Monday's Greek Recipe...on a Tuesday! - Vasilopita

Vasilopita is the Greek New Year's cake. Vasilopita is associated with Saint Basil's Day on January 1^st  in Greece. On New Year's Day families cut the Vasilopita to bless the house and bring good luck for the new year.It is traditional to bake a coin into the Vasilopita (St. Basil's cake). The one who receives the coin is considered to be especially blessed  for the year. A piece of cake is sliced for each member of the family and any visitors present at the time. Slices are also cut for various other people or groups, depending on local and family tradition. They may include St. Basil and other saints, the Virgin Mary, the Church and the poor. In my family, slices are cut for Jesus Christ, for the poor and one slice for each member of the family.  Vasilopita is made in honour of a beautiful act of charity by St. Basil to the poor and needy of his flock. In order to insure that the needy would have money for life's necessities, and knowing that the needy were also proud people, St. Basil had the ladies of his church bake sweet bread with coins baked into them. In this way he could give them money without demeaning them at all.  To this day, many wealthy families would place a gold coin in Vasilopita. It is meant as a gift to the lucky one since in Greece and Cyprus we exchange gifts on New Year’s Day as well! Saint Basil is our Santa Claus like Saint Nicholas in other countries.

 

INGREDIENTS

 

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 3  ½  cups flour
• 2-3 tablespoons brandy or Grand Marnier liqueur
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• the zest of 1 orange
• 1 cup yoghurt
• 1 cup almonds finely ground
• 1 coin wrapped in foil
  

 

DIRECTIONS

 

• Beat the butter and the sugar in the mixer until fluffy and then add the eggs one by one beating constantly.
• Mix in the yoghurt and sift the flour and baking powder.
• Continue to beat until the batter is fluid.
• Add the brandy or liqueur, the orange juice and the orange zest and continue to beat.
• Mix the almonds and don’t forget to place the coin in the mixture!
• Place the mixture in a flat, buttered pan and bake in a medium oven for about an hour.
• When cold decorate the Vasilopita with some icing sugar and almonds.

Comments

[Constantinos]

May Saint Basil's coin be in your slice of vasilopita this year. Best of luck! Filakia

[Tina]

It has been a very long time since I have had that cake, and I wish I has seen your recipe earlier. I would have made it for my family who are coming to my house on New Year's Day. But, I have already shopped for all the ingredients for the pomenegranate pudding I am making as desert.
I will print out your cake recipe for next year, though.
Happy New Year to you!!!!!

[Marie K]

I've never had it with yogurt. Sounds interesting. No eggs?

[Laura]

That's a lovely tradition, Anastasia, I've never heard of before. Wishing you and your family a very happy New Year.

[Alexia M]

Last year I was invited to the place of a greek friend who lives in Amsterdam and, of course he cut the vasilopita and explained all about your tradition. Most of the guests were greeks so instead of eating their piece they started looking for the coin first. I guess they knew what they were doing! I almost swallowed it. It was in my piece!!! Happy New Year to you and Alkis.

PS - To be honest 2009 was a lucky year for me!

[Andy]

Could I have a piece of that cake with a...coin in it , please? :)

glitter-graphics.com

[Anastasia]

Thanks Constantine mou. I'll be away for the next few days, so I haven't baked a vasilopita but let's hope luck will be on my side in the new year. Polla filakia!!!

[Anastasia]

A pommegranate pudding! That sounds very original to me. I love pommegranates! My mother used to grow them in her back yard and on New Year's Day we'd take one and throw it in the house before any visitors arrived. This was meant to bring luck. Happy New year!

[Anastasia]

It's delicious with yoghurt instead of milk. Yoghurt gives it a fluffier substance. Oh, I am so sorry I forgot to include the eggs in the Ingredients although I have included them in the Directions:you will need 6 eggs.

[Anastasia]

Happy New Year, Laura! My warmest wishes to you and yours.

[Anastasia]

Oh no! You almost swallowed Saint Basil's coin! Piece of advice: look for the coin first, then eat your piece of cake! Hope 2010 is even luckier for you.

[Anastasia]

Oh, Andy...I'm afraid, I'm repeating myself but you are ... incorrigible! Cheers! Happy New year!