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Overhead shot of vasilopita cake served on a wooden platter with dusted sugar, pomegranate and almonds.

Vasilopita - Greek New Year's Cake

Christianna | Siftnwhisk
Greek vasilopita is a delicious cake prepared at New Year's eve to celebrate the arrival of the new year! The cake is flavored with orange juice, cinnamon and nutmeg and it has a hidden lucky coin.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Greek
Servings 12
Calories 353 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Cake

  • 3 cups Self Rising Flour sifted or 3 cups all-purpose flour + 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 4 Eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tbsp Cognac
  • 1 cup Milk lukewarm
  • 1/4 cup Orange Juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 tsp Orange zest
  • 1 Lucky Coin

Garnish

  • Powdered Sugar
  • Almonds
  • Pomegranate Seeds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (180C).
  • Grease a 10 inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl stir together the sifted self rising flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
    3 cups Self Rising Flour, 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon, 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg, 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
  • On a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter with sugar on high for 2 minutes. Scrape down the bottom of the bowl using a spatula when necessary.
    1 cup Unsalted Butter, 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • With the mixer running on medium speed add the eggs one at a time. Each egg should be incorporated in the mixture before adding the next one.
    4 Eggs
  • Pour the pure vanilla extract, cognac, milk, orange juice and zest and beat on medium speed until fully incorporated. The mixture will look curdy.
    1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract, 1 tbsp Cognac, 1 cup Milk, 1/4 cup Orange Juice, 1 tsp Orange zest
    The wet mixture looks curdled before adding the flour.
  • With the mixer running on low speed add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
    Vasilopita batter after adding the flour mixture.
  • Pour the batter into the lined baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula. You can add the coin now- wrapped in aluminum foil or after the cake is baked (see step 11).
    1 Lucky Coin
    Adding the lucky coin in the vasilopita cake batter.
  • Bake for 50 minutes or until the cake is golden brown on top and an inserted toothpick comes out clean with little to no crumbs.
  • Remove from the oven and let it completely cool down before releasing from the pan.
  • If you haven't added the coin yet, turn the cake upside down and insert the coin at the bottom.
  • Dust the cake with powdered sugar and write the number of the year on top using almonds/pomegranate seeds/chocolate ganache etc. You can add any extra decorations you wish!
    Powdered Sugar, Almonds, Pomegranate Seeds
  • Slice the cake right after 12am and announce out loud the person who won the lucky coin!
  • Happy New Year!

Notes

  • Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature and milk is lukewarm.
  • If you do not have self rising flour handy, you can use the same amount of all-purpose flour and 3 teaspoons of baking powder. Combine them before adding to the to wet mixture.
  • The wet mixture will look curdy. Do not worry about it, it comes together when you add the flour mixture.
  • When you add the flour mixture, do not overmix as it will result in a very dense cake.
  • Note that all ovens bake differently, so yours may take a little less or a little more time to bake.
  • If the cake has cracks on top the dusted powdered sugar will cover them. The taste will still be the same!
  • Instead of dusted powdered sugar, you can coat Vasilopita with chocolate glaze. Let your imagination free when it comes to toppings. You can use royal icing, fresh fruits or nuts to create your own designs or write Happy New Year on top of the cake!
  • Storage Instructions: Vasilopita Cake will keep fresh for up to a week, stored in an airtight container. You may wrap the sliced pieces individually with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
  • You may freeze undecorated vasilopita cake for up to 3 months in a freezer safe container. Defrost overnight the day before serving.
  • Have any questions about the recipe or want to ask for substitutions? Please contact us.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 6gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 81mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 597IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg
Keyword all-purpose flour, baking powder, butter, cinnamon, eggs, milk, orange juice, powdered sugar
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