Vasilopita/Greek's New Year's Cake/Vaselopita

Happy New Year 2017!!!!

Vasilopita/Vassilopita, is a New Year's Bread or Cake in Greece which is also popularly known as Basil-pie or King Pie.  This cake is also very much known in Eastern Europs and the Balkans which contains a hidden coin or trinket which gives good luck to the receiver as much as like West European King Cake. Since this cake is also known as Basil Pie its associated with Saint Basil's day which is celebrated every January. Vasilopita/Vaselopita is made with variety of doughs depending upon the region and family tradition. Since am trying my hands for the first time, i went with the traditional way of making this cake batter. On every New Year's day families cut Vasilopita to bless the house and bring good luck for the New year. This is usually done at midnight of New Year's Eve.

At midnight the sign of the cross is etched with a knife across the cake. A piece of cake is sliced and served to each member of the family or friends present at the time, by order of age from eldest to youngest. Slices are also cut for various symbolic people or groups, depending on local and family tradition. The most popular Vasilopita recipes are made with either Tsoureki dough or like a cake. Its very important to mix the butter and sugar thoroughly until the butter turns really fluffy and creamy.Am running this week's blogging marathon with ' Festival Special' as theme for this week's blogging marathon and i will be showcasing three different festival from Europe.

Recipe Source: Hicookery
For the cake:
1/2cup Butter (softened)
1cup Sugar
1+1/2 cups  Flour
3 Eggs
1/2cup Milk
1tsp Baking powder
3/4tbsp Lemon juice
1/2tsp Baking soda

For the topping:
1/3cup Walnuts (chopped)
2tbsp Sugar

Line a round baking pan with a baking sheet and keep aside.

Beat the butter and sugar together until the mixture turns fluffy and creamy. Add the flour and mix until it ressembles like a coarse crumbs.

Add in an egg one at a time until they gets well mixed. Add the baking powder to the milk and pour this mixture to the egg mixture and beat until smooth.

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Now mix the lemon juice to the baking soda (it will be fizzy) add this to the cake batter.

Pour the cake batter to the prepared baking pan. Add a coin in the batter.

Meanwhile, mix the sugar and walnuts in a bowl, keep aside.

Bake the cake to the preheated oven for 10minutes. 

Remove the cake from the oven, top it with the sugar and walnut mixture. Return to the oven and continue to bake for 20-22minutes.

Put off the oven and cool completely.

Remove the cake from pan and transfer to a serving plate.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#72