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Basbousa: Almond Coconut Semolina Cake Recipe

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It has been a while since I shared a dessert recipe here on the blog, so much for challenging myself to more baking! So, how about a little basbousa? Basbousa is an Egyptian semolina cake drenched in syrup. Today, I’m sharing my aunt Maha’s special recipe!

Slices of Basbousa garnished with coconut and sliced almonds

It’s Easter weekend. Definitely the time when our minds are busy with egg-cellent recipes and ham or lamb dinners, am I right? In case you missed them, two of my favorite egg recipes are: shakshuka and this easy Mediterranean egg casserole. As far as lamb goes, I admit, I can’t quite decide on one; braised lamb chops, lamb rack, or lamb loin fillets? What have you decided on for your Easter dinner?

And for dessert?

Semolina treats are popular throughout the Middle East and parts of Europe. There are, quite frankly, too many semolina cake variations out there. Some recipes call for eggs, others call for yogurt. Some use a honey-based syrup, others use a sugar-based syrup. Some syrups are flavored with citrus like orange or tangerine peels, and others use spices like cinnamon or cloves. All semolina treats I have tried are pretty good, but my aunt Maha’s basbousa is my absolute favorite!

Basbousa cake in a serving dish with one slice removed

The date was July 18, 2014 when aunt Maha graciously e-mailed me her recipe for basbousa (semolina cake drenched in syrup). This is among her specialty dishes that I have counted on enjoying every time we visit her home in Toronto. And because we were not going back for a while, I asked for the recipe so that I can make it for my family and friends in Iowa. Ask and you shall receive!

Slice of Basbousa ready to be served

I don’t know why it took me this long to share this basbousa recipe on the blog. There are two theories behind my reluctance: my selfish desire to keep the recipe all to myself; or, that I am, subconsciously of course, extremely fearful that aunt Maha would not approve of me circulating her recipe. After all, this is a family recipe that she has kept close for years. And here I am, in just a few strokes of the keyboard, making it available to all! Then again, aunt Maha is one of the kindest most generous people I know. She would understand that this is for a greater good.

I have tweaked things slightly,  but this remains aunt Maha’s authentic Egyptian basbousa recipe. This is my kind of fuss-free dessert that yields impressive results. I hope you try it soon!

Remember to pin this recipe and share it with loved ones.

Here is the step-by-step for this basbousa (semolina cake):

(print-friendly recipe to follow)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the butter in a small bowl and melt in the microwave. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine together the sugar and yogurt. Now add in the semolina, baking powder and milk. Finally stir in the melted butter, and let the mixture sit briefly so that the butter is absorbed.

Sugar, yogurt, semolina, baking powder, milk and butter combined in a pot in a step-wise fashion
Transfer the semolina mixture into a lightly greased 9″-round cake pan or baking dish.

Semolina mixture transferred to a greased pan

Bake in the 350 degrees F heated-oven for about 40-45 minutes. If necessary, broil ever so briefly so that the top of the basbousa gains color. Watch carefully. When ready, remove from oven.

While the basbousa is baking, prepare the cinnamon simple syrup. In a small sauce pan or pot, combine the sugar, water and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil on high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Turn heat to low and let cook for a few minutes until the syrup thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice. Let cool completely, then remove the cinnamon stick.

Preparation of the simple syrup with cinnamon stick in pot, simple syrup poured over semolina cake and topped with sliced almonds and coconut
As soon as the basbousa is removed from the oven, pour the cool syrup on the hot basbousa. Let cool completely; syrup must be absorbed into the cake. For best result, let it sit for 1 hour before serving.

When ready to server, top the cake with the coconut chips and the coconut and shaved almonds. Slice and enjoy!

Piece of semolina cake with bite taken out of it Top view of entire semolina cake garnished with shredded coconut and sliced almonds

 

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Basbousa: Almond Coconut Semolina Cake Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 19 reviews
  • Author: The Mediterranean Dish
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: serves 8 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Basbousa is an Egyptian semolina cake drenched in syrup. Today, I’m sharing my aunt Maha’s special recipe!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 cup fine semolina PLUS 1 cup coarse semolina (or 2 cups coarse semolina or 2 cups original Cream of Wheat enriched farina)
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut or coconut chips
  • 1/4 cup shaved almonds

Cinnamon Simple Syrup:

  • 1 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 3/4 cup water
  • 1 short cinnamon stick
  • 1/4 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Place the butter in a small bowl and melt in the microwave. Set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine together the sugar and yogurt. Now add in the semolina, baking powder and milk. Finally stir in the melted butter, and let the mixture sit briefly so that the butter is absorbed.
  4. Transfer the semolina mixture into a lightly greased 9″-round cake pan or baking dish. Bake in the 350 degrees F-heated oven for about 40-45 minutes. If necessary, broil ever so briefly so that the top of the basbousa gains color. Watch carefully. When ready, remove from oven.
  5. While the cake is baking, prepare the cinnamon simple syrup. In a small sauce pan or pot, combine the sugar, water and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil on high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Turn heat to low and let cook for a few minutes until the syrup thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice. Let cool completely, then remove the cinnamon stick.
  6. As soon as the basbousa is removed from the oven, pour the cool syrup on the hot basbousa. Let cool completely; syrup must be absorbed into the cake. For best result, let it sit for 1 hour before serving.
  7. When ready to serve, top the cake with the coconut chips and the coconut and shaved almonds. Slice and enjoy!

Notes

  • Cooking tip: Allow cinnamon simple syrup to cool completely before pouring it onto the hot basbousa
  • Cooking tip: For best results, let Basbousa sit for 1 hour before serving. This allows for the syrup to be absorbed into the cake.
  • Visit our store to browse our spices, olive oils and bundles!
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keywords: Basbousa, Semolina Cake, Coconut Semolina, Almond Coconut Cake, Cake, Sweets

More Dessert Recipes:

Greek Yogurt Parfait with Kahlua and Nuts

Easy Middle Eastern Rice Pudding

Baklava 

Easy Apple Strudel with Phyllo

Please review Nutrition Disclosure. This post may include affiliate links

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  5. Hi,
    I’m sure I’ve done something wrong. After 50mins, the top of the cake hasn’t turned the brown that you see in yours and everyone else who has tried the recipe. Would you know why?

    I suck at cooking, that could be one reason 😫

    Reply

  6. Excellent! I broiled the top a bit then added the almonds and coconut and toasted a bit more. Sooooooo stinkin good! The kids and I took spoons to it and my daughter declared the recipe had to be wrong if you were supposed to wait an hour!!! Thank you for a beautiful recipe!

    Reply

      • You mentioned to mix all the ingredients and leave aside for little while for the flour to soak the butter…. How long is a good time to set aside for flour to soak in. Wont it become more dry if let to soak in before baking.

        Reply

  8. Hello! I m Egyptian but lives abroad and I can’t wait to try the basbousa for my family. I only have fine semolina, and I don’t have any other kind of flour but normal whole wheat flour and all purpose unbleached… Can I use 2 cups of fine semolina? How would that affect the receipe? Thank you 🙂

    Reply

    • Mona, 2 cups of fine semolina will work. Coarse semolina is more traditional and yields better results in terms of the texture of basbousa. I would not use all-purpose flour, however. Enjoy.

      Reply

  9. Thanks for this recipe. I made it many times for my family and friends, it’s very delicious and successful.

    Reply

  10. I love this cake, but being prediabetic, can I use a sugar substitute for the syrup? I do not like the tast of the
    substitues, they are way to sweet. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    Reply

    • Hi Juliette. I will be honest with you, I’ve only ever made this cake using sugar…I am not sure if there is a good substitute that tastes close enough, but if I come across one, i’ll circle back here and share.

      Reply

  11. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe! I love making exotic recipes, and this was a delicious and easy way to express my interest in international baking. Here are my notes:

    I sifted my semolina the way I would any flour (Bob’s Red Mill) and did all my mixing with a whisk or spoon – no mixer. When I added the butter, at first it appeared not to incorporate and pooled up, but after some gentle stirring and then 5-10 minutes to settle, it absorbed thoroughly into the batter and there was no trace. I greased my pan with unrefined coconut oil but did not flour it – 43 minutes achieved perfect doneness. The cake was unmistakably golden and very firm and sturdy when touched in the center. I was so proud.

    Instead of a cinnamon stick, I used a scant ½ tsp ground cinnamon and let my paranoia bully me into cooking the simple syrup about 20 minutes because I wanted to make sure it had thickened. I put it in the fridge (then freezer) to speed the cooling while the basbousa finished baking and stirred it occasionally. It wasn’t completely cool when I poured it over the hot cake. The syrup had boiled down to exactly 2 cups and I poured it slowly over every bit of the cake – it sits on top of the cake before slowly absorbing, and it briefly appeared to flood the pan, but I assure you, it all soaks in! We let it sit for a few hours before slicing and even our pickiest eater had a slice!

    Coconut and almonds provide a delightful crunch that really compliments this dense, delectably moist cake, but it is certainly flavorful enough on its own.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  12. I just happened to stumble upon this recipe and made it today. Actually it is getting baked in the oven as I’m writing this..I must say this is an awesome recipe which is quite easy to make if you have the ingredients at hand. I’m from Sri Lanka and we quite like some spices in our food. I just added a pinch of nutmeg to the batter and and cardomom to the syrup. Can’t wait to taste how good it is. Thanks Suzy!

    Reply

  14. I don’t like yogurt, I am looking for a recipe for basbousa with milk, can I substitute the yogurt with milk?

    Reply