18/03/2026
The scent of orange zest drifting through the house—Yiayia must be baking again…
Moist, zesty, and soaked in fragrant syrup, portokalopita is the kind of dessert that brings sunshine to your plate and warmth to your heart. With every bite, you taste the sweet simplicity of Greek hospitality—citrusy, golden, and impossible to forget.
Here’s how to bring that flavor home:
Traditional Portokalopita Recipe
Ingredients:
For the cake:
1 pack (450g) phyllo pastry, thawed and dried
3 large eggs
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
Zest of 2 oranges
2 tsp baking powder
For the syrup:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice
Peel of 1 orange
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Instructions:
Prepare the syrup first:
Combine syrup ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer 5–7 minutes. Let it cool completely.
Crumble the phyllo:
Tear dried phyllo sheets into small pieces (like confetti). Set aside.
Make the batter:
In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until fluffy. Add yogurt, oil, orange zest, and baking powder. Mix well, then fold in crumbled phyllo.
Bake:
Pour batter into a greased baking pan and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 40–45 minutes until golden.
Add syrup:
While cake is hot, slowly pour over cooled syrup. Let it soak completely.
Serve chilled or at room temperature, garnished with orange slices or a dollop of whipped cream.