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Maria’s Vasilopita Greek Saint Basil’s New Years Cake

This very traditional Greek cake celebrates the life of Saint Basil. It is usually served at New Years with the tradition of a coin wrapped in aluminum foil which is baked into the cake. Each person gets a slice of the cake starting with the most senior member. Members of the Greek Orthodox Church believe that who ever gets the coin is blessed.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 cups flour (8 heaping spoons of flour for ea. Cup
  • 4 eggs
  • Milk, 1 glass
  • 3tsp. Baking powder (1 pkg.)
  • Lemon rind
  • Confectionery Sugar for garnish
Directions
  • Wash and clean a silver coin (a quarter works well) and wrap in a small piece of aluminum foil.
  • Pre-heat oven to 350˚f.
  • Cream the sugar and oil together with a hand or electric mixer until well blended and light in color.
  • Add the beaten eggs one at a time blending each one in well. Mix, but not whip.
  • Add the flour and baking powder a cup at a time until the batter resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
  • Let mixture rest in bowl 5 to 10 minutes and then grate lemon rind into batter. Cover the batter with a cool damp cloth while the batter rests.
  • Oil a Bundt pan well and sprinkle with granulated sugar on the inside.
  • Bake the cake for 1 hour, turn off the oven and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes longer in the oven.
  • Remove cake from oven and let the cake rest for 10 minutes more and flip the pan over onto a plate to remove from pan.

Categories

GreekCakeDessertHolidayVegetarian