Chocolate Hamentashen Filling Recipes

Steps:

• In a microwave proof bowl melt the 5 oz semisweet chocolate and the unsweetened chocolate together.
• Mix in all the margarine, flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, vanilla, coffee and sugar.
• Mix to combine and then fold in the chocolate chips and nuts.
• The extra filling (if any) may be made into chocolate brownie drop cookies.
• Makes enough filling for at least 3 dozen hamentashen.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in orange zest and vanilla, then add 2 eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down bowl as necessary.
• Reduce speed to low and gradually beat in flour mixture until combined. Add finely chopped chocolate and beat until just combined. Form dough into three 1-inch-thick disks, wrap tightly in plastic, and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• On a floured work surface, roll out dough to a scant 1/4-inch thickness. With a 2 3/4-inch round cutter, cut out circles; place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Gather scraps, chill, and repeat.
• Whisk together remaining egg and 1 teaspoon water in a bowl. Brush circle edges with egg wash. Place 1 rounded teaspoon coarsely chopped chocolate in center of each circle. Lift sides of dough toward center, over filling, to form a triangle; pinch seams together. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in center.
• Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Steps:

• Beat the eggs and sugar until creamy. Stir in the vegetable oil, apple juice, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Mix the baking powder into the flour and add it to the egg mixture, stirring to form a dough. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
• Prepare the filling: combine the brownie mix, eggs, water, and vegetable oil and mix well. (You can also follow the package directions and use the low-fat version, if desired). Refrigerate the brownie batter for 3 hours or overnight.
• Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Mix the egg and tablespoon of water to make an egg wash.
• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Roll out half the dough on a long piece of parchment paper into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Use a large round cookie cutter to cut circles in the dough. Remove the scraps of dough from around the circles.
• Using two spoons, place 1 tablespoon of chilled brownie batter in the center of each cookie dough circle. Brush the edges of the cookie circles with egg wash.
• Fold the cookie into a triangular shape, bringing the edges up so they partially overlap the brownie filling. Pinch the corners to seal the dough. Brush the hamentashen with egg wash. Repeat with the remaining circles and the other half of the dough.
• Transfer the parchment paper holding the cookies onto a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until the bottoms of the cookies are light golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Steps:

• Put the confectioners' sugar and the egg yolks in a food processor and blend. Add butter and lemon zest and process to blend. Gradually add the flour and the salt, pulsing until it forms a ball. Divide the dough in half, flatten each into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chill until firm, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling: In a bowl, beat the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch and cocoa powder until smooth.
• Pour the milk into a small saucepan with the vanilla bean. Over medium heat, bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and remove the vanilla bean. Scrape the inside of the bean and add to the pan.
• While whisking vigorously, pour 1/3 of the milk into the yolk mixture, then pour back into the saucepan. Continue to whisk constantly while simmering over low heat until the mixture bubbles and thickens into a creamy pudding consistency.
• Remove from heat, add the bittersweet chocolate and whisk until the chocolate has melted and the cream is smooth. Pour into a clean bowl and cover with plastic wrap, placed directly on the cream. Refrigerate until cool, at least 30 minutes. Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 pastry sheets with parchment paper.
• Unwrap one of the chilled dough disks and place on a piece of parchment paper that has been dusted lightly with flour. Lightly dust the top of the dough with flour. Cover with a second piece of parchment paper. Let stand at room temperature until malleable, about 5 minutes. Use a rolling pin to press and roll out the dough into a 1/4-inch- thick round between the sheets of parchment, flipping the dough occasionally. Use a plain biscuit or cookie cutter or glass to cut 3-inch circles, placing the circles on the prepared baking sheet spaced 1 inch apart. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator to chill until firm while you repeat the rolling/cutting process with the second round of dough.
• Remove the first pan of dough rounds from the refrigerator. Place a heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center of each, and press up the sides to form triangles, pinching the ends closed. Top the filled cookies with a few extra chocolate chips. If the dough is too firm, let stand a minute or two to soften; returning the baking sheet to the refrigerator if the dough becomes too soft. Repeat with the remaining dough rounds.
• Brush the tops with beaten egg. Bake until golden and dough is delicately firm all the way through, about 13-18 minutes, rotating the racks front to back and top to bottom after about 10 minutes.
• Place trays on wire racks for 10 minutes before transferring cookies on parchment to racks to cool completely.