HUMENTASHEN

Filling:

¾ c. walnut pieces

½ c. pitted prunes

½ c. raisins

1 orange

½ c. sugar

½ tsp. cinnamon

1 c. shredded coconut

Cookies:

3 c. flour

1 c. sugar

¼ tsp. salt

4 packets Dr. Oetker vanilla sugar (4 tbsp.)

4 eggs

1 c. vegetable oil

3 tbsp. baking powder

¼ c. milk

Filling:

In a food processor, chop the walnuts into small pieces.  Transfer them to a small bowl.  Grate the orange peel and squeeze out the juice.  In the food processor, blend the prunes, raisins, ½ of the orange zest, and ½ of the orange juice.  Unplug the food processor.  Using a rubber spatula, wipe down the sides of the food processor, and add the cinnamon and sugar.  Plug in the food processor and blend well.  Unplug food processor.  Wipe down the sides of the food processor, and add the walnuts, coconut, and the remaining half of the orange zest and juice.  Plug in the food processor and blend well.  Repeat until you have the consistency of very thick jam.  It should be quite smooth, but some larger pieces are OK.  Transfer the mixture to a bowl.

Cookie Dough:

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, vanilla sugar, salt, and baking powder, and mix well.  Add eggs, oil, and milk, and mix well.  Coat hands in flour and mix by hand. 

Cover a counter or board in flour, and transfer the dough to the floured surface.  Kneed the dough on counter, adding flour as you go, until it dough no longer sticks to your hands. 

Roll the dough into a long log, and cut it into 4 pieces.  Kneed each piece, adding flour as you go, until it no longer sticks to your hands.  Roll out each piece with a rolling pin to an even ¼ in. thickness.  Cut circles out of the dough with the open end of a drinking glass.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a baking pan.

Place a spoonful of filling in the centre of a circle of dough.  Fold up the bottom of the dough to cover the bottom of the filling.  Fold in the left and right sides of the dough on diagonals, creating a triangle shape.  Pinch the corners of the triangle and flatten the front.  Repeat until all the dough is used up.  If you run out of filling, use fruit jam instead. 

Optional:  Roll out a medium-sized piece of dough with the rolling pin to an even ¼ in. thickness.  Spread filling or jam over the whole piece of dough.  Roll up the dough from one end, creating a long, thick, roll. 

Transfer to baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown on top and brown on the bottom.  Keep an eye on the cookies as they bake to make sure they don’t burn.  Cool and enjoy!

Optional:  If you created a long thick roll of dough and filling, slice it into cookies when it’s cool.