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Vasilopita (Marmarini) This is the Emperor’s Vasilopita recipe from the island of Marmara. A sweet, delicious bread traditionally served on New Year’s Day. A coin is hidden inside and whoever gets it has a special blessing. Ingredients: 12 cups sifted bread flour 4 sticks unsalted butter 6 eggs 3 cups whole milk 3 packages quick rise dry yeast 3 cups sugar 1-1/2 tsps. finely crushed mastica (or vanilla if you cannot find mastica) 3 tsps. salt 3 tsps. cinnamon Orange peel OR Brandy flavoring Place the mastika, cinnamon, 1/4 sugar, 1/2 cup flour, salt and flavorings in a bowl and mix. Melt the butter and add the milk, constantly stirring at a low heat. Whip the eggs together until they are golden yellow. Add the mastika mixture to the eggs and mix well. Add the yeast mixture to the eggs and mix well. Gradually stir in the milk/butter mixture. Gradually mix in the sugar. Add 2 cups of flour continue stirring well. Gradually add flour 1 cup at a time until the dough is not sticky. Knead the dough with the additional flour for 15-20 minutes. Put dough in a ball and cover in butter. Sprinkle flour in a cross over dough and have each cook (or child) make a cross on the dough’s center. Place dough in a covered, greased pan and allow to rise about 2-1/2 hours. After the dough has doubled in size, punch in the middle, divide into greased pans and allow to rise 45 minutes. (Place coin at this stage). Cover in an egg white gloss and sprinkle the top with sesame seeds and decorate with almonds and or cinnamon prints. Instructions: Place the yeast and 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup warm water in a bowl.

Bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Anonymous Contribution, Turkey

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