Fanouropita: The Saint Fanourios Cake for Lost Things

 Fanouropita, also known as Saint Fanourios cake, holds a special place in Greek tradition as a plea for Saint Phanourios' aid in finding lost possessions. Traditionally baked on August 27, Saint Phanourios Day, it's a time-honored ritual to invoke his help. Some even bake it to seek guidance in finding a good spouse, especially in places like Crete.

In my family, we bake it whenever Saint Fanourios guides us or helps us uncover solutions to our challenges. To adhere to tradition, it contains an odd number of ingredients—seven, nine, or eleven—all fasting, including olive or seed oil.

For your own fanouropita, gather flour, olive oil, sugar, orange juice, baking powder, cognac, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, and powdered sugar. It's a recipe that requires just 20 minutes of preparation and 45 minutes of baking, bringing a taste of tradition and blessings to your table. 

Fanouropita: A Saint Fanourios Cake for Lost Things

Fanouropita - Ingredients

  • 500 ml of  orange juice
  • 500 g of sugar 
  • 250 ml of  oil
  • 250 g of self-raising flour of
  • 1 shot of cognac 
  • 1 tbsp of baking powder
  • 1 tbsp of cinnamon cloves
  • 250 g of cup raisin
  • Powdered sugar

Fanouropita - How to Make

  1. Preheat oven to 180° C.
  2. Take a large dissolve the oil with the sugar
  3. Add the orange juice, and cognac, and slowly add the flour, and the baking powder, and mix. 
  4. Add the raisins and cinnamon cloves. Continue mixing. 
  5. Grease well a baking pan (ideally with a 26 cm diameter). Pour the mixture.
  6. Bake for about 45 minutes. Before removing the fanouropita from the oven, check its center with a knife if it comes out dry then our cake is ready.
  7. Sprinkle the fanouropita with powdered sugar when it is cool.
Fanouropita, similar to karidopita, is also a great cake if you are fasting or are a vegan. Enjoy!