Vasilopita (Greek New Year's Cake)

Ingredients

• 300g unsalted butter, room temperature
• 200g granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 300g all-purpose flour
• 8g baking powder
• 3g sea salt
• 120ml whole milk
• 10ml vanilla extract
• 60g blanched almonds, coarsely chopped
• 30g sesame seeds
• 1 whole clove (for coin insertion, optional)

Method

1. 1
   Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, 5 minutes; incorporate eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
2. 2
   Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt; fold into butter mixture in three additions, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
3. 3
   Fold in vanilla extract and almonds until just combined.
4. 4
   Pour batter into parchment-lined 23cm round cake tin; smooth top and sprinkle sesame seeds evenly across surface (insert clove into bottom if using coin).
5. 5
   Bake at 180°C for 50 minutes until golden and a skewer inserted in center emerges clean.
6. 6
   Cool in tin 10 minutes; turn onto wire rack and cool completely before serving.