Where Jewish St. Louisans go to find homemade hamantaschen
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Published March 3, 2024
As Purim approaches, anticipation is building for all the vibrant festivities and delicious treats that the holiday brings. Among the most beloved symbols of this joyous holiday is the Hamantaschen, a triangular pastry filled with various sweet fillings, representing the defeat of the villainous Haman.
In St. Louis, locals eagerly seek out these delectable delights made from scratch, embracing the tradition with every bite. From local bakeries to community events, St. Louisans can indulge in the authentic flavors of Purim, savoring the timeless sweetness of Hamantaschen while celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
Toby’s Challa House & Bake Shop
Toby Elefant has been baking hamantaschen for more than 30 years. The University City resident who runs her business, Toby’s Challa House & Bake Shop, out of her home enjoys making the three-sided pastries because they are for Purim, “a beautiful yontif [holiday],” she said.
“It’s the day that all of Israel was saved from being annihilated. It’s a very special time of simcha, happiness,” said Elefant, a member of Agudas Israel of St. Louis, an Orthodox congregation.
Elefant uses a recipe she got from a friend she met during elementary school in Far Rockaway, N.Y.
This year, she is offering a variety of flavors of her certified kosher and pareve hamantaschen: chocolate, lemon, raspberry, apple, apricot, Bavarian cream and new this year, caramel. The cost is $16/lb.
Orders must be placed by no later than March 17 to ensure availability. To order or for more information, call 314-281-6781 or email [email protected].
Delectable Dough
Delectable Dough Bakery is located inside the Trolley Stop Bakery at 67 Forum Shopping Center in Chesterfield. Jodie Bertish and her team are busy baking hamantaschen again this year, along with their acclaimed old-fashioned apple strudel and other fruit varieties, as well as other sweets.
This year’s hamantaschen flavors include apple, apricot, cherry, strawberry funfetti, chocolate, prune, and poppy. Gluten-free and vegan options are available by special request.
You can pick up your hamantashen at the bakery starting Friday, March 1st through Sunday, March 31st as their display case will be filled.
You can also purchase a variety pack of two apple, two apricot, and two cherry at the following Schnucks Stores: Des Peres, Ladue, Lindbergh, and Richmond Heights, during March. Delectable Dough Bakery is accepting orders on their website at delectabledough.com, or email [email protected] or by calling 314-537-2341
Be sure to follow them on Facebook as well.
Just like Mom’s bakery
The mother-daughter team of Peggy Umansky and Alana Minoff offer made-to-order homemade hamantaschen flavored on the doughy outside as well as the inside filling.
Pastry flavors include vanilla, chocolate, chocolate chip and rainbow while filling flavors are poppyseed, fruit, s’mores, chocolate, chocolate chip, chocolate and peanut butter and savory.
They can do special requests. Minimum order of six, which costs $15; 12 for $30. Call 314-303-0861 to order and for details or email [email protected]. Pick-up in Olivette or Chesterfield. Their hamantaschen are not kosher.
Sprinkles by Miriam
Miriam Schwab will be whipping up vanilla and chocolate dough hamantaschen with cherry, raspberry, brownie, chocolate chip cookie, prune, marshmallow, biscoff, or apricot filling.
She bakes in a kosher kitchen at home that is not Vaad-certified and charges $17 a pound, which translates into 10 or 11 hamantaschen. Orders can be placed by calling 561-542-4923 or emailing her at [email protected]. Pick-up in University City. Schwab is happy to bag or box any orders.
| RELATED: 12 scrumpdillyicious hamantaschen recipes from the Jewish Light archives
