Saint Basil’s Bread (vasilopeta)
Saint Basil’s Bread (Vasilopeta)
Source: Lior’s Kitchen Talk
A Greek New Year’s bread.
The cakes differ in the various regions of Greece: some are a
type of bread, others a type of rich yeast cake, others are flat,
made of cookie dough.
The cakes may differ, but all include the
customary hidden silver coin.
It symbolizes good luck to the person
who finds the coin in his piece of cake.
The head of the family
cuts slices in a very precise order.
The first piece goes to Saint
Basil for the cake is made in his honor.
The second piece goes to
Christ.
The third piece is for the oldest member of the family, and
on down to the youngest.
The following recipe is the most
traditional version.
2 cups granulated sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
6 eggs
2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
1 cup lukewarm milk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, or pistachios)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream butter and sugar together until light.
Add flour and stir
until mixture resembles coarse meal.
Add eggs, one at a time,
beating well after each addition.
Stir baking powder into milk and
stir into egg mixture.
Mix baking soda and lemon juice and stir in.
Mix well.
Pour into
a greased round layer cake pan 10 inches in diameter and 2 inches
deep.
Randomly throw in a clean coin.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Sprinkle with nuts and sugar and bake 20 to 30 minutes longer,
or until cake tests done.
Cool 10 minutes in pan and invert onto
serving plate.
Serve right side up.