Gluten-Free Hamantaschen - Sugar-Free [ Purim Cookies ]

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons margarine or butter, softened
• 3/4 cup agave nectar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 1/2 cups Pamelas ultimate baking and pancake mix (gluten-free)
• 1/2 cup potato starch
• 1 additional egg, well beaten and set aside

Directions

1. 1

   With an electric hand mixer, or in the bowl of a standing mixer, cream the butter or margarine with the agave nectar. Add the unbeaten egg, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla and continue combining. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients.

2. 2

   Slowly add the dry mixture into the liquid mixture. Mix until combined into a cohesive ball of dough. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

3. 3

   Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Flour a counter or other surface thoroughly. Remove dough from refrigerator and immediately roll into a ball and roll the ball in flour before placing it on the floured counter. Roll out until 1/4" to 1/8" thickness. Using a juice glass or biscuit cutter, cut into 3-4" circles. Immediately move dough circles to parchment-lined cookie sheets. If the dough begins to stick to the counter, use a pastry scraper to gently transfer the disks of dough.

4. 4

   Place approximately 1 teaspoon of filling (apricot preserves, lekvar, poppyseed filling, raspberry jam, etc) in the center of each circle. Using a pastry brush, apply well-beaten egg to the perimeter of each dough circle and immediately fold 3 sides of circle together so that the cookie becomes a triangle, and pinch corners to seal. Seal completely and firmly, using beaten egg so they do not come apart in baking. If you have trouble sealing the corners, try folding them over a bit. The final cookie should look like a triangle with the filling showing through only at the center.

5. 5

   Use the remaining beaten egg to lightly brush the top of each pastry.

6. 6

   Bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden on top but not overly browned on the bottom (lift one cookie up after 12 minutes to make sure the bottom hasn't become dark brown). Let cool slightly before serving or transferring to cooling rack.