Brandy-Orange New Year's Cake (Vasilopita

• Produce

  • 1/2 tbsp Lemon, zest
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Orange, zest

• Refrigerated

  • 6 Eggs

• Baking & Spices

  • 3 cups All-purpose flour
  • 3 tsp Baking powder
  • 2 cups Sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla

• Drinks

  • 1 cup Orange juice

• Dairy

  • 3/4 cup Butter, unsalted

• Beer, Wine & Liquor

  • 3 1/2 tbsp Brandy

• Other

  • (optional coconut flakes & icing sugar for topping

Found on food52.com

Description

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 & 1/2 tablespoons orange zest
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
• 6 eggs
• 3 & 1/2 tablespoons brandy
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup orange juice
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• (optional) coconut flakes & icing sugar for topping

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 176C. Grease and flour an 10 inch circular pan, line the bottom with parchment paper.
• With a mixer, beat the butter and sugar well. This will take around 10 minutes on a high setting. The mixture has to change to a very pale yellow colour.
• Add all the eggs, one egg at a time, ensuring that it has been incorporated into the batter before adding the next egg.
• Add the brandy and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Add the orange and lemon zests. Don’t worry if your batter begins to curdle at this stage.
• Stir the baking powder and flour together.
• Next add the orange juice and flour, alternating with small amounts of each as you add these ingredients, starting and ending with flour.
• Pour the batter into the pan. If adding a coin into the cake, tightly wrap the coin in plastic wrap, and drop it into the batter. Ensure the top of the batter is smooth so that it is not obvious where the coin has been dropped. I sometimes make the edges higher than the center of the cake (so it almost dips in the center) with a spatula so it cooks better, but dont overmix the batter when you do this.
• Place in the oven for 60 minutes. Test the center of the cake with a toothpick after 60 minutes to ensure it is cooked. Remove and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and let cool on a cooling rack.
• If you wish, dust icing sugar and coconut flakes on top before serving.