A special vasilopita. Vasilopita (Greek: Βασιλόπιτα, Vasilópita, lit.'(St.) Basil-pie' or 'Vassilis pie', see below) is a New Year's Day bread or cake in Greece and many other areas in eastern Europe and the Balkans which contains a hidden coin or trinket which gives good luck to the receiver, like the Western European. Those who follow the tradition strictly hide a golden lira coin in the bottom of the cake but any coin will do. Vasilopita is a New Year's bread or cake and every family usually have their own recipe. A special vasilopita

You can cook A special vasilopita using 10 ingredients and 9 steps. Here is how you achieve it.

Ingredients of A special vasilopita
  1. You need 375 g of butter.
  2. You need 2 1/2 cups of sugar.
  3. It’s 4 of eggs.
  4. Prepare 1 cup of yogurt.
  5. It’s 1 tsp of vanilla.
  6. Prepare 1 of level tsp mahleb.
  7. You need 1 tsp of ground mastic.
  8. It’s of zest and juice of 1 large orange.
  9. You need 500 g of self rising flour.
  10. Prepare 1 tsp of baking powder.

In Greece and certain areas of Eastern Europe people bake a Vasilopita Cake to not only honor St. Basil but to celebrate New Years day. The Vasilopita Lucky Coin Traditionally, a special coin (usually gold or silver plated) is baked into the vasilopita. I never have any on hand so, I use a dime or a nickel that I wrap tightly in some aluminum foil.

A special vasilopita step by step

  1. Beat the butter until fluffy..

  2. Beat the eggs and sugar until fluffy and pale yellow..

  3. Fold in the two mixtures together gently..

  4. Using a medium speed of the mixer add the rest of the ingredients adding the flour last..

  5. Mix well (the batter shouldn't be too firm)..

  6. Empty into a 30 cm baking tray that you have lined with greaseproof paper brushed with butter..

  7. Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C for half an hour using the top and bottom radiant elements and then use the fan until golden brown..

  8. As soon as it is baked and has cooled turn it upside down, push in the lucky coin and place it on a platter..

  9. Sprinkle with sifted icing sugar and use a syringe with melted chocolate to decorate it with the current year..

Vasilopita - Greek Saint Basil's New Year's Cake. A very traditional Greek Cake that celebrates the life of Saint Basil. Basil's Bread." Hidden within one of the pieces of the Vasilopita is a coin or a small piece of jewelry. The person who receives the piece with the coin receives a special blessing. There is a strong connection between the piece of Vasilopita which is cut for St.