Greek cuisine · Desserts & Sweets

Vasilopita

A New Year's butter cake flavored with orange and mastic, with a lucky coin hidden inside.

Ingredients · for 8 servings

• 250 g butter
• 300 g sugar
• 4 eggs
• 500 g flour
• 1 packet baking powder
• 150 ml orange juice
• 150 ml milk
• 1 organic orange
• 1/2 tsp mastic (ground)
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 clean coin (wrapped in foil)
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, butter a 26 cm springform pan, and wrap the clean coin tightly in foil.
2. Beat the soft butter with the sugar and the grated zest of the organic orange for 6–8 min. until pale and creamy, then beat in the eggs one at a time, 30 sec. each.
3. Mix the flour, baking powder, ground mastic, and salt, then fold it in alternately with the orange juice and milk until you have a smooth, heavy batter that falls reluctantly off the spoon.
4. Pour the batter into the pan, push the wrapped coin deep in from the top, and smooth the surface over again.
5. Bake for 45–50 min. until the cake has risen golden brown and a skewer comes out clean; let it rest in the pan for 15 min., then turn it out.
6. Dust the cooled cake with powdered sugar, trace the new year's number into it, and cut it into as many pieces as there are guests at the table.