{gluten Free} Vasilopita- Lucky Greek New Year's Cake

My Greek culture plays a huge part of who I am and the older I get the more I realize that. Being Greek, we have so many traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. Food and family go hand in hand in our culture, so naturally many of these traditions revolve around food!

Vasilopita is something my family bakes and cuts on New Year’s Eve at midnight, or New Year’s Day every year. It can be made as a bread or cake, and you place a coin into the dough before baking. The bread/cake is sweet which symbolizes the sweetness and joy of life. The Vasilopita also represents the hope that the New Year will be filled with life, health and happiness.

You cut a piece for “the house” and one for each person. Whoever gets the coin has good luck for the entire year!

I’ve shared this recipe in the past, however last time I made it in a bunt cake, whereas today I’m sharing the traditional way a Vasilopita is made.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups gluten free flour (I use Cup4Cup)
• 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
• A Coin

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease a 9-10 inch cake or bunt pan.
3. In a bowl, cream the sugar and butter.
4. Add the orange juice, vanilla and orange zest. Mix with a mixer.
5. Add the eggs to the butter mixture and mix.
6. In a medium bowl mix the flour and baking powder and add to the wet ingredients and mix.
7. Add the coin in the batter. The batter will be thick.
8. Pour batter in the pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
9. Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
10. Remove from oven and let cool.
11. Release cake from pan, turn right side up and sprinkle top with powdered sugar.
12. Cut the cake and hope you get the coin!

I hope your family tries our family tradition! Enjoy!