A dense, pound cake like treat, traditionally served for New Year’s. A coin is hidden in the cake. Whoever gets the slice with the hidden coin is said to also get good luck all throughout the coming new year.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 pound sweet, unsalted butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 6 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 7 cups flour
Topping:
- Blanched, whole almonds
- 1 egg yolk, beaten
- 2 teaspoons milk
- ½ teaspoon sugar
Coins:
- Assorted silver coins (washed well and wrapped in aluminum foil)
Directions
- Using electric mixer, cream butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
- Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl.
- Add egg mixture to dry ingredients, blending well; dough will be thick and dense.
- Pour cake mixture into two buttered 8” x 8” square pans. Spread batter between 1 – 1½ inches thick.
- Hide coins in cake batter.
- Decorate cake tops with almonds.
- Combine beaten egg yolk, 2 teaspoons milk, and ½ teaspoon sugar.
- Brush each cake top with egg yolk mixture.
- Bake at 350° for about 40 minutes until golden brown and pick inserted near center of cake comes out clean.
- Cool completely.
Serving Suggestions
Serve cake slices with fruit, if desired.
Note:
Leftover cake may cut into 1 inch slices and toasted in oven like Paximadia. Lay each piece cut side up on cookie sheet. Bake at 350° until toasty, turning once (about 7 minutes per side). Be careful not to over brown or burn the cake slices.