Get ready to drool! Purim is here, and Israel’s bakeries are pulling out all the stops with hamantaschen that are anything but ordinary. From traditional favorites to daring flavor combinations, this year’s offerings are a feast for the senses. But here's where it gets controversial: can a hamantaschen truly be considered 'traditional' if it’s filled with mango-coconut chutney or s’mores? Let’s dive into the sweet details and let you decide.
For the first time, Ha’ofim Ha’ktanim is shaking things up with an Asian-inspired hamantaschen. Imagine a tender shortcrust pastry cradling a mango-coconut chutney, almond cream, and a subtle hint of spice. At 6 shekels per unit, it’s a bold departure from the classic, but is it a step too far? Arcaffe keeps it creamy with ricotta-filled hamantaschen, priced at 55 shekels for a box of 13 (4.23 shekels per unit) or 5 shekels individually. Which one’s the better deal? You do the math.
Roladin steals the show with its pink-glazed hamantaschen, a visual and culinary delight. The shortcrust base is filled with berry marmalade and almond marzipan, crowned with a freeze-dried raspberry crust. And this is the part most people miss: the Gold Cookie Cream and almond sablé version, filled with cream cheese and caramel cookie pieces in a chocolate crust, is a decadent treat at 6 shekels per unit. Which one would you choose?
Metuka brings a burst of color with its pistachio cream in green-tinted pastry and berry confiture in reddish dough. At 47 shekels for a 220-gram box (21.36 shekels per 100 grams), it’s a vibrant option. Goldy’s parve pistachio hamantaschen, priced at 54 shekels for a 12-unit box (4.5 shekels per unit), holds its own in the flavor department. But is pistachio the new king of fillings, or is it just a passing trend?
Biscotti caters to the young (and young at heart) with its buttery shortcrust hamantaschen layered with milk chocolate, petit beurre cream, and caramelized cookie crumble. At 49 shekels for a 280-gram box (17.5 shekels per 100 grams), it’s a hit among younger tasters and soldiers alike. Uri Scheft’s “Napoleon hat” from Lehamim bakery, handmade from butter dough and ground almonds, is a marzipan lover’s dream at 17.9 shekels per 100 grams. Traditionalists, rejoice—or do you prefer something more adventurous?
Boutique Central offers a rich buttery dough with an almond butter base and poppy seed filling at 3.5 shekels per unit. But their Purim gimmick—a double cream puff shaped like a clown, filled with vanilla and strawberry creams, coated in white chocolate, and finished with a ganache collar—is a dessert in itself at 34 shekels per unit. Is it over-the-top, or the perfect Purim treat?
Haupt’s butter-based shortcrust hamantaschen, available in Bnei Dror Mall and Even Yehuda, took home the highest score for traditional, home-style flavor. With fillings like poppy seed, chocolate, gianduja, and dates, it’s hard to stop snacking. At 38 shekels for a box of 12, it’s a crowd-pleaser. But what makes a hamantaschen truly 'traditional'? Is it the filling, the dough, or something else entirely?
For Dubai pistachio enthusiasts, Maafeh Ne’eman’s tender shortcrust hamantaschen filled with pistachio paste, chocolate, and chopped kadaif strands is a must-try at 38 shekels for a 380-gram box (8.90 shekels per 100 grams). Miki Shemo’s nut and Medjool date-filled version, priced at 49 shekels for a 350-gram box, and MIMI’s gluten-free poppy-seed hamantaschen (48 shekels for a box of nine) are close contenders. Which one deserves the top spot?
Landwer’s XL hamantaschen, filled with chocolate and salted pretzel at 15 shekels per unit, and NOLA American Bakery’s s’mores version with Nutella and marshmallow (10 shekels per unit or 45 shekels per box) bring a modern twist. But is bigger always better? And does Nutella belong in a hamantaschen?
Shany Bakery’s chocolate soufflé hamantaschen is a standout for chocolate lovers, priced at 49 shekels for a 300-gram box (16.33 shekels per 100 grams). Gutale in Even Yehuda offers unique flavors like white chocolate, premium pistachio paste, and almond cream with crumble, ranging from 56 to 60 shekels for boxes of 16 to 20 units. Are these gourmet options worth the splurge?
So, what’s your take? Are these innovative hamantaschen a welcome change, or do they stray too far from tradition? Let us know in the comments—we’re all ears!
