Kosher Cuisine with Marcy Goldman

Delicate, Sweet, Buttery Treats to Pack in Your Purim Gift Baskets

At Purim, regardless of the pervasive theme of gaiety, feasting and frolic, the focus is on giving, specifically on giving homemade baked treats. These baked sweeties are what fill the traditional Purim gift baskets, known as giving shalot manot.

The key in stocking shalot manot baskets is to make a variety of things both small and delicate so anyone receiving a basket enjoys a treasure chest of different things.

Start with some miniature hamantashen, perhaps poppy seed cookies, slices of apple or dried fruit strudel (also known as Romanian Strudel in my cookbook), and then add a little of this, a little of that. The little of this and little of that could be holiday noisemakers or groggers, pennies (another Purim tradition) hard candies, chocolates and kosher gummy bears. You want to entice and please the recipient with tempting treats, not stuff them with too much or too big. If you bake items too big (1-2 bite size is perfect), you will only be able to stuff one hamantashen in the baskets or gift bag and that’s no fun!

This month’s column is my own very special collection of contemporary Purim cookies that are somewhat gourmet in spirit. They add flair to your table, if you are hosting, as well as making your Purim gift baskets shine with some extra glamour. Cookies are versatile in that they can be made in many sizes and shapes, and the collection here is a broad spectrum of flavors but still Purim appropriate. The result is a homey holiday offering that is still elegant and novel – just the sort of perk you need in March. And don’t forget to check the Archives for my favorite classic hamantashen recipes.

Happy Purim, and happy baking, Marcy Goldman

Recipes:

Purim Amaretti
Who wouldn’t want to find a batch of these in the Purim package? Almond scented, chewy crisp macaroon cookie bites. Wrap these in colored tissue paper, wrap them in a tin, or add a few to a Purim basket with other treats. Sheer gourmet fare.

Purim Jam Shortbread Sandwich Cookies
A delicate pastry cookie that is a great keeper – perfect for hosting with or packing in a gift bag. You can use raspberry jam or apricot hamantashen filling.

Queen Ester Chocolate Decadence Cookies
You would expect cookies named for a queen to be decadent and regal. These flour-free chocolate cookies are tiny gems, fallen soufflés that morph into rich, chewy, crisp cookies, perfect for Purim.

Caramel Chocolate Pecan Purim Bars
Nothing beats this brown sugar blondie bar, stuffed with added goodies. Cut these small, for they are rich, wrap in colored paper and stuff them into Purim bags.