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Making fresh hamantaschen at Sunflower Bakery.
Making fresh hamantaschen at Sunflower Bakery.
Sunflower Bakery [Official photo]

Where to Find Hamantaschen for Purim

A whole lotta history packed into one little cookie

by Rebecca Gale Updated
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Making fresh hamantaschen at Sunflower Bakery.
| Sunflower Bakery [Official photo]
by Rebecca Gale Updated

Traditionally served as part of the Jewish Purim celebration — which this year falls on Wednesday, February 28, and Thursday, March 1 — the word "hamantaschen" is Yiddish for "Haman's pockets." (In Hebrew, the translation is "Haman's ears.") Haman, for those not familiar, is the oft-booed villain in the Purim story, whose heroes feature the good Queen Esther and her wise uncle Mordechai, who speak up to save all of the Jews in Persia, circa 4th century BCE.

Part of hamantaschen's appeal is the ease with which it can be made and replicated by bakers of all ages: even a dexterous 3-year-old can spoon jam into a soft cookie center and pinch the edges closed. But some D.C. bakeries have been perfecting their hamantaschen dough and fillings for years, to the delight of customers who feel compelled to eat as many hamantaschens as possible during Purim (and in some cases, year-round).

Here are nine sources for hamantaschen around D.C.

Note: The featured bakeries and markets are not ranked. The map is arranged geographically from north to south.

Know another source of must-have holiday sweets? Share in the comments below or sound off via email (dc@eater.com).

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Sunflower Bakery

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Sunflower Bakery has five new flavors for 2018, including triple chocolate, cookie dough, coco caramel, chocolate almond, and strawberry funfetti. There’s also a gluten-free option. For Purim, the hamantaschens will be sold at various locations throughout the region, including synagogues in Maryland and Virginia.

8507 Ziggy Ln, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(240) 361-3698
(240) 361-3698
Sunflower Bakery

Kosher Pastry Oven

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This family-owned bakery has been making a special hamantaschen recipe for Purim since the mid-90s. Fillings include raspberry, apricot, chocolate, poppy seed, and prune, and the hamantaschens come in a large and small versions. Staff says raspberry is the top seller.

1372 Lamberton Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20902
(301) 592-8844
(301) 592-8844
Mike B./Yelp

Jennycakes Bakery

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This family-owned bakery has been making a special hamantaschen recipe for Purim since the mid-90s. Fillings include raspberry, apricot, chocolate, poppy seed, and prune, and the hamantaschens come in a large and small versions. Staff says raspberry is the top seller.

10419 Armory Ave, Kensington, MD 20895
(240) 388-9989
(240) 388-9989
JennyCakes Bakery

Henry's Sweet Retreat

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This Bethesda sweets shop plans to carry hamantaschens from Saturday, February 24 through early March. Featured flavors include apricot and prune, which can be found in the bakery case or purchased via special order.

4823 Saint Elmo Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 957-0622
(301) 957-0622
Henry's MD counter The main counter at Henry’s Sweet Retreat. Henry’s Sweet Retreat [Official photo]

Bread Furst

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Starting on Monday, February 26th, James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef Mark Furstenberg will resume offering hamantaschen. This year’s flavors are prune, poppy seed, and apricot.

4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 966-1300
(202) 966-1300
Eng. A M./Yelp

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Wagshal's Market

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Wagshal’s offers hamantaschens filled with poppy seed and apricot year-round. Prune-flavored creations are rolled out each year for Purim.

4845 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 363-5698
(202) 363-5698
Official

Le Caprice DC

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In addition to its year-round hamantaschen flavors (plum, orange, strawberry and apricot filled varieties), this year Le Caprice is introducing two new cookies: a cherry and white chocolate combination, and apple-caramel. Owner and head baker Manijeh Erfani remains open to custom flavor requests.

3460 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 290-3109
(202) 290-3109
Kirsten P.

Pastries by Randolph

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This bakery sells hamantaschen year-round in four different flavors: cherry, apple, apricot and raspberry. Raspberry and apricot remain the top sellers.

4500 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207
703-243-0070
703-243-0070
Rob K./Yelp

Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

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Heidelberg offers hamantaschen on a daily basis; flavors include hazelnut, poppy seed, apricot, prune and raspberry. Limited edition apple-cinnamon filled and chocolate hamantaschen will be available on Wednesday, February 28, and Thursday, March 1.

2150 N Culpeper St, Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 527-8394
(703) 527-8394
Herman Y./Yelp

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Sunflower Bakery

8507 Ziggy Ln, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Sunflower Bakery has five new flavors for 2018, including triple chocolate, cookie dough, coco caramel, chocolate almond, and strawberry funfetti. There’s also a gluten-free option. For Purim, the hamantaschens will be sold at various locations throughout the region, including synagogues in Maryland and Virginia.

8507 Ziggy Ln, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(240) 361-3698
(240) 361-3698
Sunflower Bakery

Kosher Pastry Oven

1372 Lamberton Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20902

This family-owned bakery has been making a special hamantaschen recipe for Purim since the mid-90s. Fillings include raspberry, apricot, chocolate, poppy seed, and prune, and the hamantaschens come in a large and small versions. Staff says raspberry is the top seller.

1372 Lamberton Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20902
(301) 592-8844
(301) 592-8844
Mike B./Yelp

Jennycakes Bakery

10419 Armory Ave, Kensington, MD 20895

This family-owned bakery has been making a special hamantaschen recipe for Purim since the mid-90s. Fillings include raspberry, apricot, chocolate, poppy seed, and prune, and the hamantaschens come in a large and small versions. Staff says raspberry is the top seller.

10419 Armory Ave, Kensington, MD 20895
(240) 388-9989
(240) 388-9989
JennyCakes Bakery

Henry's Sweet Retreat

4823 Saint Elmo Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

This Bethesda sweets shop plans to carry hamantaschens from Saturday, February 24 through early March. Featured flavors include apricot and prune, which can be found in the bakery case or purchased via special order.

4823 Saint Elmo Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 957-0622
(301) 957-0622
Henry's MD counter The main counter at Henry’s Sweet Retreat. Henry’s Sweet Retreat [Official photo]

Bread Furst

4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Starting on Monday, February 26th, James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef Mark Furstenberg will resume offering hamantaschen. This year’s flavors are prune, poppy seed, and apricot.

4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 966-1300
(202) 966-1300
Eng. A M./Yelp

Wagshal's Market

4845 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

Wagshal’s offers hamantaschens filled with poppy seed and apricot year-round. Prune-flavored creations are rolled out each year for Purim.

4845 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 363-5698
(202) 363-5698
Official

Le Caprice DC

3460 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

In addition to its year-round hamantaschen flavors (plum, orange, strawberry and apricot filled varieties), this year Le Caprice is introducing two new cookies: a cherry and white chocolate combination, and apple-caramel. Owner and head baker Manijeh Erfani remains open to custom flavor requests.

3460 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 290-3109
(202) 290-3109
Kirsten P.

Pastries by Randolph

4500 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207

This bakery sells hamantaschen year-round in four different flavors: cherry, apple, apricot and raspberry. Raspberry and apricot remain the top sellers.

4500 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207
703-243-0070
703-243-0070
Rob K./Yelp

Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

2150 N Culpeper St, Arlington, VA 22207

Heidelberg offers hamantaschen on a daily basis; flavors include hazelnut, poppy seed, apricot, prune and raspberry. Limited edition apple-cinnamon filled and chocolate hamantaschen will be available on Wednesday, February 28, and Thursday, March 1.

2150 N Culpeper St, Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 527-8394
(703) 527-8394
Herman Y./Yelp

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