Vasilopita - Greek New Year's Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon orange zest 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 cup (240ml) Greek yogurt 1 cup (240ml) Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup (60ml) fresh orange juice ¼ cup (60ml) fresh orange juice
• ¼ cup (60ml) milk ¼ cup (60ml) milk
• 1 coin or charm (wrapped in aluminum foil) 1 coin or charm (wrapped in aluminum foil)
• ½ cup (60g) sliced almonds ½ cup (60g) sliced almonds

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 350 kcal / 1465 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 15g, 8g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 48g, 28g
• Protein: 6g
• Fiber: 1g
• Salt: 0.4g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a round cake pan.
2. 2.
   In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3. 3.
   In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. 4.
   Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and orange zest.
5. 5.
   Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the Greek yogurt, orange juice, and milk. Mix until just combined.
6. 6.
   Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and gently press the wrapped coin or charm into the batter.
7. 7.
   Sprinkle the sliced almonds evenly over the top of the cake.
8. 8.
   Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. 9.
   Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Greek yogurt — Use full-fat Greek yogurt for a moist and creamy texture.
• Orange zest — Make sure to grate only the outer orange part of the peel, avoiding the bitter white pith.

Tips & Tricks

• To ensure an even distribution of the coin or charm, pour half of the batter into the cake pan, place the wrapped coin or charm, and then pour the remaining batter on top.
• For an extra touch of sweetness, drizzle the cooled cake with a simple syrup made from equal parts orange juice and honey.

Serving advice

Serve Vasilopita as a centerpiece dessert during New Year's celebrations. Cut the cake into slices and present it on a decorative platter. Encourage guests to enjoy the cake together, as the person who finds the hidden coin or charm is believed to have good luck for the coming year.

Presentation advice

For an elegant presentation, dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar just before serving. You can also garnish with fresh orange slices and sprigs of mint.