Vasilopita

Greece

About Vasilopita

Vasilopita is a Greek New Year's cake or bread with a coin hidden inside. It is named after Saint Basil, whose feast day is 1 January, and is cut at midnight or on New Year's Day.

Depending on the region, it can be a sweet yeast bread or a cake, often flavored with orange and mahlab and topped with almonds or sesame seeds. The year is often written on top.

The head of the family cuts the cake into slices for Christ, the house, and each family member in order of age. Whoever finds the coin is said to have good luck for the year.

Ingredients

• flour
• sugar
• butter
• eggs
• orange
• yeast
• almonds
• sesame