This orange sweet bread (vasilopita), traditionally served on New Year's Day in Greece, will fill your home with heavenly smells as it bakes.
Preparation Time
30 mins
Cooking Time
31 mins
Total Time
1 hr 1 mins
Calories
303 Calories
Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 round cake pans.
Step 2
Mix orange juice, water, and cinnamon in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave until the mixture registers 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) on an instant-read thermometer, 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 3
Stir yeast into the orange juice mixture. Let stand until yeast is creamy and frothy, about 45 minutes.
Step 4
Combine sugar and margarine in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until creamy. Add eggs; beat on high speed for 30 seconds. Mix in yeast mixture and orange zest until well combined.
Step 5
Sift flour, salt, and baking powder together in a bowl. Add gradually to the mixture in the stand mixer, mixing with a bread hook until a soft, sticky dough forms, about 5 minutes.
Step 6
Transfer dough to a large glass bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 2 to 4 hours.
Step 7
Divide dough into 2 equal pieces. Put 1 wrapped coin in each piece; knead for 2 to 3 minutes and shape into a ball. Place 1 ball of dough in each cake pan. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise until puffy, 2 to 4 hours more.
Step 8
Whisk egg white and vanilla together in a small bowl. Brush over the top of dough.
Step 9
Bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted into the center comes out with a few crumbs attached, 30 to 55 minutes.
Ingredients
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon salt
1 egg white
1 orange, zested
3 (.25 ounce) packages rapid-rise yeast
7 cups bread flour, or more as needed
2 coins wrapped in aluminum foil
0.5 cup orange juice
0.5 cup water
1 cup unsalted margarine (such as Fleischmann's®), melted
