This beautiful Cypriot Orange-Semolina Cake was originally shared by Mary (mum of @candlesbynikoletta) during our Meri Month of May in 2020. It is citrusy, nutty, moist and has a lovely sweet-bitter balance. It is perfect as a celebration cake, tea cake, Christmas cake and even a Vasilopita. I have baked it many times and have enjoyed it with and without the syrup drenching.
In this version of the recipe I have used extra virgin olive oil. I have used a food processor to chop the almonds; blitz the oranges; and blitz the sugar with the EVOO and then the eggs (which I added altogether). I have also decorated the cake with syrup-soaked orange rounds and sugar-coated rosemary segments. Using the food processor for many steps in the recipe, was a super time saver.
The original recipe was shared with Mary by her aunt in Cyprus many years ago. Finding herself with more time at home, due to safe social spacing during the Covid era, Mary worked through her recipe books bringing to life buried treasures, including this beauty!
Mary’s Cypriot Orange-Semolina Cake Recipe
A deliciously moist orange and semolina cake that can be enjoyed with or without syrup
For the syrup
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 ½ cups water
For the cake
- 2 whole oranges
- 1 cup vegetable oil ((use a little for greasing your baking pan))
- 1 cup caster sugar
- 5 eggs
- 1 ½ cups fine semolina
- 1 cup natural almonds, (finely chopped)
- 3 tsp baking powder
Preparing the syrup
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Combine the sugar and water in a pot and bring them to a boil
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Reduce to a simmer for 7minutes
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Take the syrup off the heat and allow it to cool completely
Preparing the orange semolina cake
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Wash 2 oranges and boil them whole until they feel soft when poked with a fork
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Take the oranges and cut them into chunks. Remove any pips. Put the orange chunks into a blender and blend them until smooth
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In a bowl mix the oil and sugar
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Add the eggs one at a time, incorporating each one before adding the next
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Add the semolina, almonds and baking powder and mix well
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Add the blended oranges to the bowl and mix well once more
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Pour into a greased round cake tin (20cm diameter), with the base lined with baking paper
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Bake for 45-50 minutes at 180°C fan-forced, or until skewer comes out clean
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Allow the cake to rest in the cake pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a cake platter
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Poke the top of the cake with a skewer, to create about 30 deep holes, so when the syrup is poured over the cake it is absorbed
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Pour cool syrup slowly over the hot cake and allow the syrup to sink in. Some will drip down the sides and be absorbed from the bottom too. You can judge how much of the syrup is needed (I only had a small amount of syrup left over)
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Scatter a little orange zest on top of the cake to decorate it or follow the video and make the syrup soaked orange rounds and sugar-coated rosemary segments and decorate with those
Serving the orange semolina cake
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Allow cake to cool before serving!
Kali Orexi!
** Recipe video coming soon – see instagram highlights for how to video snippets **
- I use extra virgin olive oil for this cake when I make it and it is wonderful
- I also make it without the syrup, and it serves so well!
- It is important to use thin-skinned Navel oranges for this cake as they naturally have less bitter pith in their skin