Currants and apples, perfumed with lemon rind and vanilla bean, enrobed in an almond flour dough make an incredibly decadent combination in this paleo cookie recipe. These low-carb, gluten-free Hamantaschen are delicious after they’ve come out of the oven and cooled a bit, but just as good in your shaloch manos baskets!
The Book of Ester
Purim is recorded in the Book of Ester and dates back to 600 BCE. At that time, a number of Jews lived in Babylonia under Persian rule. Haman, an adviser to the King of Persia, Achasverus, plotted to kill all Jews. Instead, Esther and her brother Mordechai thwarted these plans with the help of divine intervention.
The Story of Purim
Rather than becoming the victims of evil decree, the Jews were allowed by the King to hang Haman. The day after his killing was designated as a day for feasting and rejoicing, the festival known as Purim.
Shaloch Manos? What’s That!
During Purim friends and families exchange shaloch manos, the literal translation means “send gifts.” Typically we exchange baskets of food and bake cookies called Hamantaschen that we include in them.
What Are Hamantaschen?
Hamantaschen, literally means Haman’s pocket in Yiddish. In Hebrew, these three-cornered cookies, little triangles stuffed with sweet filling, are called Oznai Haman, or Haman’s ear. Alternatively, it is thought that Hamantaschen represent the three-cornered hat Haman wore. I love making gluten-free Hamantaschen every year when we celebrate Purim!
Hamantaschen
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 cup currants
- 1½ cups water
- 2 apples, peeled, cored, chopped
- 1 whole vanilla bean
- 6 slivers lemon rind
- 1 cup dried apricots, chopped in quarters
Dough
- 3 cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- ½ cup grapeseed oil or palm shortening
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a vitamix, on high speed, puree currants and water until smooth
- In a saucepan, combine currant mixture, apples, vanilla bean, lemon, and apricots
- Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft, about 35-45 minutes
- In a large bowl, combine almond flour and salt
- In a small bowl, mix together oil, egg, agave, and vanilla
- Mix wet ingredients into dry
- Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet
- Flatten dough into small circles
- Scoop one teaspoon of filling into each circle
- Fold dough in to create a triangle, pinch corners firmly
- Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes until golden brown
- Cool for 30 minutes
- Serve
Equipment
Low-Carb Gluten-Free Hamantaschen
Traditionally Hamantaschen are made with white flour and sugar, creating a gluten-filled, high-carb cookie stuffed with an overly sweet, very high-glycemic prune or poppy seed paste. My gluten-free Hamantaschen recipe is low-carb and so not off limits if you’re on a Low-Carb Diet.
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More Low-Carb Hamantaschen Recipes
Here are some of my other Hamantaschen recipes for you!
Shosh rosie eilon says
That is fabulous.
I couldn’t enjoy Purim up till you posted this. A million thanks
Elana says
Shosh, you’re welcome!
Gershon says
Hi! Any idea of how long I might cook up the filing in an instant pot? As per the nutritional regimen that I am following (for Crohn’s), most of my fruits and veggies get cooked in an instant pot.
Thanks!!
Purim Sameach!!
Elana says
Gershon, I haven’t tried that so not sure. I hope you and yours have a wonderful Purim and enjoy these Hamantaschen :-)
Gershon says
Thanks! Is the batter supposed to be refrigerated before shaping like the raspberry version of your other hamantaschen? I am confused as to the discrepancy…..Also the honey (“agave” actually stated in the prep section) in is the same amount as the raspberry version, which only calls for 2 cups of almond flour
Elana says
Gershon, thanks for your comment! As you point out the ingredients and methods for these recipes are not the same, and that is because they are different recipes. Wishing you and yours Chag Purim!
Jenny says
Elana,thank you so much for the recipes!
My daughter and I had a hamentashen baking marathon with the last batch finally in the oven. We started out with your newest chocolate coconut ones (the are GREAT!!!!) and are finishing with this goody. However, when I made the dough for this recipe, the oil separated out of is and was oozing while I was rolling the circles and is now bubbling around each hamentashen while it is baking. WHere did I go wrong? WHat happened?
Marjorie says
Same thing happened when I tried the recipe. I added an egg and some gluten free flour. The recipe was still delicious. Next time I may try to cut the oil to 1/4 cup.
Kim says
I wish you included nutritional information for those who are watching calories, carbs, and fat.
Your recipes are lovely, and I am sure delicious, but not suitable for me because it is just too time consuming to have to enter each individual recipe into an online calculator to figure out what I am eating.
Regards, Kim