328 – Semolina Orange Cake with Syrup / كيكة البرتقال والسيمولينا بالشراب

Ingredients :

• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup and 2 tablespoons (220 grams) of white granulated sugar
• The zest of 1 orange or lemon
• 2 teaspoons ground cardamom (optional)
• A pinch of salt
• 1 cup (250 ml) of vegetable oil
• 1 cup (250 ml) of milk
• 2 1/2 cup (400 grams) fine semolina
• 2 full tablespoons (20 grams) all-purpose white flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• Ingredients for the syrup:
• 3/4 cup (200 ml) fresh orange juice
• 3/4 cup (200 ml) water
• 1 1/2 cup (200 grams) powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup (100 grams) honey
• 2 teaspoons orange blossom water (ma’a zahr)

Directions :

Step 1: Making the Batter
1- In a large bowl, place the eggs, we need 4, pinch of salt, and sugar. Using an electric egg beater, beat the ingredients on high speed for 5 minutes, until you get a thick whitish mixture.
2- Add orange or lemon zest. Mix.
3- Now add the ground cardamom, and beat for another 30 seconds. If you don’t have cardamom you can skip it or use vanilla instead. Mix until you get a very thick egg mixture.
4- In a separate large bowl, sift the flour. Add the semolina and baking powder. Mix well.
5- Pour the egg mixture over the dry ingredients, and using a spatula, mix all these goodies together until well incorporated.
6- Now add the vegetable oil. Mix well until the oil is absorbed.
7- Finally add the milk, and continue mixing until you get a very smooth batter.
That’s it, we’re done! Yep that quickly!

Step 2: Making the Batte
1- In a large bowl, place the eggs and sugar. Beat at high speed with an electric egg beater for 5 minutes until you get a whitish egg mixture.
2- Now add softened butter, and continue beating until well incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and mix for 30 seconds.
3- Time to add the dry ingredients!!! Sift the flour over the egg mixture. Mix.
4- Add the baking powder and mix until you get a smooth batter.
5- Add the chopped nuts. Mix.
6- Finally, add the dates and figs (that you drained from the water of course) into the batter. And… you guessed it, Mix. You will get a thick smooth cake batter.

Step 3: Baking the Cake
1- Let’s prepare the baking pan. butter the pan so that the parchment paper sticks to it, then butter the parchment paper itself. Pour the batter in the baking pan
2- Bake on a preheated oven at 360 F / 180 C for 45 minutes.

Step 4: Making the Syrup
1- In the meantime, let’s make the syrup. In a saucepan, combine the orange juice, water, powdered sugar, and honey.
2- Turn on the heat to medium-low and cook the syrup for around 5 minutes.
3- Then turn off the heat and add the orange blossom water. Mix well.
4- Let the syrup reach room temperature before using it.

Step 5: Final Steps
1- Our cake is ready! It has a beautiful golden brown color and when you touch the center of the cake it feels firm.
2- Flip the cake on a plate, and gently remove the parchment paper. Now place a plate on the cake and flip again so we can get back our beautiful golden surface at the top.
3- Using a spoon, pour the syrup all over the cake… don’t miss any spots, you will thank yourself later!!!
4- Then let the cake rest for 1 hour before serving!
Bon appetite!