Šakotis (pronounced Shakotis) is a traditional cake made in Lithuania. These "tree cakes" are served on special occasions such as, birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings. One Šakotis maker said, " In 1410 Lithuanian Knights who participated in the great Battle of Grunwald were recorded to have a huge supply of tree cakes, famous for their long lasting freshness--up to five weeks." So, as you can see, they have been enjoyed for quite some time!
Possibly the secret to their long-lasting freshness is the number of eggs they use in one cake. A good cake has at least 30-35 eggs in it. It takes 40-45 minutes to bake on a rotisserie-type cone in front of an open fire or in later years, in front of a hot oven. You can see pictures by going to the following link, http://gyvenimas.delfi.lt/archive/article.php?id=14071231&ndate=3805410578400. (You will need to copy and paste the link in your browser. )
We visited a restaurant in Ignalina that is connected to a bakery where Šakotis is made. Here is a picture of Bette Sue standing by one of the largest ever made. We also discovered that there were different versions from other countries. The differences were in the thickness and crispness of the cake.
These are pictures of "Tree Cakes" at recent weddings we attended. The taste is more like a cookie. It is one of Bette Sue's favorites since it is not very sweet but even Bob enjoys eating it!
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