Home » Baking » Vasilopita

As the New Year rolls over, Greek families all over the world will share the tradition of cutting the Vasilopita, our Greek New Year’s cake. January 1st is the name day (saint’s day) of Aghios Vassilis (St. Basil), the Greek Santa Claus, and the cake is named in his honor. While Christmas is a more solemn occasion, January 1st is filled with celebrations and the exchange of gifts.

However it’s fixed, cutting the Vasilopita is a celebration of wishes for the new year.

Each Vasilopita is baked with a coin or medallion hidden inside which, according to tradition, will bring great good fortune in the new year to the person who gets it, so the cutting is all-important and the focus of great scrutiny! Traditionally, pieces are cut ceremoniously by the head of the household and allocated to the church (Holy Trinity and Virgin Mary), then the head of the household (male), his wife, their children (oldest to youngest), other family members by degree of relatedness, then guests.

Vasilopita

1 cup (250gr) unsalted butter, melted (or vegetable oil)
1 1/2 cups sugar

4 large eggs 

1/4 cup plain yogurt

zest and juice of 1 orange (approx 1/2 cup juice)

1  shot of orange liqueur
3 cups all purpose flour, sifted

1  Tbsp. of baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

10inch round spring form pan

Pre-heated 350F oven

  1. In a large bowl, use a mixer to blend the butter, sugar, eggs,  yogurt, zest and orange juice until incorporated and add eggs, one at a time.
  2. Into another bowl add flour, baking powder and salt and stir to combine.
  3. Add dry to wet ingredients in increments and mix until incorporated.
  4. Grease the springform and pour the batter into greased pan. Place a foil-wrapped coin randomly into the cake mix.
  5. Bake on the middle rack for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool on a rack for an hour. Place a large plate on top of the cake then carefully invert. Now the underside is your top (and flat).
  6. Make a paper stencil of the new year you’re celebrating, place it on the cake and dust the top of the cake with icing sugar. Remove stencil and reserve to cut at New Year’s.

19 Responses

  1. Happy New Year again Peter! Could not resist telling you how cool that cake is! What a great Greek tradition! You are so clever!

  2. I love these traditions, in our house the first person through the door has to be a dark haired man carrying something to eat and something to keep you warm – it blesses the house apparently. I think it is a british or Scottish tradition?

    What i am wondering is do you wrap the coin in something?

  3. Ayayayayaye… every time I visit, Peter, I get hungry! Please keep on pleasing our eyes and palates during the coming year! Many blessings to you and your family in 2008.

  4. You have so many wonderful Greek traditions and I just love reading about the background to so many of your Greek recipes! I just had to stop by and wish you a Happy New Years! Here is to a warm oven and happy hearts and tummies=D
    Shandy@Pastry Heaven

  5. Happy New Year!

    I like a simple orange flavoured cake. The idea of a hidden coin in the cake sounds interesting.

  6. I really enjoy seeing all the different variations of all the Greek recipes you post here, and this one is no exception! My mother usually uses whole almonds to shape the year on the top of the cake, but icing sugar would remind me of kourambiedes- which is always a good thing!

    Xronia Polla!

  7. How fun!! We have same tradition here in Catalunya but the 6th of January that’s when the 3 kings come and leave presents for the kids. That day we buy (there’s no tradition cooking it) a cake that has a little figure inside (it’s said it brings luck) and a bean. The one who gets the bean has to pay the cake!!!!!!

  8. Hi Peter, Hronia Polla and and fabulous new year ahead. Thank you for all your great recipes, all the ones I have made have turned out especially your tsoureki recipe.( I know it’s new year but I had to mention it) Keep up the the good work and all the best from Australia!!!

  9. XPONIA POLLA Peter
    Happy ,Healthy and Prosperous Year!!!
    Thank you for the fabulous recipes!
    I cant wait to try this recipe !!!

  10. I made my Billy pie from your recipe and it was very tasty,but for some reason it did not rise a lot ,maybe because I didn’t sift the flour? In the derections you had eggs twice ,I just added the whites first and the yolks last before adding the flour?But the taste was very good!

  11. Hello Peter,
    I never liked Vasilopita growing up because it was always kind of dry and dense. . I made your recipe and I think the addition of the yogurt is brilliant.. I got compliments on it at church
    Thanks again
    Maria

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *