Vintage Santa Kurosu

**Vintage Japanese Santa @ Time’s Tin Cup !**

In Japan, Santa Claus is known as Santa Kurosu, サンタクロース , or Santa-san, サンタさん、サンタクロース .

His arrival is celebrated with parties, games and dancing.

The earliest Christmas Celebration in Japan can be traced back to the 1500s. But it is not celebrated as a religious holiday. It is celebrated more as a love of children and an appreciation of friends.

Trees are decorated with origami, swans, paper lanterns and wind chimes. There is even a traditional Christmas Cake called Kurisumasu Keki that is served.

Kurisumasu Keki – Japanese Christmas Cake Recipe

1 Tablespoon butter, softened
1/2 Cup rice oil or sunflower oil
6 Eggs, separated, whites reserved for the meringue
3/4 Cup milk
2 1/2 Cups sifted flour
1 1/2 Cups sugar
2 Teaspoons baking powder

For the Meringue

1/2 Teaspoon cream of tartar
2 Teaspoons vanilla extract

For the Filling

1 1/2 lbs fresh strawberries, quartered
4 Cups cold heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Lightly grease a 9 1/2 inch round cake tin and line the bottom and sides with parchment.

Whisk the oil with the egg yolks and milk.

lightly mix the flour, 3/4 of the sugar and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add into the egg mixture and mix together.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they appear opaque.

Add the cream of tartar and whisk until white and thick. Slowly add the remaining sugar and eggs until mixture appears glossy and thick. Add the vanilla extract and mix for about a minute more.

Stir 1/3 of the meringue mixture into the cake batter. Pour into the lined cake pan.

Bake in the middle of the over for 55 minutes. Then let cool.

While cooling, whip the heavy cream into a whipped cream. Mix in the sliced strawberries.

Spread onto the cooled cake and decorate as you like.