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Easy Gluten Free Hamantaschen Tutorial

Easy Gluten Free Hamantaschen Tutorial

Published: Mar 9, 2020 · Modified: Mar 3, 2022 by Sandi Gaertner · 8 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

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These delicious triangle-shaped cookies are one of our favorite Purim treats. I am offering two fun ways to make this gluten free hamantaschen recipe. Make them the traditional way with jam, or have some fun and make them funfetti!

A funfetti gluten free hamantaschen on a plate
Jump to:
  • Why These Hamantaschen Are Great:
  • Ingredient Notes:
  • How To Make Gluten Free Hamantaschen:
  • Traditional Hamantaschen Fillings:
  • Unique Hamantaschen Filling Ideas:
  • Tips and Recipe FAQ:
  • More Fun Recipes For Purim:
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

When we first went gluten free, we skipped making hamantaschen. It isn't that I felt intimidated...it was more  I truly didn't believe a gluten free version could turn out very well. Way back when...there weren't the gluten free products out there that you see now. We couldn't buy a loaf of bread in stores!

After a few years of attending Purim carnivals and not eating hamantaschen, I realized my family missed these triangle-shaped cookies. The first time you take a bite of these cookies, you will be hooked! We hope you love this gluten free hamantaschen recipe as much as we do!

If you are a cookie fanatic like me, you will also want to check out these Gluten Free Duvshaniot, or Israeli Honey Cookies.

Why These Hamantaschen Are Great:

  1. You can fill them with any jam flavor you like.
  2. You can make these the traditional way or have some fun!
  3. These cookies are perfect for any Purim festival; nobody will know they are gluten-free!
  4. Make them in under 20 minutes!

Ingredient Notes:

hamantaschen ingredients
  • Gluten free flour blend - I tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend, Pillsbury Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours and I can not guarantee the recipe will work if you use other mixes.
  • Xanthan Gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
  • Butter - Please use room temperature unsalted butter. If you are dairy-free, you can use a dairy-free butter like Earth Balance.
  • Sprinkles - If you are making the funfetti version, it is critical to ensure your sprinkles are gluten free. Check my gluten free sprinkles list.

How To Make Gluten Free Hamantaschen:

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine your gluten free flour blend, white sugar, baking powder, and sea salt. Use a whisk to blend the dry ingredients together.

To Measure Gluten Free Flour:

To measure your gluten free flour, I recommend using either the spoon method or leveling method.

Spoon Method: You can also use a spoon to fill the measuring cup. Use a knife to level along the top to remove the extra flour.

Leveling Method: Put the measuring scoop into the flour and fill. Do not pack the flour. Use a knife to scrape along the top to remove the extra flour.

Step 2: Add the softened butter, eggs, and pure vanilla extract to a smaller bowl and mix well.

pouring wet ingredients over the dry ingredients

Step 3: Pour your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Add the funfetti sprinkles if you are making gluten free funfetti hamantaschen cookies.

mixing funfetti cookie dough in a bowl.

Step 4: Mix the ingredients into a cookie batter. You can also use a standing mixer or an electric hand mixer to mix your dough.

mixing Hamantaschen dough by hand

Step 5: For best results, if you are mixing with a spoon, I recommend a final mixing of the dough with your hands to make sure it is fully blended. Here is the plain hamantaschen cookie dough.

Now is a good time to preheat your oven to 350º F.

cutting circles out of the hamantaschen dough

Step 6: Dust a piece of parchment paper or cutting board with a little gluten free flour. Use a rolling pin to roll the hamantaschen cookie dough to ¼ inch thickness.

You can use a biscuit cutter, or glass to cut out circles in the dough. Whichever you use, this will help make all of your hamantaschen even and the same size.

shaping the hamantaschen into triangles

Step 7: One of the biggest challenges is folding up the sides of the hamantaschen, and there is a big debate about whether you should pinch the corners or fold them over.

I usually do the pinch method. To get those nice corners in the dough, lightly fold the sides over each other. Be careful not to pinch the corners too hard.

If you make funfetti hamantaschen, the filling is frosting and will melt in the oven. You will need to bake the cookies without a filling. If you are baking traditional Hamantaschen, the jam filling now before baking the cookies.

photo of some hamantaschen unfolding when baked

Step 8: Bake on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet at 350º F for 9 minutes unfilled or 10-11 minutes if they are filled with jam.

Looking at the photo above, you can see a few of the funfetti hamantaschen opened up. I am not sure if it is because we left them unfilled because none of the jam-filled hamantaschen opened.

Traditional Hamantaschen Fillings:

  • Poppyseed filling
  • Homemade jam
  • Jelly

Unique Hamantaschen Filling Ideas:

  1. If you love funfetti, or if your birthday falls over Purim, you must make these birthday hamantaschen!! They are delicious and filled with vanilla frosting!
  2. Bake the hamantaschen empty like with the funfetti but fill the centers with Nutella. You can drizzle chocolate over them as well.
  3. Make them lemon by adding 1 teaspoon of lemon zest to the cookie dough. Fill the hamantaschen with lemon curd.
hamantaschen cookies on a cooling rack

Tips and Recipe FAQ:

What is a hamantaschen cookie?

A hamantaschen cookie is a Jewish cookie that is made during Purim to celebrate the Jewish people breaking free from Haman, who was planning to kill the Jews in his kingdom.

Why are the hamantaschen triangle-shaped?

The triangle represents the triangle hat that Haman wore.

Can you make dairy-free hamantaschen?

You can easily make dairy-free hamantaschen by using dairy-free butter.

What do hamantaschen taste like?

Hamantaschen cookies have a similar flavor to jam-filled thumbprint cookies.

Can you freeze homemade hamantaschen?

You can easily freeze hamantaschen. Let them cool to room temperature, then pop them into a freezer bag. Store in the freezer flat. To thaw the hamantaschen, allow them to sit out on the counter for 30 minutes.

Why is did the gluten free hamantaschen turn out crumbly?

If your gluten free hamantaschen turned out crumbly, your dough was too dry, or you didn't use a flour blend with xanthan gum. You can try to wet the dough with a little water or additional melted butter.

Why do you only make hamantaschen on Purim?

These cookies are usually only made at Purim because they are part of the special celebration. They are a Purim tradition...that being said, go ahead and make them any time you like :-).

More Fun Recipes For Purim:

  • These gluten free cheese blintzes make a great breakfast for Purim morning.
  • The whole family will love this gluten free matzo ball soup with dinner.
  • If you need a great side dish, these brown sugar carrots are a huge hit with our family.
funfetti hamantaschen on the counter.

Check out the fun web story too!

📖 Recipe

Gluten Free Hamantaschen

Sandi Gaertner
Gluten free hamantaschen cookies to celebrate Purim. Make them traditional style, or have fun with the funfetti version.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine Jewish
Servings 16 cookies
Calories 228 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups gluten free flour blend * see note
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder aluminum free
  • dash sea salt
  • 1 egg size large
  • ¾ cup butter softened to room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons milk or non-dairy milk
  • 1 cup jam
  • optional frosting and funfetti

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine your gluten free flour blend, white sugar, baking powder, and sea salt. Use a whisk to blend the dry ingredients together.
  • Add the softened butter, eggs, and pure vanilla extract to a smaller bowl and mix well.
  • Pour your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Add the funfetti sprinkles if you are making gluten free funfetti hamantaschen cookies.
  • Mix the ingredients into a cookie batter. You can also use a standing mixer or an electric hand mixer to mix your dough.
  • For best results, if you are mixing with a spoon, I recommend a final mixing of the dough with your hands to make sure it is fully blended. Here is the plain hamantaschen cookie dough.
  • Preheat the oven to 350º F. Optional: chill the dough for 15 minutes.
  • Dust a piece of parchment paper or cutting board with a little gluten free flour. Use a rolling pin to roll the hamantaschen cookie dough to ¼ inch thickness. 
  • You can use a biscuit cutter, or glass to cut out circles in the dough. Whichever you use, this will help make all of your hamantaschen even and the same size. 
  • One of the biggest challenges is folding up the sides of the hamantaschen and there is a big debate whether you should pinch the corners, or fold them over. I usually do the pinch method. To get those nice corners in the dough, lightly fold the sides over each other. Be careful not to pinch the corners too hard.
  • If you are making funfetti hamantaschen, the filling is frosting and will melt in the oven. You will need to bake the cookies without a filling. If you are baking traditional Hamantaschen, the jam filling now before baking the cookies.
  • Bake on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet at 350º F for 9 minutes unfilled or 10-11 minutes if they are filled with jam.
  • Cool the cookies on a wire rack. If you are making funfetti hamantaschen, make sure the cookies are completely cooled before adding the frosting filling.

Notes

  1. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF, Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend, and Authentic Foods Multi Blend in this recipe. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
  2. Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature.
  3. If your gluten free flour blend doesn't contain xanthan gum, be sure to add 1 teaspoon to your dry ingredients.
  4. To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter and use non-dairy milk.
  5. These cookies will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
Traditional Hamantaschen Fillings:
  • Poppyseed filling
  • Homemade jam
  • Jelly
Unique Hamantaschen Filling Ideas:
  1. If you love funfetti, or if your birthday falls over Purim, you will have to make these birthday hamantaschen!! They are absolutely delicious filled with vanilla frosting!
  2. Bake the hamantaschen empty like with the funfetti but fill the centers with Nutella. You can drizzle chocolate over them as well.
  3. Make them lemon by adding 1 teaspoon of lemon zest to the cookie dough. Fill the hamantaschen with lemon curd.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 228kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 88mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 2gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 281IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jillian Thrasher

    March 14, 2023 at 7:41 am

    To make this lower in sugar, can maple syrup be used?

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      March 14, 2023 at 11:48 am

      Hi Jillian, I haven't tested any liquid sweeteners. If you try it, you will probably need to adjust the flour amount.

      Reply
  2. Ashley

    March 09, 2023 at 11:02 am

    When do you add the milk? It’s not in the instructions.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      March 09, 2023 at 11:08 am

      Hi Ashley, the milk goes in with the wet ingredients. Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Sonia

    March 06, 2023 at 1:05 pm

    Can you substitute margarine for butter ?

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      March 06, 2023 at 2:01 pm

      That should be okay.

      Reply
  4. Linda

    March 04, 2023 at 6:47 am

    Is there any reason not to use the funfetti dough and fill it with the traditional jam or poppy seed? You seem to indicate you can only use it for the recipe that adds the icing after baking.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      March 04, 2023 at 6:27 pm

      You can use any filling you like :-).

      Reply

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