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Vasilopita
Vasilopita: Greek New Year's orange cake with a hidden coin for good luck
Just after midnight on New Year's Eve, or at lunch on 1 January, the head of a Greek household crosses the vasilopita with a knife and cuts slices in strict order: for Christ, for the house, then for each person from oldest to youngest. Whoever finds the foil-wrapped coin has luck for the year. This Athenian-style version is a tall, fluffy orange cake, dusted with icing sugar with the new year's numbers stencilled on top. Common mistake: slicing it warm, which makes the crumb gummy and drags the coin around. Chef's tip: beat the butter and sugar until almost white and fold the whipped whites in by hand; that is where the light, cottony crumb comes from.
- Total time
- 80 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
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What you'll need
Fresh ingredients (4)
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (300°F fan). Butter a 28 cm round tin and line the base.
Step 2: Beat 9 oz unsalted butter with two-thirds of 7 oz caster sugar for 8 minutes, until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks from 5 eggs one at a time, then 2 tbsp orange zest and 2 tsp vanilla extract.
9 minStep 3: Sift 16 oz self-raising flour with 1 tsp baking powder and add it in three parts, alternating with ¾ cup orange juice, mixing on low just until smooth.
Step 4: In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites with 1 pinch salt to soft peaks, then add the rest of 3 ½ oz caster sugar and whisk to firm, glossy peaks.
Step 5: Fold the whites into the batter in three goes with a large spatula, keeping as much air as possible. Scrape into the tin and push a clean coin, wrapped tightly in foil, into the batter near the edge.
Step 6: Bake for 50–55 minutes, until risen, golden and a skewer in the centre comes out clean.
52 minStep 7: Cool in the tin for 15 minutes, then on a rack until completely cold. Lay a paper stencil of the year on top and sift over 3 tbsp icing sugar.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 400 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 56 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does vasilopita take?
- About 80 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 55 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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