Phanourios-Cake (Phaneropita)

Custom:

As St Phanourios has answered the prayers of many over the years, it is a custom to bake a Phaneropita ("Phanourios-Cake/Bread") as a thanks-offering on the eve of the Saint’s name day (26 Aug). It is a Greek and Cypriot tradition and still practiced today.

The cake is offered at Verpers services and/or just before the Liturgy finishes on the feast day of St Phanourios (27 Aug) to be blessed by the priest with a special prayer. Afterwards, the cake is cut up and shared with parishioners or the poor. However, a Phaneropita can be made whenever someone needs St Phanourios’ help.

According to custom, the number of ingredients should be either 7 or 9.

Phaneropita Recipe – 9 ingredients:

3 cups plain flour

1 cup sugar

¾ cup olive oil

¾ cup orange juice

½ cup brandy

½ cup raisins (or crushed walnuts)

1 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. clove powder

1 ½ tsp. baking powder

Instructions:

1) Beat oil and sugar with electric beaters until dissolved and creamy yellow.

2) Put the baking powder into the orange juice and stir making sure there are no clumps. Add it to the sugar and oil mix. Beat until combined.

3) Then add brandy, cinnamon and clove powder.

4) Put the beaters on low speed and gradually add the flour. Then fold in fruit or walnuts.

5) Grease a pan with oil and dust with sugar and flour. Then pour in batter.

6) Bake in medium oven (fan-force 180⁰C) for about an hour or until inserting a toothpick into the cake comes out clean. Leave to cool on a rack.

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