Semolina Cake with Honey & Almonds (Basbousa Style)

🧡 Story

This Moroccan-style Semolina Cake, reminiscent of the Basbousa, is moist and perfumed and dripping with honey syrup. It’s flavored with almonds and orange blossom water, a popular dessert all over Morocco — delicious with mint tea or coffee after a meal.

• Ingredients :
• For the Cake:
• 250g coarse semolina
• 100g ground almonds
• 125g sugar
• 125g plain yogurt
• 100ml melted butter
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp orange blossom water
• A pinch of salt
• For the Syrup:
• 150ml honey
• 100ml water
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• For Garnish:
• Whole almonds or chopped nuts

• 👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
• Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a square or round baking dish with butter.
• In a large bowl, mix semolina, ground almonds, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• Add melted butter, yogurt, orange blossom water, and vanilla extract. Mix well.
• Pour the batter into the baking dish and smooth the top.
• Score diamond shapes on the surface and place an almond in the center of each.
• Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden.
• While baking, prepare the syrup: heat honey, water, and lemon juice in a saucepan for 5 minutes.
• Once the cake is out of the oven, pour the warm syrup evenly over it.
• Let it absorb for at least 1 hour before serving.

🍋 Tips / Notes

💡 For a richer flavor, replace half the water in the syrup with orange blossom water. This cake keeps beautifully for several days and tastes even better the next day.