Mrs Leffertss New Years Cakes Recipes

MRS. LEFFERTS'S NEW YEAR'S CAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the sugar, baking soda, salt and egg. Beat until the sugar begins to dissolve and the mixture is very glossy, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• In another bowl, use a pastry cutter to combine the butter with the flour until it resembles coarse meal. Slowly stir the milk into the sugar mixture and strain it through a sieve into the flour and butter. Add the caraway seeds and zest, stirring until the mixture is just combined.
• Using your hands, divide the dough into 4 balls of equal size. Wrap each in plastic wrap and allow them to chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. (The balls may be formed into logs about 2 inches in diameter, wrapped well in plastic and frozen for up to 1 month.)
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Remove one of the balls of dough from the refrigerator and, on a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to a thickness of about 16 inch. Using a 2-inch oval or round cookie cutter, cut out as many cookies as possible, reworking the scraps as you go. (If the dough is frozen, use a sharp knife to cut the logs into thin slices.)
• Transfer the cookie dough to ungreased baking sheets and bake until they are lightly golden and crisp, about 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining dough balls, or save, refrigerated, for up to 3 days.

VASELOPITA - GREEK NEW YEARS CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 10 inch round cake pan.
• In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light. Stir in the flour and mix until the mixture is mealy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Combine the baking powder and milk, add to the egg mixture, mix well. Then combine the lemon juice and baking soda, stir into the batter. Pour into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove and sprinkle the nuts and sugar over the cake, then return it to the oven for 20 to 30 additional minutes, until cake springs back to the touch. Gently cut a small hole in the cake and place a quarter in the hole. Try to cover the hole with sugar. Cool cake on a rack for 10 minutes before inverting onto a plate.
• Serve cake warm. Each person in the family gets a slice starting with the youngest. The person who gets the quarter in their piece, gets good luck for the whole year!