Greek Portokalopita Recipe

Portokalopita is a type of Greek cake created from layers of crispy phyllo dough that has been soaked in orange syrup. Cinnamon and cloves stop the dessert from being too sweet, while the syrup keeps the cake moist even after a few days. 

Origin & Cultural Significance

Portokalopita comes from the Greek word ‘portokáli’ meaning orange, which is the main flavor of the dessert. It is thought to have originated on the Greek island of Crete, before spreading to other islands and the mainland. 

Portokalopita is often enjoyed with coffee in the morning or early afternoon and is always served on special occasions like weddings, birthdays, and religious festivals. The dessert belongs to the Greek cake family siropiasta meaning sweets that are bathed in syrup, much like a baklava. 

Orange is one of the most important ingredients used in Greek cuisine, and many Greeks consider oranges to be the golden apples featured in Greek mythology.

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Greek Portokalopita Recipe

Yield: 10

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Portokalopita is a Greek cake created from layers of crispy phyllo dough that has been soaked in orange syrup.

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Ingredients

• Phyllo dough sheets - 1 package
• Fresh orange juice - 1 cup
• Sugar - 1 cup
• Greek yogurt - 1 cup
• Eggs - 3
• Olive oil - 1/2 cup
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Orange zest - 2 tbsp
• Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
• Sugar - 1 cup
• Water - 1 cup
• Fresh orange juice - 1 cup
• Cinnamon stick - 1

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Tear the phyllo dough into small pieces and spread them out on a baking sheet. Let them dry out while you prepare the batter.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, eggs, olive oil, orange juice, orange zest, sugar, baking powder, and vanilla extract.
4. Add the dried phyllo pieces to the batter, mixing until well combined.
5. Pour the mixture into the greased baking dish and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown and set.
6. While the cake is baking, prepare the syrup. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, orange juice, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
7. Remove the cake from the oven and immediately pour the hot syrup over it. Let the cake soak in the syrup and cool completely before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 319Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 94mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 0gSugar: 45gProtein: 5g

Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.