Vasilopita by Theodora

Beat the eggs with the sugar and the butter until they cream.

Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm orange juice together with 2 tbsp of the lukewarm milk and let it rise. Continue beating the ingredients adding the orange zest and the mahlab. 

When the yeast rises, add it to the mixer alternating it with the sifted flour and the rest of the milk and beat as much as is needed for the ingredients to be incorporated.

Place in a No 34 baking tray or two smaller ones. Cover them and let the dough rise.

Brush the top with egg yolk (dissolved in a little water) and garnish with blanched almonds, forming the year.

Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about an hour.

You can also dust it with icing sugar when you remove it from the oven or white chocolate making various patterns.

Best of luck and Happy New Year!