🧾 Ingredients

Cake base:

• 1 cup semolina (fine or medium)
• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• ½ cup melted butter (or oil)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Sugar syrup:

• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup water
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Optional: 1 tsp rose water or orange blossom water

 Instructions

1. Make the syrup (first!)

1. Combine sugar + water in a saucepan
2. Bring to boil, then simmer 8–10 minutes
3. Add lemon juice and flavoring
4. Let it cool completely

2. Prepare the batter

1. In a bowl, mix semolina, coconut, sugar, baking powder, and salt
2. Add yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla
3. Mix until combined (don’t overmix)
4. Let rest 10–15 minutes (important for texture)

3. Bake

1. Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F
2. Grease a square pan
3. Spread batter evenly
4. Score into squares before baking
5. Bake for 30–40 minutes until deep golden

4. Add syrup

• Pour cool syrup over hot cake immediately after baking
• Let it soak 20–30 minutes

5. Crisp finish (optional but matches your image)

• Sprinkle sugar on top
• Broil for 2–3 minutes until caramelized and crisp

📊 Nutrition (Per square, ~12 pieces)

• Calories: ~180–230 kcal
• Fat: 8–11 g
• Carbs: 28–32 g
• Sugar: 18–22 g
• Protein: 3–4 g

 Q&A

1. Why is my cake dry?

• Too much semolina
• Not enough syrup
• Overbaking

👉 Solution: Add more syrup or reduce bake time

2. Can I skip coconut?

Yes—replace with more semolina, but texture will be less soft.

3. How do I get that crispy top?

• Sprinkle sugar before broiling
• Or bake slightly longer for darker crust

4. Can I make it dairy-free?

Yes:

• Replace yogurt with coconut yogurt
• Use oil instead of butter

5. Why rest the batter?

Semolina absorbs liquid → gives soft, non-gritty texture

6. Storage

• Room temp: 2 days
• Fridge: 5 days
• Reheat slightly for best texture

7. Flavor variations

• Add lemon zest
• Add almonds on top
• Add honey instead of syrup
• Use orange syrup for citrus twist

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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.

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