An amazing moist aromatic Fanouropita / Phanouropita cake scented with the aromas and blends of cinnamon and ground clove, with sweet raisins and chopped walnuts!
This is the traditional recipe for Fanouropita that I use each year to honour Saint Fanourios memory every 27th of August. A very easy and simple recipe that requires no special equipment or electric mixer for everyone to try out.
The tradition of “Greek fasting cake for lost things” (Fanouropita/ Saint Fanourios cake)
Each year on the Eve of 27th of August Greek Orthodox’s bake a cake called Fanouropita to honour Saint Fanourios. Then they bring the Fanouropita to church to be blessed (ευχή).
Saint Fanourios is the Saint for “lost things”. His name comes from the word “fanerono”, which means “I reveal” and worshipers ask him to help find people or lost things. So every time they search for something or someone they thank him for his help baking this Fanouropita cake (“Cake for lost things”).
Number of Ingredients for Fanouropita cake should be 7 or 9
“Fanouropita” is a fasting cake, but many variations of the recipe can be found. Fanouropita cake is made traditionally using either 7 or 9 ingredients, which numbers symbolise the mysteries of the church, the days of creation, and the angels’ battalions.
In this recipe we use 9 ingredients, along with raisins and walnuts. If you like to omit walnuts, you could substitute with sesame seeds. Traditional Greek recipes for fanouropita use Greek olive oil, which makes the cake a little bit heavy. For a lighter flavoured cake in this recipe we use vegetable oil, but if you prefer, you could use half olive oil and half vegetable oil.
To prepare this Greek fanouropita cake recipe, add in a large bowl the sugar and vegetable oil. Using a hand whisk beat until the sugar dissolves.
In a separate bowl, combine the orange juice with the baking soda and mix with a fork until the baking soda froths and dissolves completely.
Add the orange juice and baking soda mixture to the bowl with the sugar and oil. Whisk thoroughly using a hand whisk or an electric mixer.
In another bowl add the flour, ground cinnamon, ground clove, raisins and chopped walnuts. Mix using a wooden spoon.
Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture, a little bit at a time, whilst whisking. Mix until the ingredients are completely combined and the mixture is smooth like a thick batter.
Transfer the mixture for the fanouropita to a round oiled baking pan 28cm in diameter and bake for 45-60 minutes, depending on the oven. To check if the fanouropita is ready stick a toothpich in the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean then it is ready. If not bake a little longer and check again.
Leave the fanouropita to cool down completely before removing the pan. Serve the fanouropita with icing sugar.
Keywords: Fanouropita recipe, Greek fasting cake, Greek lost and found cake
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what size pan?
28cm diameter
What size pan? (in inches)
Seed oil? Please help.