Baked Halva

This semolina halva is doused in a clove and cinnamon syrup right after it's baked to yield a rich and sweet Greek-inspired dessert.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 677 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ cup milk
• 3 cups white sugar
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• ¾ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup finely chopped almonds
• 3 cups water
• 3 whole cloves
• 2 cups semolina flour
• 3 eggs, beaten well
• 1 lemon, zested, or more to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

Step 2

Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch cake pan.

Step 4

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Mix in semolina and almonds.

Step 5

Combine 1 cup sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating batter briefly between each addition. Stir in lemon zest.

Step 6

Combine water, 3 cups sugar, cloves, and cinnamon in a saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves into a syrup. Pour syrup over cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Let cake cool, about 30 minutes. Cut into squares.