds!

    9 votes 5.0 Cuisine: Jewish

  • Savory Spinach hamantaschen

    Cooks in 45 minutes

    A surprising filling for this traditional sweet treat!

    Cuisine: Kosher / Middle Eastern

  • Pizzataschen

    Cooks in 25 minutes

    Why limit hamantaschen to cookies? These Pizzataschen are bitesize, delicious mini-pizza made with store-bought or homemade pizza dough.

    10 votes 5.0 Cuisine: Jewish

  • Guava and Cheese Hamantaschen Recipe

    Cuisine: Latin American

Also Try:
Caramelized Onion and Poppy Seed Hamantaschen by NY Times Cooking
Savory Persian Herb and Cheese Hamantaschen by Kosher.com
Thanksgiving Feast Hamantaschen by Jamie Geller
Savory Cheese, Red Pepper, and Corn Hamantaschen by Chabad.org
Deli Hamantaschen in Fried Wonton Wrappers by Between Carpools
Taco Hamantaschen by Kosher In The Kitch
Pizza Hamantaschen by Kosher on a Budget
Spanakopita Hamantaschen by Chabad.org
Easy Savory Goat Cheese and Spinach Hamantaschen by Kosher.com

Tropical Fillings

  • Papaya Coconut Hamantaschen

    Cooks in 60 minutes

    Papaya Coconut Hamantaschen are all the tropical vibes you need this Purim. They are almost like macaroons meet hamantaschen!

    1 vote 4.8 Cuisine: Jewish

  • Pineapple Hamantaschen

    This recipe was inspired by the pineapple tarts I see all over my native Malaysia (and other parts of Southeast Asia) around the Lunar New Year. Pineapples are first processed into a chunky puree and reduced over a steady flame, often with the addition of sugar and spice, turning all thick and jammy. You could use canned pineapple, but if you do, cut back on the sugar (I explain how below). This intense, lustrous jam is encased in an equally rich, crumbly dough. Of course these tarts symbolize wealth. Featured In: These Bright, Tropical Tarts Translate to "Come Here, Wealth!"

    2 votes 4.0 Cuisine: Jewish

Also Try:
Tropical with Pineapple Coconut by Kosher Like Me
Lime and Coconut Hamantaschen by Wandering Jew

BONUS!
14 Hamantaschen Topping Ideas

These are easy ways to jazz up any hamantaschen recipe!

  1. Sprinkled Sesame Seeds
  2. Freeze-dried raspberries
  3. Drizzled white chocolate
  4. Dipped dark chocolate
  5. Chocolate shavings
  6. Lemon glaze
  7. Shredded coconut
  8. Orange/Lemon/Lime Zest
  9. Sea Salt
  10. Muscovado Sugar
  11. Finely chopped or ground nuts
  12. Sprinkles or Sanding Sugar
  13. Crushed graham crackers
  14. Drizzled caramel

Listen To Lauren's Bittersweet Purim Memories in Ep 023 of The Storied Recipe Podcast.

My podcast guest Lauren Cooper lost her mother when she was just 14. In this episode, she shares her mother's adventurous, inclusive spirit, Maxine's authentic Hamantaschen recipe, and Lauren's tradition of making Hamantaschen with her sister in honor of their mother's legacy.

79 Hamantaschen Filling Ideas

79 Hamantaschen Filling Ideas

Recipe by Bloggers and Friends of The Storied Recipe

79 Hamantaschen Recipes from from traditional to super creative - plus ideas and inspiration for countless more of your own!

Course: DessertCuisine: JewishDifficulty: Varies
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How To Make Hamantaschen

3 folded hamantaschen triangles next to 2 unfolded circles

For a traditional, authentic, foolproof dough recipe, plus instructions on how to fold Hamantaschen triangles, and tips & tricks on baking, visit this post:

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All around the world, communities celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim with Hamantaschen Cookies. Hamantaschen dough is a sweet pastry with a texture halfway between a shortbread cookie and pie crust. Circles of dough are dotted with a sweet filling, then pinched closed into a triangle shape.

The most traditional of these fillings is a poppy seed paste. In fact, the name Hamantaschen may even come from the Hebrew word for poppy seeds. (Rather than, as legend suggests, Haman’s ears, hat or pocket.)

However, in recent years, bloggers have moved away from the most traditional favorite fillings and have begun developing their own unique flavors. 

In this post, I’ve curated 79 of the best Hamantaschen filling recipes. In truth, this is only a small fraction of the ideas out there. I can’t wait to see what YOU come up with – please let me know!

Purim Cookies! Classic Hamantaschen

The Purim Story

As told in the book of Esther...

The Jews were under brutal rule of the Ancient Persians. A beautiful young Jewish woman named Esther was chosen by the king to become his wife, but she did not initially disclose her nationality or religion.

Meanwhile, an evil man named Haman sought to destroy all Jews.

At great risk to her own life, Esther decides to confront the king, reveal herself as a Jewish woman, and expose Haman's villainous intentions, saying "Who knows but I was raised for such a time as this... and if I perish, I perish."

Through Esther's courage, her Uncle Mordecai's cunning, and Haman's own hubris, the Jewish people are saved. Haman is condemned to death.

Now, even the name of the cookie "Hamantaschen" remind Jewish people of God's mercy. Different legends say the triangular-shaped cookies are reminiscent of Haman's hat, Haman's ears, or Haman's pockets.

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