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5.0 from 3 votes

Vasilopita

Vasilopita (Bασιλόπιτα) is a New Year's cake in Greece and many other parts of Eastern Europe and the Balkans that contains a hidden coin or piece of jewelry. The tradition is associated with the feast of Saint Basil.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 10 people
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Greek , Balkan

Ingredients

  • 1½ cup butter (at room temperature)
  • 1¼ cup caster sugar
  • 1 tablespoon icing sugar
  • 2 teaspoons mahleb
  • ½ teaspoon mastic
  • ¼ tablespoon nutmeg powder
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • zest of 2 oranges
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 eggs (at room temperature)
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons butter (for the mold)
  • icing sugar (for garnish)
  • 1 coin or a piece of jewelry (as a trinket)
Equipment
  • Removable round mold (10 inches / 25 cm in diameter)
  • Whisk
  • food processor
  • Stand mixer

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Grease a round cake tin with a removable base with butter and place it in the refrigerator.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F (180°C).
  3. Whisk the butter for 2 to 3 minutes until it is foamy.
  4. In a food processor, add the sugar, mahleb, mastic, nutmeg, 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and mix them well until obtaining a powder.
  5. Transfer this powder to the bowl of a stand mixer, add the orange zest, vanilla extract and whisk everything together.
  6. While whisking at medium speed, add the eggs one at a time and wait until one is well absorbed before adding the next one.
  7. Add the foamy butter and yogurt and beat for a few seconds. Combine the flour and baking powder and add them to the batter, stirring at low speed.
  8. Add the batter into the previously buttered mold.
  9. Place the coin or piece of jewelry into the batter.
  10. Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes.
  11. Sprinkle generously with icing sugar 30 minutes after removing from the oven.