Individual Square Cakes Basbousa

 

 Basbousa can be found across the greater Middle East and North Africa. They are a simple cake that is heavy on sweet syrup. They’re very rich so you’ll only need a little bit to feel satisfied, or eat a bunch - I’ll never tell! Direc- tions.

 

INGREDIENTS

 

CAKE

 

◊        2 cups fine semolina

◊        1 cup all-purpose flour

◊        1 cup sugar

◊        1 cup 2% milk

◊        1/2 teaspoon salt

◊        8 tablespoons butter

 

 

SYRUP

 

◊        1 cup water

◊        1 cup sugar

◊        3-4 teaspoons honey

 

DIRECTIONS

 

CAKE

 

◊        On medium heat melt the butter into the milk until combined and warm.

◊        Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.

◊        Pour warm milk and butter into dry ingredients and mix well. The mixture will not be as thin as cake batter – that is ok.

◊        Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease pan with butter and pour the batter into a baking dish – the cake will not rise, and should be a thickness of 1/4”– 1/2”.

◊        Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is browned.

 

SYRUP

 

In a saucepan combine water, sugar and honey. Allow to cook for 5-10 minutes until it has reduced to a syrup.

 

When cake is removed from the oven, place onto serving dish and cover with syrup. You may want to poke the cake with a fork to allow the syrup to permeate into the cake. You can top with nuts, or powdered sugar or coconut.