The following recipe is a middle eastern cake/bar cookie called Basbousa. This dessert is easy to make as well as being a little different than the average cake. It is made with semolina which can be found in the baking section of most grocery stores. A light and sweet syrup and toasted almonds top this tasty and different cake!
Ingredients
2 cups semolina- found in the baking section of most grocery stores
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup softened butter
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. baking powder
20 almonds, blanched and toasted
Syrup
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
lemon juice-optional
rose water- optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix Semolina, sugar and butter. Add baking powder, yogurt and milk and mix well. You can also add 1/2 cup of coconut if you like. My kids like it plain but it is tasty with coconut. Spread in a round cake pan. Flatten this out as much as possible.
For this dessert you will be using a butter knife and cutting the bars before you bake them! It was hard for me to get this batter to smooth out using a spoon or knife so I wet my fingers with water slightly and it helped. I smoothed the batter out and then cut lines all the way across the batter to the end. Continue doing this until you have finished the whole pan. Then slice the other way to make diamond shapes. Place a toasted almond in each space where a portion will be.
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until done.
When cake is done, remove from the oven and cool slightly. Place 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a small sauce pan on the stove. Let this mixture come to a boil. Turn heat to a lower temperature so that it is still boiling but a low boil. Cook for ten minutes watching and monitoring so it does not boil over. It is common to add rose water and/or lemon juice at the end of boiling, for a few seconds. This is where I have changed the recipe and I leave my syrup plain.
Let syrup cool slightly and then pour warm syrup over cake. You can use all of the syrup or the desired amount. This is something that you can experiment with. Cool before serving.
Hi Lynz…I love desserts with semolina, they look yummy😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
thanks Marisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have been wanting to make Basbousa for a while now. This one looks scrumptious. thanks for the recipe 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much dear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful .. I had heard of the name, now I know what it looks like.. 🙂 xxx Enjoy your weekend Lynz
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sue!
LikeLike
Looks delicious.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks!
LikeLike
Oh the sweet tooth is beckoning! Happy Holidays – Stay warm and cozy, Hugs, Cheryl
LikeLiked by 1 person
you too hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My kids love trying new foods and this looks like something they would love! Thank you for sharing such a yummy cake!
LikeLiked by 1 person
you are so welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never baked with Semolina, Lynn. These look yummy! I like the idea of adding a little lemon to the glaze, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes that does add flavor for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi my name is Carisa and I’m addicted to Lynz posts. 😉 ❤️ I feel I need to go to rehab because I love all your posts. ;). They’re so good! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahaha you are sweet Carisa that is your name!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe!! ;). I’ll take whatever you say 😉 ❤️
LikeLike
That looks very soft and juicy! Yummie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Erika!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome, Lynz!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
These look so moist, dense and delicious Lynn!! 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Linda, thanks so much! they are very different!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with your kids – plain is better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sarah, yes they like plain for sure!
LikeLike
These look delicious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi thanks so much!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks really good, Lynz. I’m going towrite this one down and try it.
Leslie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Leslie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lynn, Is semolina used in a number of Middle Eastern deserts?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is used in several
LikeLiked by 1 person
This looks great and not too hard. What could I use instead of yogurt? Yaffa is allergic. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
so no milk or buttermilk?
LikeLike
No. Rice or soy milk
LikeLiked by 1 person
ok well I think soy would work fine! My daughter does not do well with milk at all. i use almond milk in many things and soy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great! Now I have to find semolina!
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes it is easy to find here in my little town. I got it in the bulk food section. I hope you find it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too! Sunday is my day to go shopping.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let me know please:) good luck
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lynz, you already know I love cookies. So, I want a kilo to have till Christmas night 🙂 🌲
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahaha 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, if you’re dead set on not writing a book about your life, you know you could always do a cookbook. I bet it’d be just as successful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks so much! I would love to do both but just having trouble getting started! We tried for a cookbook but it was too expensive with pretty pictures etc.! So we stopped! I didn’t know if people would buy it if it was plain!So much going on as well. But would love to! Thanks dear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds yummy! It looks like they are cut in squares but are actually diamonds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I am not a precise person! So when my daughter does it they are real diamonds haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks so amazing ☺☺☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lina!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful looking cake, as always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Karina!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
We have a similar desert in Greece called Rina’s halva. It’s very amusing to compare!
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow interesting name! So cool
LikeLike
Why Why Yogurt…. Why….
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahaha sorry Juan!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why not cottage cheese…. Why:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
ok Juan, you can put just milk!! happy? hahaha I hope you are ok!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The recipe sounds pretty interesting. I guess it is a pretty sweet treat, right ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh it is Claudia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thought so 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
yumm
LikeLike
I am so impressed that your cooking and baking skills have seemed to transition effortlessly back and forth between Western and Middle Eastern cuisines. Another great recipe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! I appreciate your support! How is Susan?
LikeLike
She’s having fun playing with two of our visiting grandsons. Thanks for asking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so nice! I am waiting for more pies from the pie lady! I hope you give us a lovely Christmas post?
LikeLike
Another beauty, Lynn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lana!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We make a dessert, halwa, somewhat similar to it…easy, healthy and delicious… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
that is nice! I figured you might!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yum! I especially love the semolina and yogurt… going to pin this now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike
Sounds so flavorful and delicious, dear Lynn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, just made the fudge yummmmmmm
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I’m so delighted you enjoyed it, dear Lynn! 😀 That would also make my Dad so happy! He loved to bake/make candy for others! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So easy, delicious and yummmm! I love peanut butter, lovely texture as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So delighted you like it, dear friend!! 🙂 I love that I can make a batch so quickly! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes it is lovely! I can’t wait for the rest of the kids to get home and try it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh you’re so sweet, Lynn! You’ve made my day! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so glad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another wonderful recipe. Thanks Lynn, hope your day is going well. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have been out all day but it is good! How are you Spear?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very well – busy day, resting a little now, then going to the casino tonight! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They look so very buttery ! Yum. 🎄
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are really syrupy! So it is different!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here it is ! Looks very delicious Lynn ! Hope to try this soon 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Freda, thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks fantastic Lynn, delicious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Suzanne!
LikeLike
One more for trying Lynn 😀
LikeLike
Thanks Irene!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lynn, I think I have just gained an extra kilo. These sound so fascinating…got to try these !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can I be your apprentice? This sounds lovely Lynn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish! xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Simple and elegant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
This cake looks and sounds delicious, Lynn, and I imagine the semolina gives it a slightly different texture to that of an ordinary cake. I do like the flavour of semolina, although I’m not sure whether you could taste it over the flavour of the syrup.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does give it a different flavor and texture. The syrup is allot! But you can just put a little! It soaks in and is pretty good. A really different flavor for me with the syrup but I am used to it:)
LikeLike
I love this dessert and looks delicious Lynn….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks sweet Chitra!
LikeLike
superlike 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
This is very nice Lynn! Semolina is available very easily here 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I figured it would be! thanks dear xoxo
LikeLike
wow, this is right up my alley. I love simple cakes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks it is simple!
LikeLike
Lovely cake! I love how semolina cake soaks up syrup. Yum 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes that is so true! 🙂
LikeLike
My favorite!!!!
LikeLike