The Bethlehem Cake

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About the Recipe:  The original recipe was a West Jerusalem Palestinian Christian family favorite that was baked for decades.
It inspired me to recreate this cake, highlighting the journey of the 3 Kings and adding flavors of golden oranges, sweet balsamic tang, and smoky almonds to the recipe.  The finished cake has the added flavor of snappy ginger cookies.

A Word about the Herbs:  They are best known through the story of the Three Wise Men (Magi) delivering gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the baby Jesus; myrrh was also used to anoint Jesus’ body after the crucifixion. These herbs, valued like gold, were mentioned repeatedly in the Old Testament, in instructions to Moses about making incense and anointing oil, and in the Song of Solomon.

St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia (now in Turkey) was a 4th-century miracle-worker, known also for the healing myrrh that flowed from his sacred relics      http://www.itmonline.org/arts/myrrh.htm

Serving:
Use the foil to remove cake from pan and turn cake upside down onto large serving plate.  Remove, discard parchment and foil. Remove any extra crumbs from serving plate. Brush the top and sides of cake with remaining warm syrup. Let cool. Place cake in refrigerator to set glaze.
If decorating cake:  Use confectioners’ sugar with a star template to create a Bethlehem Star on the top of cake.

Serve cake in 1- or 2-inch slices.  Yield:  one 13×9-inch cake

pdf for Copy of Recipe – The Bethlehem Cake

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