New Year's Cake

Now that Christmas has passed, it is time to look ahead to the New Year.  New Years cake is a tradition I grew up with.  A coin is baked inside this confection and legend has it whoever gets the piece with the coin gets good luck for the rest of the year.  Though most years, the coin eluded my grasp, I didn't care.  This cake was a welcomed treat on January 1st and I enjoyed eating it until it was gone.  This recipe was my mom's and I now make it in my house year after year.  Sad to say, the coin STILL evades my piece.

3 1/2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 lb (1 cup) unsalted butter

2 cups sugar

6 egg yolks

Rind of one lemon

Rind of one orange

1 cup milk

confectioners sugar for dusting

quarter and foil

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a deep round cake pan (I like to use a springform pan for easy removal.)  Wash the quarter with soap and water and cover in a small piece of aluminum foil and set aside.  Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy.  Continue beating, adding the egg yolks one at a time. Once incorporated add the lemon and orange rinds. Slowly alternate adding the flour and milk until blended.  Pour mixture in pan and drop the coin in.  Bake for 55-65 minutes or until done. Let cake cool for about 15 minutes before removing from pan.  Once cake is completely cooled, sift confectioner's sugar on top and decorate it as you like.