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Greek New Year’s Eve or Easter Bread

This bread is a traditional bread to be eaten during the Greek Holidays. And don't forget to place the coin wrapped in foil, inside the bread before baking. Happy New Year!
Course Bread
Cuisine Greek
Keyword easter, greekbread, greekeaster, vasilopita
Author Mary Papoulias-Platis

Ingredients

  • 5 lbs of all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups whole milk, divided
  • 1 pound sweet butter
  • 1 tablespoons salt
  • 3 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 dozen eggs
  • 3 packages dry yeast, regular not instant (2 1/4) teaspoon per yeast package)
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 teaspoons cinnamon
  • sesame seeds for garnish
  • coins and wax paper ( for New Year only)

Instructions

Yeast

  1. Prepare yeast the night before or in the early morning.

  2. Dissolve yeast in 2 cups of scalded milk (bring to 180 degrees) which has been cooled to lukewarm temperature. (98-105 degrees). Milk too hot will destroy the yeast.

  3. Add 2 cups flour. Cover with a towel and put in warm place.

Next Day

  1. Melt butter and allow to cool.
  2. In a large bowl ( spaghetti pot for mixing ) beat together eggs, sugar, butter, 2 cups warm milk, salt , vanilla, and cinnamon. ( I use a big wooden spoon)
  3. Add the yeast-flour mixture. Start with 4 1/2 pounds and add enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead well. (You may not need all the flour)
  4. Cover and let rise till double in size. ( this could take up to 4 hours)
  5. Punch down and let rise again.
  6. Butter all the pans.
  7. Tightly wrap a coin in wax paper. Place one coin on the bottom of each pan.
  8. Divide dough into equal amounts for small pans, and place in the individual pans, leaving out a small amount for the numbers.
  9. If using a larger pan, divide dough into four equal amounts, placing 2 batches in the larger pan.

  10. Make numbers by rolling dough between hands like small cigars. Shape into numbers denoting the year. Place on the dough. Only for New Year's Bread. Skip this step for Easter Bread.

  11. Let rise until double in volume. You can braid your bread and place in the pans, or place them is rounds for a circle-shaped bread.

  12. Before baking brush with a mixture of an egg yolk and water and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  13. Bake at 350 degrees in the middle of the oven until done, approx. 30 - 45 minutes. Check when done after 30 minutes. (ovens vary) Internal temperature should be 200 degrees.
  14. I place two pans in the middle of the oven at a time. The other pans can be refrigerated until ready to bake.

Recipe Notes

Makes: 5-6 loaves in 8- inch round pans.For a larger crowd: 3- 8 inch round pans and one large12x3 inch round for the family. Can be frozen and defrosted when ready to use.