Description
Basbousa with Almonds is a tender Middle Eastern semolina cake sweetened with fragrant sugar syrup and topped with almonds for a beautiful nutty finish. Moist, lightly chewy, and delicately flavored, basbousa is served at celebrations, holidays, and family gatherings across the Middle East and Mediterranean.
Ingredients
Scale
Semolina Cake
- 2 cups semolina (fine or medium)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup plain yogurt (or milk)
- 1/2 cup melted butter or ghee
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional)
- 20–30 whole almonds (blanched or natural), depending on how you score
Sugar Syrup
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp orange blossom water or 1/2–1 tsp rose water (optional)
- Optional: small strip of lemon peel (avoid bitter white pith)
Instructions
1. Make the Syrup
- Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Add lemon juice and simmer 8–10 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in rose water or orange blossom water if using.
- Set aside to cool; syrup should be warm but not hot for pouring.
2. Make the Cake Batter
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Mix semolina, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
- Add yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla; stir until combined.
- Spread batter evenly into the pan.
3. Score & Top
- Score batter into diamonds or squares.
- Place an almond on each piece.
4. Bake
- Bake 30–35 minutes, until golden and edges begin to pull away slightly.
5. Add the Syrup
- Pour warm syrup evenly over hot basbousa.
- Let cake rest at least 1 hour to absorb.
6. Serve
- Slice along scored lines and serve at room temperature.
Notes
- Yogurt gives basbousa its tender texture—don’t skip it.
- Semolina type matters: fine works best for smooth texture; medium yields more bite.
- Almonds can be substituted with pistachios or left off.
- Prep Time: PT10M
- Cook Time: PT30M
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baked + Soaked
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 25mg