The Greek New Year's Eve cake containing a hidden coin is called vasilopita.
Vasilopita is a traditional Greek New Year cake or bread named for Saint Basil. A coin is concealed inside before serving, and the person who receives the slice containing it is said to have good luck for the year. Families may cut designated slices for religious figures, the household, or absent members before serving individual portions.
Recipes vary by region and household. Some versions resemble a sweet, citrus-flavored cake, while others are closer to enriched bread. The shared feature is the concealed coin and the New Year custom, not one universally fixed recipe.
The cake is associated with January 1, the feast day of Saint Basil in the Greek Orthodox tradition. It is sometimes compared with other European lucky breads, but vasilopita is specifically Greek in name and tradition. Care is needed when serving it because the coin may be hard or small.