Greek · Dessert
Vasilopita
Vasilopita is the Greek New Year's cake baked every December 31st to welcome good fortune, a simple orange-and-vanilla-scented butter cake with a coin baked into the crumb and a scattering of almonds on top. The ritual of cutting it at midnight, with the first slice set aside for Saint Basil, makes this as much a ceremony as a dessert.
$1
15 minsPrep
30 minsCook
55 minsTotal
EasyLevel
Nutrition per serving
441Calories
8.5gProtein
19.9gFat
57.6gCarbs
29.4gSugar
1.7gFiber
561mgSodium
132mgChol
10.2gSat Fat
146mgPotassium
62mgCalcium
2.3mgIron
0.3mcgVitamin B12
3.2mgVitamin C
0gPolyol
0gAllulose
0.5gAlcohol
Goes well with
Asti Spumante
local
Greek Coffee (Elliniko)
international
vegetarian
sweet-spot
all-time-classics
Instructions
1
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and butter a 10cm/4 inch round cake tin, lining the base with a small circle of parchment.
2
Cream the softened butter and sugar together with a hand mixer for 2-3 minutes until pale and fluffy.
3
Beat in the egg a little at a time, then stir in the orange zest and vanilla extract.
4
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together, then fold into the butter mixture in two additions alternating with the milk, stopping as soon as no streaks of flour remain.
5
Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and smooth the top; press a well-wrapped coin into the batter from underneath if including the traditional lucky charm.
6
Scatter the sliced almonds over the surface and bake for 28-32 minutes until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean and the top springs back.
7
Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
8
On New Year's Eve or Day, cut the cake and serve, noting whoever finds the coin is blessed with luck for the year.
Serves
2 portions ·
2 adults, 0 over 10, 0 under 10
Ingredients
- 70g70g All Purpose Flour, sifted
- 55g55g Sugar White
- 35g35g Butter, softened
- 50g50g Egg, room temperature, beaten
- 30g30g Whole Milk
- 12g12g Orange, zested
- 4g4g Baking Powder
- 3g3g Vanilla Extract
- 1g1g Salt
- 10g10g Almond, sliced, for topping, 1
