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5.0 from 3 votes

Greek Vasilopita - New Year's Bread

Vasilopita is a very soft, airy, and buttery sweet bread. With delicious aromas of orange, vanilla, Mastic, and Mahlep. With a hidden coin inside for New Year's luck.

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 332 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Greek

Ingredients

  • 570 grams (4⅔ cups) bread flour
  • 120 grams (1 stick + 1tsp) butter
  • 50 ml milk
  • 140 grams (⅔ cup) sugar
  • 3 medium-sized eggs lightly beaten
  • 18 grams (2 tablespoons) dry yeast
  • 60 ml lukewarm water
  • 1 orange zested
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅔ teaspoon Mastiha Powder or ½ teaspoon Mastiha tears
  • 2 teaspoons Mahlep powder may use Cardamom or Anise instead
  • coin
To Decorate On Top:
  • 1 egg white
  • white sesame seeds
  • black sesame seeds or poppy seeds
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon honey

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat the milk, sugar, butter, orange zest, vanilla, Mahlep, and Mastiha (if using tears see Notes below) in a saucepan over low heat. Just until the sugar and butter melt. Then set aside to cool.
  2. Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water.
  3. Add both mixtures together with the eggs to the bowl of your electric mixer with the hook attachment on. Start beating over low speed.
  4. Gradually incorporate the flour. Keep beating until you get a stretchy and elastic dough (about 10-15 minutes).
  5. Place dough in an oil-greased bowl and cover with a dampened tea towel.
  6. Turn on the oven to 100°C / 210°F fan for 2 minutes. Then turn it off and place the bowl inside.
  7. Let the dough rise inside the warm oven until doubled in size. For about 1½ to 2 hours.
  8. Press the dough down to remove the air. Then transfer the dough to a working surface and shape it into a round ball first then flatten it to a disk shape. Press the coin underneath to insert it into the dough.
  9. Add the dough to a round 8-inch (20 cm) Springform tin greased with butter.
  10. Allow the dough to rise until doubled again. You may place it back in the oven.
  11. Remove the pan from the oven once the dough has doubled in size again.
  12. Preheat oven to 170°C / 340°F.
  13. Make the egg wash. Mix the egg white with one tablespoon of water.
  14. Brush the top of the dough with the egg white. Then sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  15. Bake for about 45 minutes, until nicely browned all over.
  16. Make the glaze. Melt the 1 tablespoon of butter together with the 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Pour it all over the Vasilopita.
  17. Cool. Place the cake pan on a cooling rack then allow the Vasilopita to cool inside the pan before removing.
  18. Cut and serve when the Vasilopita has cooled down to room temperature.

Notes

  • If using Mastiha (Mastic) tears take 2 tablespoons of the sugar and pulse together in a small food processor until the tears are turned into powder. You can also grind the tears using a pestle and mortar, again together with sugar so it won't stick. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 332kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 50g (17%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 11g (17%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Trans Fat 0.4g Cholesterol 65mg (22%) Sodium 95mg (4%) Potassium 94mg (3%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 15g (30%) Vitamin A 351IU (7%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 24mg (2%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 332

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 332kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 50g 17%
Protein 8g 16%
Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Trans Fat 0.4g 20%
Cholesterol 65mg 22%
Sodium 95mg 4%
Potassium 94mg 2%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 15g 30%
Vitamin A 351IU 7%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 24mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.