Best 5 Vaselopita Greek New Years Cake Recipes
In preparation for the Greek New Year, or Protochronia, many families indulge in the tradition of baking Vasilopita, a sweet cake. This delightful treat holds a special place in Greek culture, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity for the coming year. Adorned with festive decorations and often concealing a hidden coin, Vasilopita is a centerpiece of New Year's celebrations, enjoyed by both young and old alike.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
VASELOPITA - GREEK NEW YEARS CAKE
Traditional Greek New Years Day bread. Served as a coffee cake for breakfast. Also the person who receives the quarter inside gets good luck for 1 year!
Provided by Paul Menikos
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 1h30m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 10 inch round cake pan.
- In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light. Stir in the flour and mix until the mixture is mealy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Combine the baking powder and milk, add to the egg mixture, mix well. Then combine the lemon juice and baking soda, stir into the batter. Pour into the prepared cake pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove and sprinkle the nuts and sugar over the cake, then return it to the oven for 20 to 30 additional minutes, until cake springs back to the touch. Gently cut a small hole in the cake and place a quarter in the hole. Try to cover the hole with sugar. Cool cake on a rack for 10 minutes before inverting onto a plate.
- Serve cake warm. Each person in the family gets a slice starting with the youngest. The person who gets the quarter in their piece, gets good luck for the whole year!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 446.7 calories, Carbohydrate 61.2 g, Cholesterol 135.3 mg, Fat 19.7 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 7.7 g, SaturatedFat 10.9 g, Sodium 286.9 mg, Sugar 36.7 g
VASILOPITA - GREEK SAINT BASIL'S NEW YEAR'S CAKE
A very traditional Greek Cake that celebrates the life of Saint Basil. Usually served at New Year, it is quick and delicious at any time.
Provided by Rita1652
Categories Dessert
Time 55m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Clean! Silver or gold coin wrapped in aluminum foil (a quarter works well).
- Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 10 inch round cake pan with 1 Tbs butter.
- In a medium bowl, cream the cup of butter and 2 cups of sugar together until light in color. Stir in the flour and mix until the batter resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add the eggs one at a time, blending each one in well.
- In a small bowl combine the baking powder and milk, add to the cake batter and mix well. Finally combine the lemon juice and baking soda in a small bowl, add to the cake batter and mix well. Pour the cake batter in to the greased cake pan, insert the foil wrapped coin, and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the cake from the oven, sprinkle the nuts and 2 Tbs sugar over the cake, then return the cake to the oven and bake for a further 20-30 minutes until the cake springs to the touch. Allow to cool on a rack for 10 minutes then invert the pan on to a cake plate.
- Ideally the cake should be served warm; each person gets a slice of the cake starting with the most senior member. Members of the Greek Orthodox Church believe that whoever gets the coin is blessed.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 555.6, Fat 25.6, SaturatedFat 14.1, Cholesterol 182.2, Sodium 330.2, Carbohydrate 73.6, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 43, Protein 9.4
GREEK NEW YEAR'S CAKE (VASILOPITA)
A delicious orange-infused cake to celebrate the arrival of the New Year!
Provided by Marilena Leavitt
Categories Cake
Time 1h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 10" springform pan and set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter with the sugar for about 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. With the mixer on medium speed, beat in the egg yolks one at a time. Add the orange zest.
- In a medium bowl, mix the flour with the baking powder and set aside.
- Add the flour mixture and the orange juice alternatively to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour.
- Using a hand held mixer, beat the reserved egg whites in a smaller bowl and gently fold them into the batter.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared springform pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. If the cake starts browning before it is done, cover it loosely with a piece of aluminum foil.
- When finished baking, remove from the pan and put it on a rack to cool completely. Dust with some powdered sugar and serve.
VASELOPITA
Traditional Greek New Year's Day recipe. Served as a coffee cake for breakfast. Each person in the family gets a slice starting with the youngest and progressing to the oldest. The person who receives the slice with the quarter in it will have good luck for the whole year!
Provided by Paul Menikos
Categories Greek Recipes
Time 1h10m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a round 10-inch cake pan.
- In a medium bowl, cream butter and 2 cups sugar until light; add flour and stir until mixture is mealy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each egg.
- Stir baking powder into milk then stir into flour mixture. Mix soda and lemon juice; stir into batter. Pour batter into the greased pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with nuts and 1 tablespoon white sugar, then return to oven for 20 to 30 minutes longer, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Remove cake from the oven and gently cut a small hole in the middle. Place a quarter in the hole; cover the hole with powdered sugar. Cool cake on a rack for about 10 minutes. Invert cake onto a serving dish. Sift powdered over the top and serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 543.5 calories, Carbohydrate 74.1 g, Cholesterol 162.4 mg, Fat 24.1 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 9.4 g, SaturatedFat 13.1 g, Sodium 345.3 mg, Sugar 44.4 g
GREEK NEW YEAR'S ORANGE AND BRANDY CAKE (VASSILOPITA)
In Greece, on New Year's day, after lunch, the father traditionally cuts into this rich cake. It has the year written on the top with almonds, and there is a coin inside the cake. The lucky person who gets the coin is given a gift of money to start off the new year. The recipe is from The Foods of the Greek Islands cookbook written by Aglaia Kremezi.
Provided by PanNan
Categories Dessert
Time 1h20m
Yield 1 10 inch round cake, 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 F, and grease a 10" round cake pan.
- Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until creamy (about 3 min). Add butter and beat an additional minute. Beat in orange juice and brandy.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder, baking soda and zests. Add the dry ingredients to the yolk mixture, and stir until thoroughly mixed.
- Clean the beaters, and beat the egg whites in a clean bowl until soft peaks form. Fold them gently into the batter. Pour the batter into the cake pan and shake gently to even the top. Decorate the top with almonds (if making for the new year, write the year with the almonds).
- Bake for about an hour, or until golden brown on top, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool before removing from the pan.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 425.2, Fat 16.7, SaturatedFat 8.1, Cholesterol 92.5, Sodium 175, Carbohydrate 54.9, Fiber 1.8, Sugar 21.4, Protein 8
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients. The fresher the ingredients, the better the cake will taste. This is especially important for the oranges and lemons, as their zest adds a lot of flavor to the cake.
- Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Use a bundt pan with a hole in the center. This will allow the heat to circulate evenly and help the cake cook evenly.
- Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This will ensure that the cake is cooked through.
- Let the cake cool completely before serving. This will help the cake to set and make it easier to cut.
Conclusion:
Vasilopita is a delicious and traditional Greek New Year's cake. It is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With its orange and lemon zest, cinnamon, and fluffy texture, vasilopita is a perfect way to celebrate the new year. If you are looking for a festive and flavorful cake to make for your next New Year's celebration, vasilopita is a great option.
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