NEW YEAR’S CAKE

Vasilopeta

YIELD: ONE 10-INCH CAKE; 10 TO 12 SERVINGS

Vasilopeta is a cake made in honor of Saint Basil, whose feast day is January 1. Cakes differ in the various regions of Greece: some are a type of bread, others a type of rich yeast cake, others are flat, made of cookie dough. The cakes may differ, but all include the customary hidden silver coin. It symbolizes good luck to the person who finds the coin in his piece of cake. The head of the family cuts slices in a very precise order. The first piece goes to Saint Basil (Vasili = vasilopeta = Basil’s bread), for the cake is made in his honor. The second piece goes to Christ. The third piece is for the oldest member of the family, and on down to the youngest. The following recipe is the most traditional version. See Easter Twist for a variation.

       2 sticks (½ pound) unsalted butter, at room temperature

       2 cups sugar

       3 cups all-purpose flour

       6 eggs

       2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder

       1 cup lukewarm milk

       ½ teaspoon baking soda

       1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice

       ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, or pistachios)

       ¼ cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar together until light. Add flour and stir until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir baking powder into milk and stir into egg mixture. Mix baking soda and lemon juice and stir in. Mix well.

Pour into a greased round layer cake pan 10 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with nuts and sugar and bake 20 to 30 minutes longer, or until cake tests done. Cool 10 minutes in pan and invert onto serving plate. Serve right side up.