
Syrup-soaked semolina cake with almonds
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8
16 pieces
Difficulty
Easy
Cost
Budget
$
Syrup-soaked semolina cake with almonds
A soft, moist semolina cake soaked in fragrant sugar syrup and topped with blanched almonds. This beloved Middle Eastern dessert is sweet, tender, and drenched in floral syrup.
10m
Prep Time
30m
Cook Time
40m
Total Time
8
Servings
Easy
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
(Updated )
Basbousa is one of the easiest and most rewarding Middle Eastern desserts—a one-bowl semolina cake that soaks up syrup to become impossibly moist. Every country in the region has its own version.
Make syrup first: boil sugar and water with lemon juice for 8 minutes. Add rosewater and cool completely.
Mix semolina, sugar, yogurt, melted butter, baking powder, and 1/2 cup milk or coconut milk until combined.
Let batter rest 20 minutes for the semolina to hydrate.
Spread in a buttered 9x13 pan. Score into diamonds and press an almond into each piece.
Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until golden. Pour cold syrup over the hot cake immediately. Let soak 30 minutes.
Serve with crusty artisan bread for dipping
Finish with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil
Pair with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream
Grainier texture, equally traditional
Makes it dairy-free and adds richness
Test Kitchen Pick
Olive Oil
Helpful Pantry Staple
On recipes like this, olive oil is not just a background fat. A better bottle gives you cleaner flavor and a better finish.
This is one of the few pantry upgrades that keeps paying off every time you cook in this lane.
A good bottle of olive oil is one of the safest pantry upgrades for Mediterranean and Italian cooking.
Shop olive oil for this recipeLet the batter rest before baking so the semolina absorbs moisture and bakes evenly.
Score before baking for clean diamond shapes.
Cover and store at room temperature for 3 days or refrigerate for 1 week.
Best at room temperature. Microwave briefly if desired.
Per serving (20mg) · 8 servings
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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Mediterranean

Mediterranean

Mediterranean

Mediterranean

Mediterranean

Mediterranean