St Basil's Bread Recipe

This is the best recipe for homemade Vasilopita bread, also referred to as St Basil’s bread or Greek New Year’s Orthodox bread. This delicious traditional St Basil’s Bread recipe is easy and quick to prepare with step-by-step instructions.

Hello my friends, this traditional homemade St Basil’s Bread recipe will not disappoint, I promise you! It’s better than any store-bought Greek Bread, It’s homemade and deliciously sweet.

St Basil bread is a traditional Greek sweet bread that is made to celebrate the New Year. This traditional Greek orthodox bread is also known as Vasilopita or simply as greek Orthodox New Year’s Bread.

Traditional St Basil’s bread (Vasilopita) is a rich sweet bread made with eggs, butter, yeast, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, milk, orange zest, and flour. Traditional St Basil bread is baked with a coin inside of it, whoever finds the coin first is considered to be more blessed for that calendar year.

Made with simple ingredients, this St Basil’s Bread will be the talk around the table. Double the recipe to make 2 loaves instead of one.

Let’s make this Traditional Greek St Basil’s Bread Recipe!

Ingredients For St Basil’s Bread

• 3 cups all purpose flour (360 grams)
• 2/3 cup milk (160 grams)
• 1/3 cup sugar (70 grams)
• 1 teaspoon salt (6 grams)
• 2 teaspoons yeast (6 grams)
• 3 large eggs (150 grams), 1 beaten for glazing
• 3 tablespoon butter (45 grams)
• 2 teaspoons orange zest (4 grams), or lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (1 gram)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (2 grams)
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (18 grams)

How To Make St Basil’s Bread?

1. In a small bowl, add the yeast with 2 tablespoons of warm milk and let it bloom for 10 minutes.
2. Add the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, 2 eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, and milk into a stand mixer with the hook attachment and mix on slow speed for 6 minutes.
3. Increase the speed to medium-high and gradually add the butter and mix for 5 minutes or until the dough is fully developed.
4. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover it with a damp cloth for 60 minutes or until the dough doubles in size.
5. Turn the dough over onto a floured working surface and shape round.
6. Place the dough into a greased 9-inch round cake pan and cove Allow to proof for about 70-80 minutes or until it doubles in volume.
7. Preheat the oven to 375°F or 190°C, and set the oven rack to the middle position 20 minutes prior to the dough is proofed.
8. Once the dough is proofed, brush the top with egg wash, score along the sides, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
9. Bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown. The internal temperature of the bread should be above 201°F (94°C ).
10. Remove the loaf and allow it to cool on a cooling rack for 45 minutes.
11. Enjoy!
    

    St Basil's Bread (Vasilopita Recipe)

    The best delicious St Basil’s Bread recipe (Valilopita) with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions that are straightforward and foolproof. Try this St Basil’s Bread recipe today!

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Prep Time 30 minutes mins

    Cook Time 49 minutes mins

    Resting Plus Proofing 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

    Total Time 3 hours hrs 49 minutes mins

    Course Bread

    Cuisine Greek

    Servings 8 people

    Calories 180 kcal

    Ingredients

      

    • 3 cups all purpose flour 360 grams
    • 2/3 cup milk 160 grams
    • 1/3 cup sugar 70 grams
    • 1 teaspoon salt 6 grams
    • 2 teaspoons yeast 6 grams
    • 3 large eggs 150 grams, 1 beaten for glazing
    • 3 tablespoon butter 45 grams
    • 2 teaspoons orange zest 4 grams, or lemon zest
    • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 gram
    • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 grams
    • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 18 grams

    Instructions

     

    • In a small bowl, add the yeast with 2 tablespoons of warm milk and let it bloom for 10 minutes.
    • Add the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, 2 eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, and milk into a stand mixer with the hook attachment and mix on slow speed for 6 minutes.
    • Increase the speed to medium-high and gradually add the butter and mix for 5 minutes or until the dough is fully developed.
    • Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover it with a damp cloth for 60 minutes or until the dough doubles in size.
    • Turn the dough over onto a floured working surface and shape round.
    • Place the dough into a greased 9-inch round cake pan and cove Allow to proof for about 70-80 minutes or until it doubles in volume.
    • Preheat the oven to 375°F or 190°C, and set the oven rack to the middle position 20 minutes prior to the dough is proofed.
    • Once the dough is proofed, brush the top with egg wash, score along the sides, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
    • Bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown. The internal temperature of the bread should be above 201°F (94°C ).
    • Remove the loaf and allow it to cool on a cooling rack for 45 minutes.
    • Enjoy!

    Keyword Greek New Years Bread, Greek Orthodox New Years Bread, Greek Sweet Bread, Homemade St. Basil's Bread, Homemade Vasilopita Bread, St Basil's Bread, Traditional Greek Bread, Vasilopita, Vasilopita Recipe