Greek New Year Cake (Vasilopita)

January 23, 2018Ashley Korizis

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Serves: 9 inch round cake

The best celebrations are those commemorated with food — barbecue on the 4th of July, turkey at Thanksgiving, lamb for Easter. It wasn’t until marrying into a Greek family that I discovered the fun of cake on new year’s. The festive part of Greece’s Vasilopita, named after “Agios Vasilis” or Saint Basil, is its hidden coin. Whomever receives the slice containing the coin is said to enjoy good luck for the rest of the year. When it comes to the cake’s recipe, there are seemingly endless variations. Our family prepares a version reminiscent of lemon pound cake or the French “Madeleine” of my childhood. Whichever recipe you choose, the true magic is in the hidden coin. Cheers to 2018!

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cups butter (room temperature)
  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs (room temperature)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 shot ouzo (optional)
  • Zest from one lemon
  • Zest from half an orange
  • 1.5 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup confectioner sugar
  • 1 foil wrapped coin

Preparation

  • Heat the oven to 350 degrees
  • While the oven is heating, cream together in a large bowl the room temperature butter and sugar​ with a mixer
  • Add the eggs and vanilla and mix with the mixer
  • Mix the baking powder and orange juice in a glass
  • Add the orange juice, ouzo (optional), lemon and orange zest and combine with the mixer
  • Stir in the flour and finish with the mixer
  • Pour the batter into a greased cake pan
  • Place the foil wrapped coin in the batter
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes until golden brown
  • Remove from the pan and let cool on a cooling rack
  • Once cool, cover the top of the cake with confectioner sugar
  • Cut, serve, and be thoroughly amused by the children who feverishly devour their slices in the hopes of finding the coin
Print Recipe
  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: 40 minutes
  • Total time: 55 minutes
  • Serves: 9 inch round cake

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cups butter (room temperature)
  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs (room temperature)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 shot ouzo (optional)
  • zest from 1 lemon
  • zest from 1/2 an orange
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1 foil wrapped coin

Method

  • Heat the oven to 350 degrees
    While the oven is heating, cream together in a large bowl the room temperature butter and sugar​ with a mixer
    Add the eggs and vanilla and mix with the mixer
    Mix the baking powder and orange juice in a glass
    Add the orange juice, ouzo (optional), lemon and orange zest and combine with the mixer
    Stir in the flour and finish with the mixer
    Pour the batter into a greased cake pan
    Place the foil wrapped coin in the batter
    Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes until golden brown
    Remove from the pan and let cool on a cooling rack
    Once cool, cover the top of the cake with confectioner sugar
    Cut, serve, and be thoroughly amused by the children who feverishly devour their slices in the hopes of finding the coin

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