Stumped by all of those complicated Fanouropita recipes you’re finding online? Don’t fret.
Tassos Antoniou, one of the most popular food bloggers in Greece, has you covered with his simple Fanouropita recipe and video instructions on his YouTube channel for a spectacular nine-ingredient cake.
His books, Mama Peinao blog (meaning, “Mom I’m Hungry!”) and website are among the most popular in Greece, thanks to his approachable style and straightforward instructions.
Be sure to check out Tassos’ English-language food blog, My Greek Salad.
Tradition holds that Fanouropita is made by people in honor of St. Fanourios, the saint dedicated to lost things who is celebrated annually in the Greek Orthodox Church on August 27.
St. Fanourios is believed to be a martyr and miracle worker and his name comes from the Greek word “fanerono” meaning “to reveal.”
In communities throughout the world, cakes are baked the night before August 27 and brought to church to be blessed by the priest.
Numerous traditions and stories exist as to the origins of the cake baking.
See below for the ingredients and instructions and watch Tassos’ video (in English).
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup / 300 g. carbonated orange juice like Fanta
- 1 1/4 cup / 300 g. extra virgin olive oil (Buy your Greek extra virgin olive oil here)
- 1 1/4 cup / 300 g. sugar
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. glound clove
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1.1 lb / 500 g. all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup walnuts chopped
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1 tbsp icing sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 180oC / 350oF.
- In a large bowl, mix carbonated orange juice, extra virgin olive oil with the sugar, baking soda, clove, and cinnamon. Sift the flour in the mixture and whisk. Add the walnuts and the raisins to the mixture. Whisk until the ingredients are well combined.
- Transfer the mixture in a greased and floured 30 cm / 8’’ baking tin. Bake for 1 hour, until the crust is golden. Let the fanouropita cool down. Cut in rectangle slices and dust with icing sugar (optional).
See the video
