Servings
Font
Back
0 from 36 votes

Vasilopita (Greek New Year’s Cake)

Vasilopita is a fun, traditional Greek cake made for New Year's Day. Hide a coin in the batter for one lucky person to find for good luck going into the new year.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 8 -10 slices
Calories: 419 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Greek

Ingredients

  • Butter to grease the pan
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice (about 2 large navel oranges)
  • 2 tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • zest from one orange
  • 2 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 Coin - wrapped in tinfoil
  • icing sugar
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a 10 inch spring form pan with butter. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl add the eggs and sugar and use a hand mixer to beat the eggs and sugar until creamy and pale in color, about 1-2 minutes.
  4. To the egg and sugar mixture add the olive oil, 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp orange juice, whole milk, orange zest and vanilla extract and mix together with the hand mixer on low speed to fully combine.
  5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until well combined.
  6. Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan and gently place the foil-wrapped coin into the batter. Smooth out the top of the cake batter and then bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
  7. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes before gently removing it from the pan to fully cool. Once cooled, sprinkle icing sugar over top of the whole cake and then use the pomegranate seeds to make the new year number (i.e. 2025, 2026 etc) on top of the icing sugar (see photos in the blog post).

Notes

  • The cake can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.
  • The cake can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.
  • If you love this recipe, try our Portokalopita (Greek Orange Phyllo Cake)

Nutrition Information

Calories 419kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 57.7g (19%) Protein 6.2g (12%) Fat 18.6g (29%) Saturated Fat 2.9g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2.2g Monounsaturated Fat 12.6g Cholesterol 57.9mg (19%) Sodium 205.9mg (9%) Fiber 0.9g (4%) Sugar 32.3g (65%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8-10 slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 419

% Daily Value*

Calories 419kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 57.7g 19%
Protein 6.2g 12%
Fat 18.6g 29%
Saturated Fat 2.9g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.2g 13%
Monounsaturated Fat 12.6g 63%
Cholesterol 57.9mg 19%
Sodium 205.9mg 9%
Fiber 0.9g 4%
Sugar 32.3g 65%

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