Our Vasilopita with olive oil, orange and cinnamon

Vasilopita –or St. Basil’s pita is cut at midnight as the year changes with family. It is called Vasilopita because Saint Vasilis (or Basil) is celebrated on January 1 (and anyone named Vasilis or Vasiliki). St. Basil of Caesarea (330-379AD) was the original Santa. He was from a wealthy family and legend has it that after becoming a monk, he would leave gifts and food on the doorsteps of poor families at Christmastime. Here is an article with more about him

There is not a standard recipe for Vasilopita–each family seems to have their own version.  However, there is a politiki version (from the Poli or City, which is Constantinople or Istanbul), which is more like tsoureki–a sweet yeast bread made with milk, butter, eggs and aromatics). What essential makes it “Vasilopita” is the coin baked inside and the year written on the cake usually using either powdered sugar, chocolate or almond slices. Above is our cake–my son got the “flouri” or lucky coin in his piece this year!

This cake is incredibly easy & fast to make and it turned out really well–delicious, moist and perfect for a light dessert or to accompany hot beverages during the winter. 

Recipe for 9×13 pan

​1 1/2 cups EVGE EVOO
2 cups sugar
Zest 2 oranges and 1 lemon
Juice from the zested oranges and lemon
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
6 cups (750gr) flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
dash of salt

1. Preheat oven 350F
2. Sprinkle oil and flour in the baking dish
3. Beat the olive oil, zest and sugar for 2 minutes
4. Add the other liquid ingredients (juice, milk, vanilla) and beat for another minute
5. Add the eggs one at a time and beat another minute
6. Combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt)
7. Add the dry ingredients and beat until just mixed
8. Pour into baking pan and cook for 45 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean and golden on top.

Kali Epitychia, Kali Orexi and ENJOY!!!