Easy Fanouropita Recipe (St Fanourios Cake)

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Have you ever wished for something lost to come back to you? In Greece, there's a cake for that. Fanouropita, the legendary St Fanourios cake, is more than a dessert. This easy, oil-based, naturally vegan cake made with 9 ingredients, isn't just a sweet treat. It's a ritual that turns simple ingredients into a prayer you can taste.

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📋 Ingredient notes
👨‍🍳 Fanouropita Facts
🎥 Video
📖 Recipe
💭 FAQs

Every year on August 27th, Greek homes fill with the warm, spiced aroma of Fanouropita (or Phanouropita). Fragrant with orange zest and cinnamon, and moistened with olive oil and orange juice, this cake is traditionally made with 7 or 9 ingredients, numbers that hold deep symbolic meaning in the Orthodox Church. Fanouropita is one of those Greek vegan desserts that manages to feel both indulgent and wholesome, so it's no surprise it's one of the most popular Greek sweets and desserts.

This Phanouropita recipe has been passed down in my family for generations, and it's one of the most tender, moist and flavorful cakes you'll ever make. Actually, it's so easy and delicious that I don't wait to lose something in order to make it! Also, it was the inspiration for this healthy moist date cake (sugar free recipe).

👉 What makes this recipe different from the rest, is the optional tahini - chocolate icing (made with 7 ingredients). This is not traditional at all (so skip it if you're making Fanouropita for church) but if you're serving it at home, it will transform this humble cake into a decadent dessert.

Vegan olive oil cake (Fanouropita) with tahini ganache 3

For more Greek traditional desserts, don't miss this fluffy Vasilopita (Greek New Year's Eve cake) adorned with chocolate trees, this fragrant portokalopita (Greek Orange Syrup Cake with Phyllo) and these traditional koulourakia (Greek butter cookies) with a guide for 12 different shapes.

📋 Ingredient notes

To make this Greek Fanouropita recipe you'll need the following ingredients:

Flour: All purpose flour works best for this recipe, but I have also made it with whole wheat flour with no problem.

Olive oil: I suggest using a mild, extra virgin olive oil, because a strong one can impart a bitter taste. If you think your olive oil isn't mild enough, you can use half olive oil and half vegetable oil such as avocado oil, sunflower oil or corn oil.

Cloves pair perfectly with the cinnamon and the orange zest, but they can taste bitter in large amounts. So, less is more here, just a pinch is enough.

Vanillin is used instead of real vanilla extract mostly because, it is complimantary in this recipe, and not the main aromatic. However, you can also use real vanilla extract if you like.

For the full list of ingredients with quantities, please see the recipe card ⬇️ at the end of this post.

👨‍🍳 Fanouropita Facts

✅ Saint Fanourios is the saint of lost objects. If you've lost something and want the saint to reveal it to you, just make a fanouropita! Fanouropita is also made when single women want to find out who their future husband will be (they dream about him the night after making the fanouropita).

✅ The tradition dictates that this cake should be made with either 7 or 9 ingredients and it should not contain any animal products such as butter, eggs or milk. This is one of the best Greek vegan desserts!

✅ St Fanourios Cake should be shared with family, friends and neighbors. According to the Orthodox tradition, this cake is offered as a prayer fro the forgiveness of his mother's soul. According to the story, she lived a sinful life, and Orthodox Christians ask God's mercy for her whenever they bake or share the cake.

A slice of fanouropita (Greek oil cake) on a plate.

💭 FAQs

What is the prayer for St Phanourios?

The modern-English version of the Fanouropita blessing:
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Heavenly Bread, the giver of all good things, and the hope of those who feel lost or without help. Bless these gifts and those who have offered them, in honor of St. Phanourios. Grant to those who prepared this cake Your blessings, both in this life and the next. Fill them with joy, guide them on the path of salvation, and hear the prayers of their hearts. Help them live according to Your commandments, so that with happiness and gratitude they may always praise and glorify Your holy Name, through the prayers of the Virgin Mary, St. Phanourios the Wonderworker, and all Your saints. Amen.
This is the prayer in Greek:
Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, ο Ουράνιος Άρτος, ο της βρώσεως της μενούσης εις τον αιώνα πλουσιοπάροχος χορηγός, ο δοτήρ των αγαθών, ο δέ Ηλιού τροφήν αγεώργητον πηγάσας, η ελπίς των απηλπισμένων, η βοήθεια των αβοηθήτων και σωτηρία των ψυχών ημών. Ευλόγησον τα δώρα ταύτα και τους ταύτα σοι προσκομίσαντας, εις δόξαν σήν και τιμήν του αγίου ενδόξου μεγαλομάρτυρος Φανουρίου. Παράσχου δέ, αγαθέ, τοις ευπρεπίσασι τους πλακούντας τούτους, πάντα τά εγκόσμια καί υπερκόσμια αγαθά σου. Εύφρανον αυτούς εν χαρά μετά του προσώπου σου, δείξον αυτοίς οδούς προς σωτηρίαν. Τα αιτήματα τών καρδιών αυτών καί πάσαν τήν βουλήν αυτών ταχέως πλήρωσον, οδηγών αυτούς προς εργασίαν τών εντολών σου, ίνα διά παντός εν ευφροσύνη καί αγαλλιάσει υμνώσι καί δοξάσωσι το πάντιμον καί μεγαλοπρεπές όνομά σου, πρεσβείαις της υπερευλογημένης Θεοτόκου, του αγίου ένδοξου νεομάρτυρος Φανουρίου, του Θαυματουργού, καί πάντων σου τών αγίων. Αμήν.

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5 from 5 votes

Easy Fanouropita Recipe (St Fanourios Cake)

📋 Ingredient notes

👨‍🍳 Fanouropita Facts

🎥 Video

📖 Recipe