Overview

Vasilopita

Name: Vasilopita
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: Greece
Ingredients: 350g (2 3/4 cups) All-purpose flour; 200g (7 oz) Unsalted butter, softened; 200g (1 cup) Sugar; 4 (about 200g) Eggs, large; 120ml (1/2 cup) Whole milk; 10g (2 tsp) Baking powder; 10g (1 orange) Orange zest; 30ml (2 tbsp) Fresh orange juice; 15ml (1 tbsp) Brandy; 5ml (1 tsp) Vanilla extract; 40g (about 25) Blanched almonds, whole; 15g (2 tbsp) Powdered sugar, for dusting; 2g (1/2 tsp) Salt; 1 1 coin, washed and wrapped in foil

Greek New Year Cake, St Basil's Cake, Vasilopita Cake

This vasilopita recipe makes Greece's golden New Year butter cake — soft, orange-scented and topped with almonds, with a lucky coin hidden inside. One serving is about 110 g.

Vasilopita is the New Year cake of Greece, named for St Basil (Agios Vasilios), whose feast day falls on 1 January. The cake carries a coin baked inside — a tradition said to recall the saint returning confiscated gold to the people of Caesarea, who baked it into bread. The cake is cut at midnight on New Year's Eve, with slices named for Christ, the Virgin Mary, St Basil, the house, and then each person at the table; whoever finds the coin is said to have good luck for the year. Unlike tsoureki, the braided Easter bread of Greece, vasilopita is a plain butter cake, scented with orange and brandy and topped with almonds, sometimes arranged to spell out the new year.

Pairs well with: Greek coffee, a glass of dessert wine, fresh fruit

Provenance

Greece

Greek New Year Tradition

Mediterranean & Italy

Time Dedication

1h 15m

25m prep • 50m cook

Batch Yield

10 Servings

421 kcal per serving

1 serving ≈ 110 g

Technical Skill

Intermediate

Medium (Baked Cake)

Meal Timing & Digestive Fit

Breakfast

Not Advised

Lunch

Inappropriate

Dinner

Inappropriate

Snack & Tea

Ideal Light Bite

Occasions: New Year's Eve, a family celebration, a festive afternoon tea, when you want a cake with a story Cost: Low — about $2–3 per serving at home

Tags: Sweet Vegetarian Baked

A round golden vasilopita cake topped with blanched almonds on a white plate

Greek New Year Tradition

Photo: Alexander Baxevanis, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nutritional Physiology & Benefits

Nutrition

Energy

421

kcal / serving

Protein

Complete AA

Carbs

51g

Complex

Fats

21g

Healthy

Per serving (10 servings · 1 serving ≈ 110 g)
Energy	421 kcal
Protein	8 g
Carbohydrates	51 g
Fat	21 g
Fibre	1.6 g
Sugar	22.9 g
Sodium	290 mg

Per 100g
Energy	383 kcal
Protein	6.9 g
Carbohydrates	46.1 g
Fat	19 g
Fibre	1.5 g
Sugar	20.8 g
Sodium	264 mg

Nutrition values are estimated — calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for the listed ingredients.

Vitamins & minerals: Vitamin E (almonds), vitamin B2 and B12 (eggs and butter), calcium (milk), vitamin C (orange).

A Celebration Cake

A soft, buttery cake made for sharing — one cake serves ten, so it brings the whole table together.

Orange and Almonds

Real orange zest and whole almonds give the cake its flavour — no artificial colouring or flavouring.

Made to Be Shared

Baked once a year and cut by hand, the cake is as much a ritual as a dessert.

Food Pairings

What to Eat With

To optimize nutrient absorption and elevate the sensory depth, pair with these authentic accompaniments:

Drinks

Greek Coffee

The small, strong coffee is the classic partner — its bitterness balances the sweet, buttery cake.

Dessert Wine

A glass of sweet wine echoes the orange and brandy in the cake without overpowering it.

More Pairings

Fresh Fruit

Sliced oranges or figs add a fresh, juicy contrast to the rich crumb.

Full Menus

New Year's Eve Table

Serve the cake as the final course after a festive dinner — the coin ceremony is the centrepiece of the night.

Complete menu

Serve the vasilopita as the final course of a New Year's Eve dinner, with Greek coffee and fresh fruit — the coin ceremony is the centrepiece.

Digestive Guardrails

What NOT to Combine

To prevent digestive distress, sluggishness, or palate clash, avoid pairing the dish with these elements:

Biting Into the Coin

Always warn everyone that a coin is hidden in the cake before serving — biting down on foil-wrapped metal can chip a tooth. This is general guidance, not medical advice.

Overbaking the Cake

Baking past the skewer test dries the crumb — take it out the moment the skewer comes out clean.

General information only, not medical advice — consult a doctor for personal dietary decisions.

Who Should Eat It

Who Should Eat

General adultsA festive cake for the whole table — one slice is plenty after a big dinner.
ChildrenChildren love the coin tradition; keep their slice small and check for the coin first.
ElderlyGood — a soft crumb that is easy to eat, but keep the portion modest.
Pregnant womenGenerally suitable in a small portion; the cake is fully baked, so the eggs are cooked through.
Breastfeeding womenGenerally suitable; a small slice with coffee is a pleasant treat.
AthletesA quick source of energy after training — one slice with fruit.
Weight gainA good choice — take a generous slice with coffee.
Weight lossA reasonable choice if you keep it to one thin slice and skip the powdered sugar.

Health Conditions — Adjust or Avoid

Conditions

DiabetesThe cake is high in sugar and refined flour — keep it to one thin slice. Ask your clinician about portion size.
High blood pressureThe butter and salt are the main sources of sodium; a thin slice is the safer portion. Ask your clinician about a suitable portion.
Kidney diseaseLimit the portion (protein load is small, but the sugar is high); ask your clinician about portion size.
GoutEat occasionally and in a small portion — the cake is rich in butter and sugar.
Stomach issuesGenerally gentle — the cake is soft and mild; the orange and brandy are light, but skip it if citrus bothers you.
Cardiovascular diseaseA rich, buttery cake — keep it to an occasional thin slice and favour fruit alongside.
Fatty liverKeep the portion to one thin slice and skip the powdered sugar.
Food allergiesContains gluten (wheat flour), milk (butter), egg, and tree nuts (almonds) — and a hidden coin, which must be removed before eating.
Special therapeutic dietsIf you follow a prescribed low-sugar diet, take a very thin slice or skip the cake, and check with your clinician.

If you have a medical condition, consult your doctor before changing your diet.

Storage & Use

How to store: Cool completely, then wrap tightly in cling film or keep in a sealed tin at room temperature.
In the fridge: Not recommended — refrigeration dries the crumb; keep at room temperature for 4 days instead.
In the freezer: Up to 2 months, sliced and wrapped in portions (remove the coin first).
How to reheat: Warm slices in a 160°C (320°F) oven for 5 minutes; reheat until hot through, 74°C (165°F) at the centre.
Freezing recommended: Yes — it freezes well sliced, and slices toast straight from frozen.
Signs it has spoiled: Mould spots, a sour smell, or a hard, dry crumb that does not soften when warmed.

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Overview

Vasilopita

Measured Ingredients

Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Cream the Butter and Sugar

Fold in the Flour and Milk