For a cookie named after a bad guy, hamantaschen are surprisingly sweet.
The three-sided stuffed cookie traditionally served during the Jewish holiday of Purim is said to resemble the hat - or some say the pocket - of Haman. Haman, the story goes, was a wicked fellow who in the days of the Persian Empire tried to do away with the Jewish people but ended up being vanquished.
Schmell and Azman Bakery
Address --7006 Reisterstown Road
Phone --410-484-7343
Hours --6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 6 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Thursday, 6 a.m.-an hour before sundown Friday, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
The largest "hat" of the bunch, these big hamantaschen cost 90 cents to $1.25 each. I paid $6.50 for a little more than a pound. The cookies had a stiff, somewhat foreboding dough. The prune filling, however, was pleasing.
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