Vasilopita is a traditional Greek New Year’s bread, lightly sweet, scented with citrus, and rich with butter and eggs. Baked with a hidden coin for good luck, it’s sliced at midnight to bless the year ahead. This version captures the authentic festive flavor with a soft crumb, golden crust, and a hint of warm spice.
Ingredients
Directions
in a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk with 1 tsp sugar. Let stand 5–10 minutes until frothy.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, remaining sugar, salt, and mahleb (if using).
Add the yeast mixture, eggs, orange zest, melted butter, and vanilla. Mix until a dough forms.
Knead on a lightly floured surface for 8–10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled, about 1–1½ hours.
Punch down the dough and shape into a round loaf. If desired, wrap a coin in foil and press it into the dough from underneath.
Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover lightly, and let rise again for 30–40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Brush loaf with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds or almonds.
Bake 40–45 minutes, until golden and cooked through (internal temp ~190°F / 88°C).
Cool slightly before slicing. Tradition says the person who finds the coin will have good fortune!
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