Spongy, moist, and lightweight semolina cake is a conventional dessert comprised of semolina flour and crushed egg whites, soaked in a candy and citrusy easy syrup after baking. This syrup-soaked cake is named ravanija in Macedonia. It’s a timeless cake recipe that I simply know you’ll bake time and again!
Macedonian semolina cake, or ravanija (pronounced ra-VAH-nee-yah), is a Balkan cake recipe comprised of semolina flour and crushed egg whites. After baking, the cake is sliced in a conventional diamond sample and drenched in easy syrup. On this sense, it’s a bit like a cross between a sponge cake and baklava, one other household favourite!
My semolina cake recipe makes use of a do-it-yourself orange syrup infused with lemon juice and orange rind. Serve it for the vacations with a dollop of whipped cream.
About This Conventional Semolina Cake Recipe
- A basic dessert. Semolina cake is also referred to as ravanija, ravani, or revani. It’s been round for hundreds of years in Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and different Balkan nations.
- Moist and zesty. One chew, and also you’ll style the magic. The key to semolina cake is that the entire dessert is gently soaked in citrusy easy syrup. It’s candy, fragrant, and irresistible.
- Any event. Semolina cake’s vibrant flavors make it excellent to serve any time of the yr, whether or not it’s for a Christmas dessert or an Easter brunch. It’s particularly good with a steaming cup of robust espresso, both after dinner or as a candy snack.
Substances You’ll Want
Like many old school desserts, the elements wanted to make an genuine Macedonian semolina cake are largely pantry staples. I’ve included notes and substitutions under. Scroll to the recipe card after the put up for the complete, printable recipe.
- All-Function Flour – You’ll want to measure the flour precisely utilizing a kitchen scale or the spoon-and-level technique. Spoon the flour into the measuring cup and degree it off afterward. Don’t scoop straight from the bag, as this results in overmeasuring.
- Semolina Flour – Semolina is a sort of flour comprised of durum wheat. High quality semolina is mushy and finely floor, nevertheless it nonetheless has extra texture than common flour.
- Baking Powder – Test the expiration date to ensure your baking powder hasn’t expired. You need it as contemporary as doable, or the cake received’t rise correctly.
- Butter – Softened to room temperature. I take advantage of unsalted butter. You need to use salted, however on this case, think about decreasing or omitting the added salt within the recipe.
- Sugar – When you’d prefer to substitute white sugar, gentle brown sugar, or uncooked sugar will work.
- Eggs – Yolks and whites separated. It’s best to separate the egg yolks from the whites when the eggs are chilly from the fridge. Afterward, let each come to room temperature.
- Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract is my favourite, however vanilla paste or scraped vanilla bean can be nice, too.
- Lemon – You’ll want contemporary zest from one lemon. When zesting, watch out to not get any of the bitter white pith. Save the lemon afterward, as you’ll juice it so as to add to the straightforward syrup.
- Milk – Complete milk provides the creamiest taste, however you should utilize 2% or any sort you’d like.
Home made Easy Syrup
- Water and Sugar – Equal elements water and white sugar make a fundamental easy syrup, such as you’d use for a cocktail.
- Lemon – Freshly squeeze the lemon that you just zested for the cake.
- Orange – Peel the orange, and also you’ll use the rinds to infuse the syrup.
Baking Suggestions
- Don’t substitute semolina with cornmeal or polenta. Cornmeal, polenta, and grits received’t work as substitutes in semolina cake recipes. Corn merchandise are usually gluten-free, and the construction of the cake simply isn’t the identical because of this.
- Beat the egg whites to mushy peaks. Be sure to beat the egg whites to mushy peaks. This takes about one minute. The egg whites will probably be opaque and glossy, however they won’t type a stiff, shiny, pointy tip whenever you pull the beater out (these are stiff peaks, such as you’d need for meringue). As a substitute, the egg whites ought to type a mushy hill-shape with a tip that dips down.
- Don’t overmix. After you’ve mixed the dry and moist elements, take care to not overmix the cake batter. The identical goes afterward, when including the egg whites. Be sure that to fold them in slowly and gently in order that they don’t deflate.
- Go away the oven door closed. For greatest outcomes, don’t open the oven door whereas the cake continues to be baking. Much like baking a cheesecake, sudden temperature adjustments could cause this gentle sponge cake to sink within the center.
Strive These Variations
There are as many recipes for ravanija as there are cooks within the Balkans. Listed below are some methods to place a contemporary spin on this Macedonian semolina cake.
- Rosewater. A preferred model of this cake features a tablespoon or two of rosewater as an alternative of the orange peels within the easy syrup.
- Honey. For a extra floral depth of taste, use your favourite honey instead of half the granulated sugar within the cake batter.
- Walnuts. Stir chopped walnuts into the batter for one more genuine model.
- Toppings. Strive garnishing this cake with shredded coconut, crushed nuts, like pistachios or walnuts, cinnamon, or maraschino cherries. The one topping I don’t advocate is frosting, because the cake is already candy from the straightforward syrup.
Regularly Requested Questions
Semolina flour has a mildly nutty, candy style and a texture much like cornmeal. It provides a pleasant, golden coloration and refined texture to desserts.
Semolina cake is historically garnished with powdered sugar and walnuts, however you possibly can serve it with whipped cream and even ice cream.
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Put together for baking. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Calmly grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray and put aside.
Make the Easy Syrup
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Mix the elements. Mix the water, sugar, lemon juice, and orange peels in a saucepan set over excessive warmth; deliver the combination to a boil.
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Simmer. Scale back to a simmer and let simmer for five minutes.
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Cool. Take away from warmth and let cool fully. Refrigerate till prepared to make use of.
Make the Cake
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Combine the dry elements. In a mixing bowl, mix the flour, semolina, and baking powder, whisking till properly included, and put aside.
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Cream the butter and sugar. Utilizing a stand mixer, cream collectively the butter and sugar till gentle and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
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Add the eggs. Then, begin including the egg yolks, one by one; combine till blended and the batter is a lightweight yellow. Add the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
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Add the dry elements. On LOW velocity, add within the flour combination, about ½ cup at a time till blended.
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Add milk. Then slowly add within the milk; proceed to combine till properly included. Put aside.
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Whip the egg whites. Utilizing a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt till mushy white peaks type.
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Mix. Utilizing a spatula, rigorously fold the egg whites into the cake batter; don’t overmix.
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Fill the pan. Scrape the cake batter into the beforehand ready springform pan and unfold it evenly.
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Bake. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted within the middle comes out clear. Take away the cake from the oven and switch it to a wire rack; let it cool for about 10 minutes.
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Add the straightforward syrup. Utilizing a pointy knife, reduce the cake right into a diamond sample, however do not separate the slices simply but. Slowly pour the cooled syrup all around the sizzling cake. Let the cake cool fully.
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Garnish and serve. High with powdered sugar (optionally available). Take away the cake from the pan, and serve.
Serving: 1slice | Energy: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 5g | Fats: 10g | Saturated Fats: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Trans Fats: 0.3g | Ldl cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 329IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg
Dietary data is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could fluctuate based on the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
Methods to Make Macedonian Semolina Cake (Ravanija)
Since we’ll be soaking this semolina cake with syrup whereas it’s nonetheless within the pan, a springform makes it a lot simpler to take away and serve. That being mentioned, if all you might have is an everyday spherical baking pan, that can work, too. You possibly can merely serve it proper from the pan, on this case.
Whichever baking pan you utilize, be sure to totally grease the underside and sides with butter or cooking spray. Now, comply with the steps under to arrange your semolina cake the Macedonian manner:
- Make the straightforward syrup. I like to do that first, so it has time to chill. Mix equal elements water and sugar in a saucepan, and add the lemon juice and orange peels. Carry it to a boil, after which simmer for five minutes. Take the pot off the warmth and let it cool fully.
- Combine the dry elements. Subsequent, whisk the flour, semolina, and baking powder in a bowl.
- Mix the moist elements. Cream the butter and sugar collectively. Then, combine within the egg yolks one by one till the batter is clean and mixed. Add the vanilla, then the lemon zest.
- Add the dry elements. Then, on low velocity, regularly add the flour combination to the moist elements, ½ cup at a time. As soon as that’s clean, slowly combine within the milk.
- Add the egg whites. First, beat the egg whites in a clear bowl with a pinch of salt. Whip till they type stiff peaks. Then, gently fold the egg whites into the cake batter utilizing a spatula.
- Bake the cake. Unfold the cake batter right into a well-greased springform pan. Now, bake the semolina cake at 350ºF for 35-40 minutes, till a tester comes out clear.
Add the Easy Syrup, Cool, and Serve
After baking, place the cake on a wire rack and let it cool for 10 minutes earlier than you end it off with easy syrup:
- Reduce the cake. Utilizing a pointy knife, reduce the cake into diagonal, diamond-shaped slices. You would additionally reduce it into squares.
- Pour over the syrup. Subsequent, slowly pour the cooled citrus syrup over the nice and cozy cake. Enable the cake to chill fully.
- Garnish and serve. Give the semolina cake a lightweight dusting with powdered sugar when you’d like. Lastly, launch it from the pan and serve!
Methods to Retailer
- Refrigerate. To retailer the cake, wrap it in plastic or foil, or hold it in an hermetic container. It’ll final within the fridge for 3-4 days. It’s greatest to deliver the cake again to room temperature for serving.
- Reheat. If you want to heat up your ravanija, microwave it for a couple of seconds at a time till heat, however not piping sizzling.
- Freeze. You possibly can freeze this cake both entire or in slices for two to three months. Double-wrap the cake in plastic wrap to guard it from freezer burn. Whenever you’re able to serve, thaw the cake at room temperature or in a single day within the fridge.
