My Favorite Vasilopita Recipes:
Watch the Video:
Cherry & Chocolate Vasilopita (Greek New Year's Cake)
Ingredients
For the Starter:
- 1 and 1/4 cup lukewarm milk
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Dry Ingredients:
- 4 and 1/2 cups (650g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground Mahlepi
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- zest of 2 oranges
The Wet Ingredients:
- 5 eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons pure almond extract
- 4 oz (113g) unsalted butter, softened
The Add-ins:
- 4 oz chopped semi-sweet chocolate
- maraschino cherries, pitted and halved
The egg wash:
- 1 egg yolk
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- sliced almonds
- A small coin wrapped in foil
Instructions
In the bowl of a tabletop mixer that has been fitted with the dough hook attachment add the starter ingredients. Whisk together and set aside for 7-8 minutes to activate.
Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together.
Once the yeast is active, add all of the wet ingredients except for the butter.
Add the dry ingredients and knead on low speed for 10 minutes.
Add the butter and knead until incorporated into the dough.
Add the cherries and chocolate and knead until incorporated.
Lightly grease a large mixing bowl with a few tablespoons of olive oil and transfer the dough to the bowl. Toss to coat and cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or with plastic wrap. Set aside until doubled in volume.
Preheat the oven to 350 °F, 180 °C.
Grease and line a 10-inch by 3-inch round baking pan with parchment paper. Transfer the vasilopita dough to the prepared pan. Wrap a coin with foil and insert it into the dough. Cover the pan loosely with plastic and set aside to rise (until the dough reaches the top of the pan) for 30 minutes.
Combine the eggwash ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together. Brush the top of the dough and decorate with sliced almonds. Bake on the center rack, uncovered for 45 minutes.
Loosely cover with foil and cut a small slit in the foil. Bake on the center rack for an additional 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 190 °F-200 °F.
Remove the foil and set aside to cool at room temperature.
Happy New Year!
Notes
Feel free to substitute your favorite dried fruit and nuts for the Maraschino cherried and chocolate:
- candied citrus
- dried cherries
- dates
- pistachios
- pecans
- almonds
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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SMARTAKE 200 Pcs Parchment Paper Baking Sheets, 12x16 Inches Non-Stick Precut Baking Parchment, Perfect for Baking Grilling Air Fryer Steaming Bread Cup Cake Cookie and More (Unbleached)
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Fat Daddio's PRD-103 Anodized Aluminum Round Cake Pan, 10 x 3 inch
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Amazon Brand - Happy Belly Maraschino Cherries in Glass Jar, 10 Ounce
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Cerez Pazari Ground Mahlab (Mahlepi - Mahaleb- Mahlep) Mahleb Ground, %100 Natural, Premium Quality, No Additives or Preservatives, Aromatic Traditional Spice for Pastry and Baking 60 gr- 2.1 Oz
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