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ORANGE SAFFRON SEMOLINA CAKE

mayurisjikoni
Orange Saffron Semolina Cake is a soft, moist, aromatic, delectable dessert or tea time treat. Semolina gives this cake a very light and crumbly texture. 
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert, Tea Time
Cuisine International
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

FOR THE CAKE:

  • 1 cup fine semolina
  • 1 cup ground almonds
  • 2 eggs at room temperature
  • 125 g butter at room temperature
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp orange rind or zest
  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 tbsp hot water
  • ¼ tsp saffron strands
  • 3 tbsp orange juice for soaking
  • extra butter for greasing

FOR THE SYRUP

  • 1 cup orange juice
  • ⅓ -½ cup sugar

FOR THE TOPPING:

  • 2-3 tbsp pistachio and almonds roughly chopped

Instructions
 

PREPARATION OF THE ORANGE SAFFRON SEMOLINA CAKE

  • Soak saffron in hot water for 15 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  • Grease a loaf tin 9"X 5" with some butter. Dust it with some plain flour. Tap the extra flour out of the tin.
  • Sieve semolina, almond powder, salt and baking powder into a bowl. Use a medium mesh sieve.
  • Cream sugar and butter till it becomes light and fluffy.
  • Add one egg and beat or mix till the egg is incorporated into the butter sugar mixture.
  • Add the other egg and beat or mix till the egg is fully mixed into the mixture.
  • Add the saffron water, orange juice and zest into the mixture. Mix well.
  • Add the flour mixture and fold into the mixture.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared tin.
  • Bake the cake for 30-35 minutes or till a skewer or toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • Remove the cake from the oven. Using a pastry brush, dab some of the orange syrup on top of the cake. Repeat after 10-15 minutes.
  • Let the cake cool down completely in the pan.
  • Remove from the pan.
  • Poke the cake gently with a skewer in several places.
  • Sprinkle the orange syrup over the cake. Repeat after 10-15 minutes if necessary. Make sure you don't add too much.
  • Sprinkle with some chopped almonds and pistachios. Serve.
  • Can serve the cake with the orange syrup on the side.

PREPARATION OF ORANGE SYRUP

  • Heat the orange juice and sugar in a pan over medium heat.
  • Stir till the sugar melts.
  • Lower the heat and allow the orange sugar mixture to simmer for 10 minutes. It will become a little thick but not too much.

Notes

  • Can serve the cake with whipped fresh cream or Greek yogurt.
  • Use any cake tin of your choice. I often make them in mini loaf tins when I bake for gifting.
  • Adding nuts on top is optional.
  • Can replace the almond flour with plain flour.
  • Use up any leftover syrup - drizzle on pancakes or make sweet paratha.
Keyword orange semolina cake, semolina cake