Vasilopita is the Greek New Year's cake traditionally baked with a hidden coin.
The cake is cut at New Year's celebrations, often after midnight or on New Year's Day. A coin is concealed inside before baking, and the person who receives the slice containing it is traditionally considered fortunate for the coming year. The cake may be sweet bread, sponge cake, or another regional style.
The name means “Saint Basil's pie,” linking the custom with Saint Basil, whose feast day is celebrated in Greece on January 1. Families and organizations may cut separate slices for household members, absent friends, the home, or the work group.
The coin is wrapped carefully before being placed in the mixture, and diners are warned to eat cautiously. Vasilopita is sometimes confused with tsoureki, the braided Greek Easter bread; recipes can resemble one another, but the hidden New Year's coin defines this custom.