Vasilopita New Year Cake

Vasilopita New Year Cake is a traditional Greek cake that is served in the new year. On New Year's Day, families cut the vasilopita to bless the house and bring good luck for the new year. This is usually done at midnight on New Year's Eve. A coin is hidden in the bread by slipping it into the dough before baking. At midnight the sign of the cross is etched with a knife across the cake. A piece of cake is sliced for each member of the family and any visitors present at the time, by order of age from eldest to youngest. Slices are also cut for various symbolic people or groups, depending on local and family traditions. Wikipedia.

About This Recipe

• Vasilopita New Year Cake might sound a bit fussy to make, but it is as simple as making a vanilla cake. The ingredients are very straightforward and handy.
• What we need to make this delicious cake is very simple, and there are no fancy ingredients here. All-purpose Flour, Roasted Hazelnuts, Baking Powder, Salt, Eggs, Granulated Sugar, Butter, Oil, Sour Cream, Milk, Cinnamon, Zest and Peel of one Orange.
• This recipe makes two medium-volume 8-inch cakes or one large-volume 8-inch. If you would like to make a full three-layer 8-1-inch cake, simply double the ingredients.
• The orange flavour and hazelnuts make Vasilopita New Year Cake exceptionally delicious.
• It is important to roast the hazelnuts. When using nuts in your baking, ensure to roast the nuts, including all kinds of nuts such as pecans, walnuts, and almonds. Roasting nuts enhances the nut flavour.
• This cake usually pairs with a smooth and creamy cream cheese frosting. Combining the fluffy sponge and the creamy frosting creates the perfect cake texture!
• Traditionally, a gold coin is embedded inside the cake, and once serving the cake. Whoever receives the coin will have prosperity and good luck in the new year. As it is difficult to spare a gold coin, just a currency coin will do the trick.
• I used the Chocolate Coins wrapped in the gold wrapper to mimic the look of the gold coin.
• Cream cheese frosting is the traditional way to frost the Vasilopita New Year Cake. However, any frosting, such as Swiss Meringue or American Buttercream, will work fine!

How To Make The Vasilopita New Year Cake

• Grease and flour dust the pans, and set them aside.
• Be sure to use room-temperature eggs since you need to whisk the eggs into the creaming stage.
• Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and roast them in a 350F oven for 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on them, as nuts burn very easily. Using the food processor, grind the hazelnuts. Sift them with other dry ingredients and set them aside.
• Using the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs for 5-7 minutes. This will aerate the eggs and contribute to the spongy and fluffy texture.
• Add the orange zest to the sugar and rub it into the sugar with your fingertips. This will release the orange aroma and oil.
• While the eggs are whisking, gradually add the sugar and keep beating. The mixture should become creamy, thick, and pale in colour.
• Mix the melted butter, oil, milk, vanilla extract, and orange juice in a separate bowl.
• Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, alternating with the wet ingredients. Do this in three passes, start and finish with the dry ingredients.
• Do not overmix the batter, and stop mixing when there is no trace of dry ingredients.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake them for 25-30 minutes or until an insert comes out clean. Let the cakes cool down in the pan, then flip them onto a cooling rack. Let them cool down completely before frosting.
• Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting and frost the cakes. If using a Chocolate Coin, place it in between the cake layers.
• Use New Year's decorations that your heart might desire.

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