Fanouropita - the Pious Pie

seven pieces from different cakes offered at the church

Saint Fanourios whose name day is on August 27th, is the patron saint of things lost. His name is invoked when prayers are asked for the recovery of lost items. Fanouropita is a cake traditionally made to honor him  on his name day. The cake is brought to the church the previous evening on the 26th, is blessed by the priest, cut in small pieces and shared with the rest of the church congregation (it is said that you have to give away seven pieces). 

mine made with gluten-free flour, not as fluffy as usual

Fanouropita is made with no butter and no eggs. The tradition also mandated that has to be made with either seven or nine ingredients. The other, non-religious tradition says that if you need answers to vital personal questions or you need to find the lost item, you place a small piece under your pillow the night of the 26th, and when you wake up, everything has been revealed to you.

FANOUROPITA RECIPE

 For an average baking pan, the following ingredients are good for about 16 pieces

Ingredients - 9

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of oil (sunflower preferably)

12 tablespoons of orange juice

2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour (if you want to replace it with gluten-free flour you can do but the cake won’t be as “fluffy”)

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 cup of chopped walnuts

1 cup of seedless golden raisins

icing sugar

Preparation 

Oil and flour the baking pan.

Put in a bowl the oil, the orange juice and the sugar and mix them in a blender/mixer until smooth.

In a second bowl blend the flour with the baking powder until the flower has no lumps. Add the cinnamon, the walnuts and the raisins.

Add gradually the flour mixture to the liquid mixture and fold it in.

Pour the entire mixture in the baking pan.

Bake for 50 minutes in 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 Celcius) 

When ready, sprinkle icing sugar on top.