Vasilopita is a Greek sweet bread baked especially for New Years. The story behind the bread: St. Basil asked the ladies of the church to bake a sweet bread with coins baked inside them. The bread was given out to the needy people at church for life's necessities. This was his way of giving them money without demeaning them at all. It is now a tradition to bake a coin into the Vasilopita (St. Basil's bread). The person that receives the coin is considered to have luck in the New Year.
Vasilopita is a sweet bread made with butter and flavored with orange, vanilla, masticha and Mahlep.
I posted this recipe a few years back and decided to try making it vegan. This is my first attempt and was pretty decent. I thought I would share the vegan recipe here for those that want to make it
Vasilopita Bread
ingredients:
1 pkg active dry yeast
3/4 cup oat milk, lukewarm
3 flax eggs*
1.5 tsp grated orange rind
1/2 cup sugar
4 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground masticha
1/4 tsp ground mahlep
1/2 cup melted vegan butter
vegan butter for glazing
blanched split almonds or sesame seeds
directions:
Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup of milk
Add remainder of milk, eggs, orange rind and sugar.
In a warm bowl, add 3 cups flour, salt and spices make a well in the center.
Pour in yeast mixture and stir to blend in flour. Gradually add warm melted butter.
Mix dough with hands until it comes away from the sides.
Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding remaining flour as required.
Knead for 10 minutes.
Place ball of dough in bowl that has been greased with butter.
Turn dough over to coat top with butter and cover bowl with a cloth or plastic wrap.
Leave to rise in warm place until doubled.
Punch down and turn onto lightly floured surface.
Knead lightly and shape into a round loaf.
Place onto large greased baking sheet or greased 10" round baking dish
Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled (1.5-2 hours).
Glaze with beaten egg and arrange almonds or sesames onto the bread (pressing lightly).
Bake at 375 for 45 minutes until golden brown and cooked when tested.
If bread browns too quickly, place greased parchment paper on top.
Cool on wire rack
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I used the 1/2 cup of sugar and it turned out wonderfully.
*one flax egg equals one Tablespoon flax with three Tablespoons of cold water. Let sit for five minutes before using in recipe.
I did not add the orange rind and the world did not end.
This bread turned out wonderfully. This bread is a sweet bread that tastes great plain or with a little butter (regular or vegan). Great for toast in the morning.
Let me know if you try making Vasilopita. I would love to hear how your bread turns out!
