Description
A traditional Greek New Year’s cake, known as Vasilopita, is a sweet bread or cake baked to celebrate the new year. It contains a hidden coin for luck.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground mahlepi (optional)
- 1/4 tsp ground mastic (optional)
- 1 egg yolk (for glaze)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (for topping)
- 1 clean coin (wrapped in foil)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a round cake pan.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in milk and vanilla extract.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, mahlepi, and mastic.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Pour half the batter into the pan, place the wrapped coin in the center, then cover with remaining batter.
- Brush the top with egg yolk and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool before slicing to reveal the lucky coin.
Notes
- The person who finds the coin in their slice is said to have good luck for the year.
- Traditionally served at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
- Can substitute mahlepi and mastic with 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp nutmeg if unavailable.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Greek New Year cake Vasilopita recipe lucky coin celebration tradition