Orange Pie

This Portokalopita – Orange Pastry is produced in one of the best contemporary dessert workshops in Athens, Greece and is imported and delivered across the UK

Portokalopita (Πορτοκαλόπιτα) is a traditional Greek "pie" or cake that is soaked in a sweet orange syrup. The name comes from portokáli (orange) and pita (pie), though it has a moist, cake-like consistency rather than a traditional pastry shell. A unique feature of this dessert is that it uses crumbled, dried phyllo dough instead of flour, which gives the cake its distinctive texture.

Taste and texture

• Juicy and moist: The cake is soaked in a fragrant, spiced syrup, making it incredibly moist and juicy.
• Sweet and citrusy: The dominant flavor is sweet orange, with the syrup often scented with cinnamon.
• Unique texture: The crumbled phyllo gives the cake a chewy yet fluffy texture that is different from a regular sponge cake.
• Rich aroma: The combined aromas of fresh orange zest and cinnamon fill the air as it bakes, creating an inviting, fragrant dessert.

Serving suggestions

• Portokalopita is most often served cold, allowing time for the syrup to be fully absorbed and the flavors to meld together.
• It pairs wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of thick Greek yogurt.
• The pie is traditionally offered as a complimentary dessert in many Greek restaurants, a custom known as kerasma.

Variations

• The traditional version uses orange juice and zest in both the cake and the syrup for a strong citrus flavor.
• Some recipes add cinnamon sticks or orange blossom water to the syrup for extra aroma.
• For an extra touch of decadence, some versions might be topped with candied orange peels or drizzled with dark chocolate.