Make the New Year Golden with a GOLD BAR Whiskey Money Cake

In many households, New Years is an opportunity to continue traditions and create new ones.  One of our favorite traditions is the New Years Day Money Cake.

The Money Cake has deep roots in many cultures but depending on who you ask, the Money Cake has origins as early as the 4^th century AD.

One story explains that the Greek bishop of Caesarea, Saint Basil, called the residents of Caesarea to raise a ransom demanded to stop a siege on their city. According to legend, when the ransom was raised, the enemy was so embarrassed by the act of communal giving that he called off the siege without even collecting the payment he had demanded.

Having collected all of the ransom, and without knowing who had given what to stop the siege, Basil baked all the jewelry and gold into loaves of bread (or one large loaf of bread) and distributed pieces to every citizen of Caesarea.  By miracle, everyone received their exact share and valuables.

Another story depicts Basil as a generous Bishop who baked gold into breads and handed them to poor families.

Today, the Money Cake tradition of baking gold into breads and cakes continues and is a time honored celebration by families throughout the world. For some, they place a coin in with their bread, for others, they bake a celebratory cake, but regardless, this tradition involves placing a lucky coin hidden inside.

Once baked, a piece of the Money Cake or bread is distributed to each family member, typically starting with the eldest. In some cultures, a slice is given to God with another for the house before starting with the eldest. Everyone examines their piece and according to superstition and legend, whoever finds the coin receives good luck entering the new year.

Recipes vary from household to household, but we’d like to give you our version of the Gold Bar Money Cake. 

Gold Bar Whiskey Money Cake Recipe Ingredients

Prep: 30 minutes

Total: 1 hour

1 1/3 cups butter

3 cups sugar

6 eggs

1 1/4 cups milk

3 cups flour

1 tsp vanilla essence

3/4 tablespoon cream of tartar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup Gold Bar Whiskey

1 orange, zest only

Directions

1. Prepare a baking pan with vegetable shortening or butter.
2. In a very large bowl, beat the butter until smooth before combining the sugar.
3. Divide the eggs. Set aside the whites in one bowl, and add the yolks to the butter-sugar mix individually. Pour in half the milk, and mix in all the flour and vanilla essence. Mix well.
4. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites for a few minutes by hand until fluffy.
5. Continue stirring the butter-sugar mix and add the remaining milk, the cream of tartar and the beaten egg whites.
6. Add the baking soda with Gold Bar Whiskey and orange zest.
7. Wrap the ‘Lady of Fortune’ coin in tin foil and drop the wrapped coin in the mixture.
8. Pour the mixture into the baking pan and bake for about 1 hour at 200° C (400º F). Because every oven is different, you’ll need to monitor it. You’ll know its ready by pushing a knife or toothpick into the top and it comes out clean.