What is the Greek New Year's cake containing a hidden coin called?

The Greek New Year's cake containing a hidden coin is called vasilopita.

Vasilopita is served around New Year's Day in Greece and in Greek communities elsewhere. A coin is baked into the cake, and family members or guests receive slices. The person who finds the coin is traditionally believed to have good luck for the coming year. The cake is commonly associated with Saint Basil, whose feast day is celebrated on January 1 in the Greek Orthodox tradition.

Families often cut ceremonial slices before distributing portions to individuals. Some households assign the first slices symbolically to Christ, Saint Basil, the home, or absent family members, though customs differ by region and family.

Vasilopita can be a sweet bread, cake, or regional pastry rather than one single recipe. This variety can cause confusion with tsoureki, a braided Greek Easter bread, or other Greek sweets. What identifies vasilopita in the New Year's tradition is the hidden coin and the associated lucky slice, not a single universal shape or ingredient list.