Vasilopita (New Year Bread)
1 pk Active dry yeast 1/2 ts Ground cinnamon
3/4 c Milk; lukewarm 1/4 ts Ground masticha
3 Eggs; beaten 1/2 c Butter; melted
1 1/2 ts Grated orange rind 1 Egg; for glazing
3/4 c Caster sugar Blanched split almonds
4 1/2 c Plain flour 1/4 ts Salt
New Year Bread is traditionally cut at midnight on New Year's Eve.
After baking, a coin is inserted through a slit in the base. The
person who finds the coin will have luck in the New Year. Long ago
the coin used to be a gold one, then later a silver coin was used.
These could be incorporated into the dough before baking. Nowadays
because of the nickel content of coins it is undesirable to bake a
coin in the cake.
Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup of the milk. Add remainder of milk, eggs,
orange rind and sugar. Sift 3 cups flour, salt and spice into a warm
bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour in yeast mixture and stir
to blend in flour, gradually adding warm melted butter. Mix dough
with hands until it comes away from sides. Turn on to a floured
surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding remaining flour as
required. Knead for 10 minutes. Place ball of dough in a clean bowl
brushed with melted butter. Turn dough over to coat top with butter
and cover bowl with a cloth or plastic wrap. Leav to prove (rise) in
a warm place until doubled in bulk. Punch down and turn on to lightly
floured surface. Knead lightly and shape into a round loaf. Place
on a large greased baking sheet or in a greased 25 cm (10 inch) deep
cake tin. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled - about 1
1/2 to 2 hours.
Glaze with well-beaten egg and arrange blanched almonds in numbers to
denote the New Year, pressing in lightly. Bake in a moderately hot
oven for 45 minutes until golden brown and cooked when tested. If
bread browns too quickly place a piece of greased brown paper on top.
Cool on a wire rack.
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