Politiki vasilopita

Sift the flour.

Dissolve the yeast in 2 tablespoons of lukewarm milk and 2 tablespoons of the sugar.

Add 1 cup of the flour.

Cover the mixture and leave it to rise for 2 hours.

Beat the sugar and eggs over a bain-marie (in a metal bowl).

Gently warm the butter until just lukewarm.

In a large bowl, combine the egg mixture with the yeast mixture, half the butter, the mahlepi and the mastic.

Gradually add the remaining flour, working the dough continuously and regularly greasing your hands with butter, until all the butter is absorbed.

Cover and leave in a warm place for 6 hours, until well risen.

Knead again, place in a buttered round tin, decorate with almonds, brush with the beaten egg yolk, and bake in a preheated oven at 170°C for approximately 40 minutes.