To kick off the New Year, Vintage Bakehouse has researched the world of wonderful sweet treats starting with the story of Vasilopita.
Originally from Greece, Vasilopita is a cake traditionally baked and given to friends and family members to symbolise and bless the New Year. According to various sources, the Greek name Vasilopita translates directly as 'Sweet Bread of Basil'. The tradition of the Vasilopita gathering derives from the Greek Orthodox Church and dates back to the fourth century. One year, during a time of terrible famine, the Emperor of Caesarea, Cappadocia, levied an excessively high tax upon his people. This tax was such a heavy burden upon the kingdom's already impoverished people, that they had no choice but to hand over their few remaining coins and their precious jewellery. When St Basil heard of this news, he quickly came to the people's defence by calling the Emperor to repentance. Following this, the Emperor cancelled all taxes, instructing his tax collectors to turn over the chests containing all the coins and jewellery and have them returned to the people. This was an almost impossible task for St Basil, but with prayer, he was given the idea of having the jewellery and coins baked into a huge pita. The pita was then blessed and divided amongst the people, each piece containing their valuables. In remembrance of this time, Orthodox Christians now bring in the New Year with the tradition of Vasilopita.
Pertaining to the tradition, Vasilopita can be made either as a cake or a bread, with a coin added to the mixture. The cake or bread is served on 1st January and the individual with the coin is considered to be blessed for the coming year. A special piece of this cake is also cut in honour of St Basil's love for the poor.
Why not try baking your very own Vasilopita cake using the following recipe.
Ingredients:
250g butter
400g caster sugar
350g plain flour
6 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
250mls warm milk (warmed to 45 degrees C)
1/2 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice
4 tbsp. of flaked almonds
2 tbsp. of caster sugar
Method:
Pre heat the oven to gas mark 4 and lightly grease a 25cm round cake tin
In a medium bowl cream together the butter and the sugar until light. Stir in the flour and mix until the mixture is mealy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Combine the baking powder and milk, then add this to the egg mixture and mix well. Finally, combine the lemon juice and bicarb, stir into the batter and then pour into the prepared tin.
Bake for 20 minutes in the pre heated oven. Remove and sprinkle the nuts and sugar over the cake and then return to the oven to bake for a further 20 to 30 minutes, until the cake springs back to the touch. * Gently cut a small hole in the cake and insert the coin. Try to cover the hole with sugar. Cool the cake on the rack for at least 10 minutes before transferring onto a plate.
Serve the cake warm. Each person in the family gets a slice, starting with the youngest.
* It is advised to wrap the coin in foil before adding to the mixture for hygiene purposes.
Image sourced from: http://yannisinthekitchenwithmari.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/new-years-bread-vasilopita.html
Recipe sourced from:
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/7478/vasilopita---greek-new-s-cake.aspx
Blog content sourced from:
http://www.antiochian.org/node/18684
http://www.saintbasilacademy.org/about_us/vasilopita
http://honestcooking.com/vasilopita-the-greek-new-years-cake/
Originally from Greece, Vasilopita is a cake traditionally baked and given to friends and family members to symbolise and bless the New Year. According to various sources, the Greek name Vasilopita translates directly as 'Sweet Bread of Basil'. The tradition of the Vasilopita gathering derives from the Greek Orthodox Church and dates back to the fourth century. One year, during a time of terrible famine, the Emperor of Caesarea, Cappadocia, levied an excessively high tax upon his people. This tax was such a heavy burden upon the kingdom's already impoverished people, that they had no choice but to hand over their few remaining coins and their precious jewellery. When St Basil heard of this news, he quickly came to the people's defence by calling the Emperor to repentance. Following this, the Emperor cancelled all taxes, instructing his tax collectors to turn over the chests containing all the coins and jewellery and have them returned to the people. This was an almost impossible task for St Basil, but with prayer, he was given the idea of having the jewellery and coins baked into a huge pita. The pita was then blessed and divided amongst the people, each piece containing their valuables. In remembrance of this time, Orthodox Christians now bring in the New Year with the tradition of Vasilopita.
Pertaining to the tradition, Vasilopita can be made either as a cake or a bread, with a coin added to the mixture. The cake or bread is served on 1st January and the individual with the coin is considered to be blessed for the coming year. A special piece of this cake is also cut in honour of St Basil's love for the poor.
Why not try baking your very own Vasilopita cake using the following recipe.
Ingredients:
250g butter
400g caster sugar
350g plain flour
6 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
250mls warm milk (warmed to 45 degrees C)
1/2 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice
4 tbsp. of flaked almonds
2 tbsp. of caster sugar
Method:
Pre heat the oven to gas mark 4 and lightly grease a 25cm round cake tin
In a medium bowl cream together the butter and the sugar until light. Stir in the flour and mix until the mixture is mealy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Combine the baking powder and milk, then add this to the egg mixture and mix well. Finally, combine the lemon juice and bicarb, stir into the batter and then pour into the prepared tin.
Bake for 20 minutes in the pre heated oven. Remove and sprinkle the nuts and sugar over the cake and then return to the oven to bake for a further 20 to 30 minutes, until the cake springs back to the touch. * Gently cut a small hole in the cake and insert the coin. Try to cover the hole with sugar. Cool the cake on the rack for at least 10 minutes before transferring onto a plate.
Serve the cake warm. Each person in the family gets a slice, starting with the youngest.
* It is advised to wrap the coin in foil before adding to the mixture for hygiene purposes.
Image sourced from: http://yannisinthekitchenwithmari.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/new-years-bread-vasilopita.html
Recipe sourced from:
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/7478/vasilopita---greek-new-s-cake.aspx
Blog content sourced from:
http://www.antiochian.org/node/18684
http://www.saintbasilacademy.org/about_us/vasilopita
http://honestcooking.com/vasilopita-the-greek-new-years-cake/