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File in: Cheese/eggs, Breads

Vasilopita (St. Basil's Bread)

Makes 1 loaf

  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 6 cups bread flour (divided, plus an additional half cup or more, as needed)
  • 1 package dry yeast
  • 2 cups warm milk (divided)
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp. anise seed
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs (plus more for brushing the top of the bread)
  • 3/4 cup melted butter
  • crushed almonds, for a topping
  • 1 coin (cleaned)

In a small mixing bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of warm milk, the yeast, and 1/2 cup of flour. Let the mixture rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.

Place the remaining 5 1/2 cups of flour in a large mixing bowl, and add the spices and sugar. Mix and make a well in the center. Add the yeast mixture, eggs, butter and the remaining 1 1/2 cups of milk and mix well, kneading for at least five minutes, and adding flour as needed. When thoroughly kneaded, tuck a coin into the dough before pressing into a well-greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Cover and let the dough rise until double in bulk.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush the dough with some beaten egg and then sprinkle crushed almonds over the top.

Bake until the crust is a golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when thumped on the bottom (about 45 -55 minutes).

This bread is traditionally baked in Greece on St. Basil's day. It always has a coin baked in it, and it is traditional to see which member of the family can find the coin in his or her slice. If you are concerned about properly cleaning a coin, you can trim a piece of candied ginger into a circle, and hide that in the bread instead.