A traditional Greek cake that is cut for the New Year and often has a lucky coin hidden in it. Every family in Greece has its own vassilopita cutting ritual, and whoever finds a coin in their piece is considered lucky for the whole year.
This cake is characterized by the rich aroma of mahlep, a mild note of mastiha and the refreshing scent of lemon zest. The texture is soft and the crust is slightly crunchy, which makes it perfect for New Year celebrations and family gatherings.
Ingredients
- 500 g of flour
- 7 g of dry yeast
- 200 ml of milk
- 150 g of sugar
- 2 eggs
- 100 g of butter (melted)
- 1 teaspoon of ground mahlep
- 1/2 teaspoon of mastic
- Grated zest of one lemon
- A pinch of salt
- 1 egg for coating
- Powdered sugar for sprinkling
- (Optional: lucky coin, wrapped in aluminum foil)
Preparation – step by step
- Activating the yeast: Add a teaspoon of sugar and yeast to the lukewarm milk. Allow 10 minutes for the yeast to foam.
- Wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar. Add melted butter, grated lemon zest, mahlep, mastic and a pinch of salt. Mix the mixture well.
- Forming the dough: Gradually add flour and activated yeast to the wet mixture. Knead a smooth, elastic dough. If necessary, add a little more flour – the dough should remain soft, but not sticky.
- First growth: Cover the dough with a cloth and leave it in a warm place for 1.5-2 hours, until it doubles in size.
- Coin insertion: If desired, place a rolled coin in the center of the dough. Make sure it is well wrapped to keep it clean.
- Shaping and preparation for baking: Place the dough in a greased round cake pan. Brush the surface with beaten egg.
- Baking: Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 35-40 minutes, until the cake turns golden-brown.
- Serving: Allow to cool slightly, then sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
Tips
• Mahlep is very aromatic – one teaspoon is enough to give the cake a characteristic note.
• A coin in a cake is a tradition, but be sure to wrap it in foil to keep it safe.
• Serve Vasilopita with coffee or tea, and a piece with a coin brings good luck to whoever finds it.
