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Semolina–Lemon Syrup Cakes

Image may contain Food Bread Cracker Confectionery and Sweets
Alex Lau

Beating the butter and sugar properly (read thoroughly) gives these mini cakes lift, but they will still be moist and marzipan-y in the center.

Ingredients

Makes 12 Servings

Cakes

cups almond flour or almond meal

½

cup semolina flour

¾

teaspoon baking powder

½

teaspoon kosher salt

¾

cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1

cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1

teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

3

large eggs, beaten to blend

2

tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Syrup

1

teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

6

tablespoons fresh lemon juice

cup sugar

Preparation

  1. Cakes

    Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°. Line the cups of a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Whisk almond flour, semolina flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl to combine.

    Step 2

    Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter, sugar, and lemon zest until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With motor running, gradually add eggs and beat until glossy, about 1 minute. Add dry ingredients and lemon juice and beat to combine, about 1 minute.

    Step 3

    Divide batter among muffin cups and bake until cakes are golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 25–35 minutes.

  2. Syrup

    Step 4

    Make the syrup while the cakes are baking. Bring lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar; reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

    Step 5

    As soon as cakes come out of the oven, brush or spoon syrup liberally over top (you may not need all of it). Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cakes cool completely before turning out.

    Step 6

    Do Ahead: Cakes can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

Nutrition Per Serving

Calories (kcal) 320 Fat (g) 20 Saturated Fat (g) 8 Cholesterol (mg) 75 Carbohydrates (g) 34 Dietary Fiber (g) 2 Total Sugars (g) 25 Protein (g) 6 Sodium (mg) 130
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  • These were a miss for me. The cake tasted oily and eggy and the syrup made them way too sweet. Tried them on days 2 and 3 and didn't see any improvement.

    • Kalao

    • IA

    • 7/13/2023

  • Excellent, moist but not overly rich. Flavor improves the second day (and third and fourth, but it won't last that long), so make a day before you plan to serve it. The crust gets chewier and the crumb denser in days 2 and 3, but you want to slice it thick. I've made this recipe with fine almond flour and also almond meal, which is grainy; also used semolina flour and more grainy fine semolina, depending on what's in my pantry. All work in this tecipe.

    • Allison

    • Brooklyn, NY

    • 9/2/2021

  • SO SO good. I reduced the sugar a little because I don't like things too sweet and they were perfect!!! So lemony and delicious

    • Andrea C

    • Vancouver, Canada

    • 3/17/2021