Deliciously Easy Semolina Cake

This recipe guides you through making a wonderfully simple and delicious Semolina Cake, beautifully topped with vibrant pomegranate seeds, just like the one you see in the image. This cake is perfect for beginner bakers and anyone who enjoys a touch of Middle Eastern sweetness. It’s a delightful halal treat that’s surprisingly easy to put together in your own kitchen. Baking this cake at home brings a lovely aroma and a sense of accomplishment. Get ready to enjoy a moist, flavorful cake that’s as beautiful to look at as it is to eat!

Halal Ingredients You’ll Need

• 🥣 1 cup Semolina (also known as Suji or Rava) – This is the main ingredient that gives the cake its unique texture. Semolina is made from wheat and is readily available in most grocery stores.
• 🌾 1 cup All-Purpose Flour – Regular flour, the kind used for most baking.
• 🍚 ¾ cup Sugar – Granulated white sugar for sweetness.
• 🥄 1 teaspoon Baking Powder – A leavening agent that helps the cake rise and become fluffy. Baking powder is a common ingredient in baking.
• 🥥 ½ cup Shredded Coconut (unsweetened, optional) – For a bit of extra flavor and texture. You can find this in the baking aisle of your supermarket. While optional, notice the white flecks in the image, suggesting coconut is a nice addition.
• 🥚 2 Large Eggs – These help to bind the ingredients and add richness. Use large-sized eggs.
• 🥛 ½ cup Milk or Yogurt (plain, unsweetened) – Milk makes the cake moist. Plain yogurt can be used for a slightly tangy flavor and extra moisture; either works wonderfully.
• 🌻 ½ cup Vegetable Oil – Any neutral-flavored oil like sunflower, canola, or soybean oil is suitable. Oil keeps the cake moist.
• 🍋 1 teaspoon alcohol free Vanilla Extract – For flavor. Vanilla extract is a liquid flavoring found in the baking section.
• 🌺 Pomegranate Seeds – For garnish. Fresh pomegranate seeds add a beautiful color and a burst of juicy tartness, as you can see in the image.
• 💧 For Syrup (Optional, but Recommended):
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 cup Water
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice

Essential Kitchen Tools

• 🫙 Mixing Bowls (2-3 different sizes) – For mixing ingredients separately.
• 🥄 Measuring Cups and Spoons – For accurate ingredient measurement. Accurate measurements are important in baking.
• Whisk or Fork – For mixing dry and wet ingredients. A whisk is good for smoother mixing, but a fork will also work.
• Spatula or Spoon – For folding ingredients and scraping bowls.
• baking pan (approximately 8×8 inch square pan) – This is the size pan that would work well for the cake shown in the image. A square pan is perfect for this recipe, but a round pan of similar size would also be fine.
• Parchment Paper (optional, but helpful) – To line the baking pan, which prevents sticking and makes it easier to remove the cake.
• Oven – For baking the cake. Every kitchen usually has an oven for baking.
• Saucepan (small) – If making syrup, you’ll need a small saucepan to cook it in.

Let’s Get Baking: Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preparing the Baking Pan

First, the baking pan needs to be prepared. This step is important so the cake does not stick to the pan after baking. Take the 8×8 inch square baking pan. Grease the inside of the pan. To grease, use a little bit of oil or butter and spread it evenly all over the bottom and sides of the pan. After greasing, dust the pan lightly with a spoonful of flour or semolina. “Dusting” means sprinkling a thin layer of flour or semolina and then tapping the pan upside down over the sink to remove any excess. This greasing and dusting process helps the cake release easily from the pan after baking. If using parchment paper, simply line the bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment paper that fits, letting some paper overhang the sides to help lift the cake out later.

Step 2: Mixing the Dry Ingredients

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, put together all the dry ingredients. These are semolina, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and shredded coconut (if using). Use measuring cups and spoons to make sure the amounts are correct. Mix these dry ingredients together well using a whisk or fork. This ensures that the baking powder is evenly distributed throughout the flour mixture, which is important for the cake to rise properly.

Step 3: Combining Wet Ingredients

In a separate, larger mixing bowl, take the eggs and whisk them lightly with a fork or whisk. Then, add the milk (or yogurt), vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the bowl with the eggs. Stir all these wet ingredients together until they are well combined. “Combined” means they are mixed together smoothly and uniformly.

Step 4: Bringing it All Together

Now it’s time to combine the wet and dry ingredients. Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. Gently mix them together using a spatula or spoon. Mix until just combined. It’s important not to overmix the batter at this stage. Overmixing can make the cake tough. Mix only until the dry ingredients are just moistened and you no longer see streaks of flour. The batter will be slightly thick.

Step 5: Baking to Golden Perfection

Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). “Preheating” means turning on the oven to the correct temperature and letting it heat up before putting the cake in. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes. “Bake time” is the duration the cake needs to stay in the oven. After 25 minutes, check if the cake is done. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick or a thin skewer into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, meaning no wet batter sticks to it, the cake is baked. If it comes out with wet batter, bake for another 5 minutes and check again. The cake should be golden brown on top, similar to the color you can observe in the image.

Step 6: Preparing the Syrup (Optional but Recommended)

While the cake is baking, you can prepare the syrup, if you choose to make it. Syrup adds extra moisture and sweetness to the cake, making it even more delicious. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water. Place the saucepan over medium heat on the stove. “Medium heat” means the heat setting is about halfway between low and high. Bring the mixture to a boil. “Boiling” means heating the liquid until it bubbles rapidly. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 5-7 minutes. “Simmering” means cooking at a gentle bubble, not a rapid boil. After simmering, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Set the syrup aside to cool slightly.

Step 7: Syruping the Cake

Once the cake is baked and still warm, and the syrup is also warm (not hot, but warm), it’s time to pour the syrup over the cake. If you lined the pan with parchment paper, you can carefully lift the cake out of the pan using the paper overhang and place it on a serving plate or leave it in the pan. Slowly and evenly pour the warm syrup over the warm cake. Pour it gradually so that the cake absorbs the syrup. You may not need to use all the syrup; use enough to moisten the cake without making it soggy. Notice in the image that the cake looks moist but not dripping wet. Let the cake cool and absorb the syrup for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Step 8: Garnishing with Pomegranate

Once the cake has cooled and absorbed the syrup, it’s time to garnish it with pomegranate seeds. Sprinkle a generous amount of fresh pomegranate seeds over the top of the cake, as shown beautifully in the image. The bright red pomegranate seeds not only add a pop of color but also a wonderful fresh and slightly tart flavor that complements the sweetness of the cake perfectly.

Step 9: Cool and Serve

Let the Semolina Cake cool completely before cutting it into squares and serving. Cooling allows the cake to fully absorb the syrup and set properly. This cake is delicious served at room temperature. It can be enjoyed as a dessert or a sweet treat with tea or coffee. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple of days.

Enjoy the Sweetness of Homemade Baking

Congratulations on making your own Semolina Cake with Pomegranate! This recipe is a wonderful introduction to the joy of homemade baking. It’s simpler than it might seem, and the result is a truly delightful and satisfying treat. Making food from scratch is a rewarding experience, and sharing it with family and friends makes it even more special. Don’t hesitate to try this recipe and experience the pleasure of putting together delicious desserts in your own kitchen.