Traditional Greek Recipes: Vasilopita (New Year’s cake)

·

Vasilopita is a Greek household favourite, and the perfect dish to celebrate and enjoy the new year. 

Hidden inside the Greek dessert is a gold coin wrapped in foil, and the family member who is fortunate enough to receive the coin in their slice is said to have good luck for the rest of the year.

The Vasilopita is cut and served to share and enjoy with the family, serving up to 10 people. In total, it only takes 15 minutes to prep and 45 minutes to cook. Let’s take a deep look into the recipe below to see how to cook this tasty treat to bring in the new year!

vasilopita

To make the vasilopita, follow the recipe below. Check out our Instagram reel for a visual guide too @thegreekherald. 

INGREDIENTS

  • 250g unsalted butter, softened
  • 220g sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 450g plain flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 250ml freshly squeezed orange juice
  • Icing sugar and chopped or flaked almonds, to decorate (optional)

METHOD

  1. Preheat the oven to 175˚C and line and lightly grease a 25 cm round cake tin.
  2. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar and vanilla  together in a mixing bowl until pale, light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
  3. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together then add to mix alternately with orange juice, finishing with flour. 
  4. Make sure all the ingredients are incorporated well and form a thick cake batter, but be careful not to over mix or the vasilopita will lose its light, fluffy texture.
  5. Pour half the cake batter into the greased tin. 
  6. Wrap a gold coin in foil ($2 usually works best as it is smaller) and drop it into the cake tin. Cover with the remaining cake batter and spread evenly with a knife or spatula. This will ensure you don’t know where the lucky coin is hidden once it’s baked! Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
  7. Allow the cake to sit and cool for 20 minutes. The cake should be warm when you remove it from the tin but not hot to the touch. 
  8. Place a large flat plate on top of the cake tin and flip so the cake falls upside down onto the plate.
  9. Decorate the vasilopita how you like but it is tradition to dust the cake with icing sugar and chopped or flaked almonds. One way to decorate the cake is to put the numbers of the new year, which can be written on with cake frosting/icing, or made by cutting out paper in the shape of the numbers, placing the paper cut-outs onto the cake, and then dusting with icing sugar. You can also use flaked or chopped almonds to write out the numbers too if you prefer.

Kali Oreksi!

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Chris Christofi becomes highest fundraiser in Vinnies CEO Sleepout history

Melbourne entrepreneur and long-time Vinnies ambassador Chris Christofi has raised $400,000 in this year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

Over $17,000 raised for St John NT through Darwin GleNTi 2025 festival

More than $17,000 was raised for St John NT at this year’s Darwin GleNTi festival, thanks to the generosity of attendees.

Major changes for Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation as language program nears end

Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation held its Annual General Meeting at the AHEPA Hall on Sunday, June 22 from 4:30pm.

Derbies, underdogs, and big clashes set for Australia Cup Round of 32

The fixtures for the Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Round of 32 have been revealed following the tournament’s Official Draw on Wednesday night.

Estudiantina of Melbourne to perform soulful tribute to Greek music pioneers

Estudiantina of Melbourne return to Bird’s Basement on Friday, July 25 to present a heartfelt tribute to Rita Abadzi and Kostas Roukounas.

You May Also Like

Billionaire Con Makris puts $200m of shopping centres up for sale

Adelaide’s richest man, Con Makris, has listed two shopping centres in Adelaide worth a combined price tag of $200 million.

Two antiquities repatriated from Switzerland to Greece

Two antiquities have been repatriated from Switzerland to Greece on January 23, according to a statement by the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Victorian Multicultural Commissioner Bill Papastergiadis attends Whitehorse Lunar Festival

Bill Papastergiadis attended the Whitehorse Lunar Festival this week as a representative of the Victorian Multicultural Commission.