This treasured Greek dessert, Fanouropita, carries a beautiful tradition as Saint Fanourios’ blessed cake.
A delightfully moist vegan treat that combines aromatic spices and simple ingredients, this divine creation comes together in just 60 minutes.
Perfect for special occasions or as a heartwarming offering, the recipe yields 8-10 generous portions of pure Mediterranean comfort.
The best part? You only need 10 minutes of hands-on prep before letting your oven work its magic.
Ingredients for Saint Fanourios Cake
- Seed Oil: 1 cup, ensures moisture in the cake
- Granulated Sugar: 1 cup, adds perfect sweetness
- Orange Juice: 1 cup, fresh is preferred for best flavor
- Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon, helps the cake rise nicely
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon, adds warm spice notes
- Ground Clove: 1/2 teaspoon, provides aromatic depth
- Self-Rising Flour: 3 cups, ensures proper cake structure
- Raisins: 80g/3 oz, adds natural sweetness
- Walnuts: 80g/3 oz chopped, provides delightful crunch
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Oven: Preheat to 160-170°C (347°F) with fan setting
- Mix Base: Combine sugar and oil until sugar dissolves completely
- Prepare Orange Mixture: Mix orange juice with baking soda until it froths nicely
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Add orange mixture to sugar-oil blend, whisk thoroughly
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Combine flour, spices, raisins, and walnuts in a separate bowl
- Create Batter: Gradually add dry mixture to wet ingredients, whisking until smooth
- Bake: Pour into a 28cm round oiled pan, bake 45-60 minutes until toothpick comes out clean
- Finish: Cool completely, dust with icing sugar before serving
Storage Tips
This lovely Greek cake stays fresh and moist for up to 5 days! Just pop it in an airtight container and keep it at room temperature.
The orange juice and oil help keep it super soft. If you live somewhere warm, you can store it in the fridge – just bring it to room temperature before eating for the best flavor.
Want to keep it longer? You can freeze slices wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil for up to 3 months.
Recipe Variations
While this traditional Saint Fanourios cake recipe is perfect as is, you can add your own spin!
Try swapping the walnuts for almonds or pecans, or mix in some dried cranberries with the raisins.
You can also add a hint of orange zest to boost the citrus flavor. Some Greek families like to add a splash of brandy or cognac to make it extra special.
If you don’t have self-rising flour, use regular flour and add 1½ teaspoons of baking powder per cup of flour.
Serving Suggestions
This cozy cake is wonderful with a hot cup of Greek coffee or tea! While it’s traditionally dusted with powdered sugar, you can also drizzle it with honey for extra sweetness.
Some people love it for breakfast with Greek yogurt on the side. The cake is often shared at church or given to friends and neighbors – it’s a beautiful way to spread joy and keep tradition alive. Try serving it slightly warm to really bring out the spice flavors!
Fanouropita (Saint Fanourios cake)
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Hand whisk or electric mixer
- Round baking pan (28cm)
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 1 cup seed oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground clove
- 3 cups self-rising flour
- 80 g raisins 3 oz
- 80 g chopped walnuts 3 oz
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160-170 C (347 F) Fan.
- 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.