Vassilopita (Greek New Year’s Cake)

May 09, 2023May 9, 20230 10
Greek Vassilopita Recipe for New Year's Day Celebration
in Dessert

Prep

20 min

Cook

60 min

Ready In

80 min

Level

Easy

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

250 g butter ( soft )
8 eggs
1 kg flour
5 tablespoons cognac
500 g sugar
6 oranges , juice of
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
2 teaspoons baking powder
icing sugar , to decorate ( confectioner 's sugar )

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
10
Calories
465
Sugar
54g
Fat
23g
Vassilopita is a traditional Greek cake typically baked for New Year's Day celebrations. The name Vassilopita means 'King's Cake' and is named in honor of Saint Basil who is celebrated on January 1st in Greece. This cake is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity for the coming year. It is usually served with a coin hidden inside, and whoever receives the coin in their slice is believed to have good luck for the year ahead. This cake has a rich and buttery texture with a slight hint of orange flavor. It is a must-try dessert for those who enjoy the taste of authentic Greek cuisine.

Instructions

1.Preheat the oven to 170°C/338°F.
2.In a large mixing bowl, beat together the soft butter and sugar until it turns creamy.
3.In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy, then combine with the butter mixture.
4.Add the cognac, orange juice, and grated orange rind to the batter and mix well.
5.Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl, stirring to combine the ingredients.
6.Dissolve the baking soda in a little water and add it to the mixture, stirring well until smooth and creamy.
7.Grease a baking tin and pour in the batter.
8.Bake the cake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour or until golden brown.
9.Remove the cake from the oven and leave it to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
10.Dust with icing sugar and serve.

PROS

Vassilopita is an authentic Greek cake, rich in taste and history, often baked for New Year’s Day celebrations.
It is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity for the coming year.

This cake is versatile and can be served at any time of day, from breakfast to dessert.

It can be stored in the refrigerator and lasts for up to a week.

CONS

This cake contains a considerable amount of sugar and butter which may not be ideal for people with diabetes or heart conditions.

It requires specialized ingredients like cognac and orange rind which may not be readily available everywhere.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

While Vassilopita may not be the healthiest dessert option, it contains vitamin C from the oranges and protein from the eggs.
The cake can also be modified to include healthier ingredients like whole wheat flour and almond milk.

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