Vassilopita/ New Year's eve cake

Eleni
Dec 29, 2015
3 min read

One of the most popular traditions in my country is the tasty cake of vassilopita. Traditionally and historically it's a pie shared between Christians and cut a few minutes before the new year enters. Well, in my family and generally in my country we cut the cake a few minutes after the new year entered. What makes the difference is that this cake has a coin. Once we cut the pieces the lucky one's piece has this coin. And this coin brings luck and a good year to the person who gets it.

There are many recipes for this pie. In Athens and in many areas within Greece this pie is a cake orange flavored, very juicy and delicious in which some spices are added like a little spoon of cinnamon or mastic to make the taste a little tensed. On top we usually add sifter powdered sugar and write down with melted chocolate the new year. Another version of this pie is like a tsoureki. A good recipe of a traditional tsoureki makes of a perfect pie. But I would say that this version is a little bit harder if you are running out of time. Finally our greek tradition in some areas brings this pie in a salty version with cheese or some vegetables. This kind of tradition is close to our agricultural families who relate this lucky pie with their wish for a good productive year, health and good income.

Next year I would like very much to gather and taste specific versions of vasilopita and therefore I look forward in introducing you more ideas for .. 2017!!!

But for now let's find an interesting and very delicious version of this cake, that I use for many years in which I only add a few chocolate chips.

For 6

Baking time: 40' (air)

Preparation: 10'

Ingredients

170 gr butter in room temperature

170 gr caster sugar

4 medium sized eggs

30 gr greek yogurt

Zest and juice from 1 orange

1 tsp of cognac

210 gr self-rising flour

1/3 of a tsp baking powder

1 tbp of chocolate chips

Powder sugar for decoration

Steps

Preheat the over to 170 degrees C (air)

Beat the butter and the sugar in the mixer until fluffy and whitened.

Without stopping, add the eggs one by one (until well incorporated), then the yogurt, the zest and juice and the cognac. At this stage, the mixture will be very liquid. It's normal!

Mix the flour with the baking powder and add them sifted in the mixture, spoon by spoon.

Finally add and mix the chocolate chips.

Use a small baking pan for the cake. Pour the mixture in the prepared pan (if not silicone don't forget to butter and flour the pan otherwise the cake will stuck) and bake for 40 minutes (check with a knife immersed in the middle until the bottom of your cake. If it comes out clean then your cake is ready)

Sift powder sugar all over the surface of the cake and decorate as you like.

There are not special tips for this recipe. I think it's easy even for someone who doesn't have a long experience in the kitchen.

If you want your choc chips not to be in the bottom of your cake like you see in my picture, before adding them in the mixture mix them with half spoon of flour. I generally don't do it because I like the taste of chocolate at the bottom of each bite.

I recommend you bake it. It's delicious and your kids will definitely like it. And don't worry, if there are some pieces left keep them in a closed tupper and enjoy them later with your coffee or for breakfast.

Happy New Year 2016!

#cakes #christmas

Vassilopita/ New Year's eve cake

Comments

Eleni's

little kitchen tips