Vasilopita (New Year Cake) is a traditional Cypriot recipe for a classic yeasted rich cake flavoured with aniseed, almonds and sesame seeds that is traditionally prepared for New Year and which often has a coin baked in the cake batter. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Cypriot version of: New Year Cake (Vasilopita).
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This is a classic Cypriot cake that is baked especially for New Year. Traditionally the cake has a coin baked into it and it's served a few hours after the end of the old years. The cake is sliced into wedges, distributed amongst the friends or family at the new year party and anyone who happens to find the coin is considered to be lucky for the following year.
Combine the aniseeds and 250ml water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for about 3 minutes then take off the heat and set aside to infuse for 10 minutes. After this time pass through a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl.
In another bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk and work in 100g of the flour. Stir until the mixture is smooth then cover with a tea towel and set it aside in a warm place to prove for 60 minutes.
Heat the butter slightly to melt. Allow to cool then beat in 8 of the eggs and the sugar. Blend together the remaining flour and the salt in a large bowl. Form a well in the centre of the flour and pour in the risen yeast dough and the aniseed water. Mix well to combine then add the butter and egg mixture.
Bring the ingredients together to form a soft dough and knead thoroughly for 20 minutes, or until cream-like. Cover the bowl and set aside in a warm place to rise for 60 minutes.
Knock the dough back and knead for 5 minutes then pour the batter into a greased cake tin or pastry dish. Using a pointed, sharp-bladed, knife cut patterns in the surface of the dough. Beat the remaining egg in a bowl and gently brush over the surface of the cake.
Sprinkle over some of the sesame seeds an almonds then transfer to an oven pre-heated to 170°C and bake for between 70 and 80 minutes, or until golden brown, nicely risen and cooked through.
Allow to cool completely before turning out onto a wire rack. Using a sharp knife make a deep slit in one side of the cake and insert a coin wrapped in kitchen foil into the slit.
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