Vasilopita

New Year's - Holidays and Events

The Vasilopita is a Greek New Year's Bread. It is made in honor of a beautiful act of charity by St. Basil to the poor and needy of his flock. In order to ensure that the needy would have money for life's necessities, and knowing that they were also proud people, St. Basil had the ladies of his church bake sweet bread with coins baked into them. In this way he could give them money without demeaning them at all. It is therefore traditional to bake a coin into the Vasilopita (St. Basil's Bread). The one who receives the coin is considered to be especially blessed for the year.

Brief

Prep 2hrs30 mins

Cook: 40 mins

Total: 3hrs10 mins

Servings: 8

Yield: 1 large loaf

Vasilopita

Ingredients

½ cup warm milk

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

½ cup bread flour

6 cups bread flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup white sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¾ cup butter

melted

3 eggs

room temperature

2 cups warm milk

2 tablespoons butter

melted

1 egg

beaten

1 tablespoon water

½ cup chopped almonds

Tourtiere (French Pork Pie)

Holidays and Events

Directions

Step 1

In a small bowl stir together 1/2 cup milk yeast and 1/2 cup flour. Cover and let the sponge rise in a warm place until nearly doubled in size about 45 minutes.

Step 2

Place 6 cups flour in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add the sponge salt sugar cinnamon nutmeg 3/4 cup melted butter 3 eggs and 2 cups milk. Mix thoroughly to make a stiff dough.

Step 3

Transfer the dough into a greased springform pan. Brush dough with melted butter cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size about 60 to 90 minutes.

Step 4

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Beat egg with 1 tablespoon water to make an egg wash.

Step 5

When dough has risen insert a clean silver coin into the loaf. Brush dough egg wash and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Bake in preheated oven until deep golden brown about 40 minutes.

Nutritional Information

Vasilopita

Servings Per Recipe:8

Calories: 338.5

% Daily Value *

Protein: 7.5g 15%

Carbohydrates: 18g 6%

Dietary Fiber: 1g 4%

Sugars: 16.6g

Fat: 27.2g 42%

Saturated Fat: 14.8g 74%

Cholesterol: 152.5mg 51%

Vitamin A Iu: 887.6IU 18%

Niacin Equivalents: 2.1mg 17%

Vitamin B6: 0.1mg 6%

Vitamin C: 0.2mg

Folate: 38.7mcg 10%

Calcium: 125.8mg 13%

Iron: 0.9mg 5%

Magnesium: 29.5mg 11%

Potassium: 216.1mg 6%

Sodium: 355.2mg 14%

Thiamin: 0.1mg 8%

Calories From Fat: 245.2

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Nutrition information is provided for reference only. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.