Al's Reduced Sugar Vasilopita
"Just tasted it! Not bad for my first attempt. One would think that using only half the amount of sugar (regular recipes use about 2 cups sugar, whereas i used half cup brown sugar and half cup fructose sugar) would make quite a bland cake. But that was not the case, the aroma from the cake was really strong and it had a rich blend of flavors from the nuts, cinnamon, clove, cognac... and with the orange juice and zest, the cake was really 'festive' a nice change from the usual fruit cake and such. It was light without being boring. Not overly sweet, and the amount of butter was just right. I hope someone else would give it a try and let me know if you like it too!!
Wikipedia description:Vasilopita is a traditional New Year's Day bread or cake in Greece and many other areas in eastern Europe and the Balkans which contains a hidden coin or trinket which gives good luck to the receiver. It is made of a variety of doughs, depending on regional and family tradition, including tsoureki."
photo by Alfrancis
- Ready In:
- 1hr 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 15
- Yields:
-
1 12 inch pan
- Serves:
- 14
ingredients
- 175 g butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 eggs
- 3 cups cake flour, Self raising
- vanilla essence
- 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1⁄3 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 2⁄3 cup orange juice
- 1⁄2 cup cognac
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 clean washed coin wrapped tightly in aluminum foil
- 2 tablespoons icing sugar, topping
directions
- Instructions: ( i guess just use your usual method of baking a cake, i couldnt really read the instructions in greek so i didnt bother to follow the steps).
- Just note that if you have a mixer - good for you, i did mine by hand, woe is me. And when i say 'cup' in measurement, i mean a regular coffee mug not dainty teacup.
- Mix the sugar and butter till combined well, or sugar is melted.
- add egg yolks, mix.
- add sifted flour mixed with the baking powder and baking soda into mixture.
- add milk, mix.
- add orange juice, mix.
- add cinnamon, vanilla, clove, salt, mix well.
- fold in beaten stiff egg whites, cognac, orange zest, just just enough to combine.
- add walnuts, mix.
- line pan with baking paper - i didnt have to grease mine, but whatever floats your boat.
- pour half the mixture in pan, drop the foil wrapped coin somewhere off-center and cover with remaining mixture.
- bake in center of preheated oven - 175C for about 1 hour ( if it is browning too soon, move the tray to lower position).
- Remove from pan to cool on rack.
- Dust with icing sugar or glaze or ice as preferred.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Born and raised in Malaysia. Living in Greece since 2007.
Learning the ropes of adulthood and just discovering the joys of cooking. Recipezaar has been a staple resource for all my kitchen experiments.
