Grandma's Hamantashen Cookies

Chef Captain Kirk's Note:

This is my grandma's recipe for Hamantashen cookies, which are made for the jewish holiday Purim. A few tips for better shaped cookies: - freeze dough for a few minutes to make it easier to handle - do NOT overwork dough - when shaping cookies, leave only a little bit of jam showing - freeze cookies for another few minutes before you put them in the oven

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 24

Yield: 24.0 cookies

• ¾ cup sugar
• ¼ lb butter or ¼ lb margarine
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 3 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄8; teaspoon salt if you use unsalted butter
• 1 (1 lb) jarapricot jam or 1 (1 lb) jar prune jam

Directions:

1. pre-heat oven to 375'F.
2. cream butter and sugar.
3. add eggs one at a time.
4. beat well.
5. add vanilla and orange juice.
6. add flour and baking powder (and salt if needed).
7. mix until the dough can form a ball.
8. roll dough on a well floured board to about 1/8inch thick.
9. cut into 3inch rounds.
10. place about a teaspoon of filling in the center of each round.
11. pinch dough upward in three places at the outer edge to make the traditional three-cornered hat shape.
12. bake for 15-20 minutes on greased or parchment lined baking sheet until slightly golden brown.
13. remove from pan and let cool on a cooling rack for at least 10minutes.