Vasilopita, or Orthodox New Year’s Bread, is a sweet yeasted egg bread scented with orange and traditionally served on New Year’s day. A coin is hidden inside and whoever gets it has great blessings for the year.
Recipe can be split in half to make one loaf.
Ingredients
4 teaspoons yeast
2 cups milk, warmed
3/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar
7 to 7 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for the bowl and pan)
1 teaspoon salt
1 tbsp cinnamon
4 eggs (plus 1 egg for the top of the dough)
Zest of one orange
Instructions
1. Dissolve yeast in one cup of warmed milk with one teaspoon sugar. Allow it to activate for 10-20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, stir together 7 cups of flour, the salt, cinnamon, and the 3/4 cups sugar in a large mixing bowl.
3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
4. When the yeast has finished activating, add it in to the middle dry ingredients.
5. Add the olive oil, 4 beaten eggs, and the rest of the milk.
6. Finally add the orange zest.
7. Mix with a dough hook until it is smooth. Put the dough on a well floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, adding more flour as needed if the dough is too sticky.
8. Put the dough in an oiled bowl, turning once to coat the top. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
9. Punch dough down and divide into two portions. Knead each for a few minutes and place in two well-oiled 9-inch circular pans.
10. Allow to rise until doubled in size for about one hour in a warm place.
11. Using a very sharp knife make a small inscision at the bottom of each loaf, insert a coin into one or both loaves. Then using a knife, make decorative patterns into the top of each loaf, such as with lines radiating out from the center, a cross, or a star.
12. Using a pastry brush, brush the top of each loaf with the remaining beaten egg.
13. Bake at 375 F/190 C for 10 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 350 F/176 C and bake for another 30 minutes or until the tops of each loaf turn a deep chestnut brown.
14. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
15. Say the prayer of Vasilopita:
Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
O Creator of all things, Lord and King of the ages, plenteous in mercy and bountiful in goodness, who did accept the Magi’s gifts in Bethlehem, who is the Bread of life that came down from heaven, who by Your authority did establish the seasons and the years and does hold our life in Your hands. Hear us who pray to You on this holy day upon our entrance into the new year of Your goodness and bless (+) this Vasilopita, which has been offered to Your glory and in honour of our Father among the Saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Do You who is Benevolent, look down from Your holy heaven and send down upon us, upon those who have offered these gifts and upon them that partake of them, Your heavenly gifts, for our hope is in You, the living God, unto the ages. Bless this parish home and our entrances and exits; replenish our life with all good things and direct our footsteps that we may keep Your divine commandments, for man shall not live by bread alone; Through the intercessions of Your Most pure Mother, of our Father among the saints Basil the Great and of all Your saints who from all ages have been well pleasing to You. Amen.
Then serve the first piece in this order: Christ, Theotokos, Church, St. Basil, the poor, then family members starting with the oldest to the youngest.
+He or she who receives the piece containing the coin is traditionally considered to be especially blessed for the New Year.
