Vasilopita

Vasilopita: A Greek New Year’s Tradition

Vasilopita, a cherished Greek tradition, is cut by families on New Year’s Day to bless the home and bring good fortune for the year ahead. This ceremonial cutting often takes place at midnight on New Year’s Eve in Greece.

A coin is hidden in the dough before baking, symbolizing prosperity. At the stroke of midnight, the cake is marked with the sign of the cross using a knife, and slices are distributed in order of age, from the eldest to the youngest.

Additional pieces are set aside for symbolic figures or groups, such as the Lord, St. Basil, the poor, or the household, depending on family and local customs. The recipes for vasilopita vary widely across regions.

The Origin of the Custom

The tradition of vasilopita is rooted in a legend about St. Basil of Caesarea.

As the story goes, the city of Caesarea was under siege, and St. Basil asked the citizens to gather their valuables to pay a ransom.

The townspeople contributed gold and jewelry, but when the ransom was ready, the enemy was so moved by their collective effort that he canceled the siege without taking the payment. St. Basil then faced the challenge of returning the valuables to their rightful owners.

In a miraculous act, he baked the items into loaves of bread and distributed them to the townspeople.

By divine intervention, each person received exactly what they had contributed.

In some versions of the tale, an unjust tax collector or an act of charity replaces the story of the siege, but the essence remains the same.



Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

2 tbsp water

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp ground mahleb (optional)

Zest of 1 orange

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup slivered almonds or sesame seeds

Or

Icing sugar

Or

Ganache:

3 cups heavy cream

500 g dark chocolate chips

1 coin

Directions

Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).

Cream the softened butter and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy.

Separate 3 of the eggs. Add the yolks one at a time, mixing well after each. Then, beat in the remaining whole egg.

Sift the flour, mahleb (if using), baking powder, and orange zest together. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until smooth.

Whisk the reserved egg whites until foamy, then gently fold them into the batter with a spatula.

Grease a 10×4-inch tube pan and pour in the batter. Insert the coin into the batter. Smooth the top and sprinkle with almonds or sesame seeds, if desired.

Bake for about 70 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool, then dust with icing sugar or decorate with ganache.

For the Ganache:Heat the cream in a saucepan until it begins to boil.

Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips in a bowl. Stir until the mixture is smooth and glossy.

Place the cake on a wire rack over a tray. Pour the ganache over the cake, ensuring it coats the sides evenly.

Decorate with whipped cream, sprinkles, ganache or icing sugar.

Wishing you a blessed and prosperous New Year!

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