Notes:
- Vasilopita is a Greek Traditional New Year’s Day cake or bread and it is associated with Saint’s Basil’s Day which is on January 1st.
- According to the Greek Tradition Saint Basil is supposed to visit children and give presents every January 1st (Saint Basil’s Day).
- Unlike other Traditions where St Nicholas arrives either on December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day) or on Christmas Eve (December 24).
- On a New Year’s Day, the Vasilopita is being cut to bless the house and bring good luck for the New Year.
- Tradition has it to hide a coin in the dough before baking.
- The first piece is given to Christ, then to Virgin Mary, to Saint Basil, to the house and then to each member of the family and any visitors present at the time, in order of age.
- Whoever finds the coin will be the lucky person of the Year.
New Year’s Cake – Vasilopita
Ingredients:
- 5 cups of flour
- 2 cups of sugar
- 1 cup of lukewarm milk
- 1 lb of unsalted butter
- 1 tsp of baking powder
- 2 tsp of baking soda
- 2 tsp of vanilla powder
- 1 tsp of lemon skin grinds
- 5 eggs
- Split almonds
- Icing sugar (Optional)
Method:
- Place butter, sugar and egg yolks in a mixer and beat for about half an hour.
- Add the lukewarm milk, baking soda, egg whites (beaten well in the form of foam) and finally add the flour mixed with baking powder.
- Beat well for the flour to mix without any lumps.
- Poor your mixture in a baking dish (Preferably round) and place somewhere in the middle hidden a coin wrapped in aluminum foil.
- Dress it up all around (if you like) with split almonds and in the middle write the numbers of the coming year.
- Bake in a preheated oven for about an hour or until golden at 350 degrees.
- Do not open the oven until is cooked.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool.
- Sprinkle with icing sugar (Optional)
