Name: Vasilopita - New Year's Cake (Βασιλόπιτα Κέικ)
Ingredients: 125 g butter (at room temperature); 300 g caster sugar; zest of 4 oranges; 4 eggs (yolks and whites separated); 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste; 480 g self-raising flour; 250 ml freshly squeezed orange juice (about 2 oranges); 2 teaspoons baking powder; 200 g olive oil; 50 g brandy; 150 g roasted almonds (roughly chopped)

Vasilopita – New Year’s Cake (Βασιλόπιτα Κέικ)

A fragrant new year’s cake scented with fresh orange zest, olive oil and brandy, finished with roasted almonds. Moist, celebratory and perfect for slicing at the centre of the table with cafe or a “Charlie chai”.

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Servings: 14 servings

Course: Afternoon / Morning Tea, Cakes

Cuisine: Cypriot, Greek

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

125 g butter at room temperature
300 g caster sugar
zest of 4 oranges
4 eggs yolks and whites separated
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
480 g self-raising flour
250 ml freshly squeezed orange juice about 2 oranges
2 teaspoons baking powder
200 g olive oil
50 g brandy
150 g roasted almonds roughly chopped

Method

Preheat the oven to 175°C fan-forced. Grease and line a 25 cm round cake tin and set aside.
Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat the butter until pale and creamy. Add the sugar and orange zest and continue beating until light and fluffy. Gradually add the egg yolks and vanilla, beating until smooth and well combined.
With the mixer on low speed, add the orange juice in 2–3 additions. If the mixture begins to curdle, add a spoonful of the flour to bring it back together.
Pour in the olive oil and brandy and mix gently. Add the flour and baking powder, folding until just combined, then fold through the chopped almonds.
Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the batter until no streaks remain. Transfer the mixture to the prepared cake tin and smooth the surface.
Wrap a coin in baking paper or foil and gently press it into the batter, covering any trace of its position.
Bake on the middle shelf for about 60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool in the tin before carefully turning out. Decorate simply or generously, depending on the occasion.

Vasilopita – New Year’s Cake (Βασιλόπιτα Κέικ)