Vasilopita: The Greek Lucky New Year’s Cake

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 cups flour

• 2 tablespoons baking powder

• 1 ¾ cup sugar

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 1 ½ cup orange juice

• 1 tablespoon orange zest

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 3 eggs

• Powdered Sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven at 175c.

2. Line the base of a pan with wax paper and grease the sides.

3. In a bowl, cream the sugar and butter. Add the orange juice, vanilla and orange zest and mix with a mixer for about 2 minutes.

4. Whip the eggs in a small bowl and add to the butter mixture.

5. In another bowl mix the flour and baking powder and add to the wet ingredients. Mix for 2 minutes at low speed.

6. Pour the mixture in the pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for about 45-60 minutes. Check with a thin sharp knife in the center, it should come out clean. Remove from oven and let cool.

7. Release the pan and turn cake upside-down on another plate. Wrap the coin in foil and push it through the cake. Turn cake back on top and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

8. Good Luck!