Fanouropita is made on August 27th, to commemorate Saint Fanourios the Martyr and Miracle Worker- the revealing saint.
Agios Fanourios is one of the saints that is asked to intercede when things are lost. His name is from the Greek word ‘fanerono’ which means reveal.
The tradition of baking a Fanouropita is a great honour bestowed upon the Saint. It is traditionally a round cake and is made whenever the saint reveals a lost object, job, a cure or anything else the person has sought to find, is found. But you can make this vegan spice cake any day of the year. It’s great for breakfast, too!
When you make the cake, you are also meant to say- “Lord have mercy on the soul of Agios Fanourios’ mother.”
Here is an easy to follow recipe-
Ingredients
- 1 x cup olive oil
- 1 ¼ cups fresh orange juice
- 2 x teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 x teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 x cup sugar
- 2 x cups self-raising flour, sifted
- 1 x cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 x teaspoon baking powder
- Icing sugar for garnishing (optional)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 160°C and line a 20–25 cm round cake tin with baking paper.
- Place the olive oil, orange juice, cinnamon, cloves and sugar in a bowl and mix well with a wooden spoon until the sugar dissolves a little.
- Gradually add the flour, mixing well, then add the walnuts, followed by the baking powder. Stir until well combined.
- Pour the cake mix into the tin and bake for 15 minutes.
- Reduce the temperature to 130°C and bake for a further 40 minutes or until cooked (a skewer inserted into the centre should come out clean). Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.
- Dust with icing sugar and serve warm or at room temperature.
