Semolina + Olive Oil Syrup Cake

Semolina Ingredients

• 150 g (1½ cups/5 oz) almond meal
• 60 g (2 oz) semolina
• 90 g (3 oz) unrefined raw sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 4 large organic eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• zest from 1 orange
• 250 ml (1 cup/8 fl oz) extra-virgin olive oil

Orange Syrup Ingredients

• 250 ml (1 cup/8 fl oz) orange juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 60 ml (2 fl oz) pure maple syrup
• 3 whole star anise
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Method

1. PREHEAT your oven to 160°C (320°F) fan forced.
2. COMBINE the eggs, olive oil, sugar, vanilla, and zest from 1 orange into a mixing bowl.
3. ADD the almond meal, semolina, baking powder and mix well to form a smooth batter.
4. POUR the cake batter into a prepared loaf tin lined with baking paper.
5. BAKE for 45 minutes or until cooked through.
6. REMOVE the cake from the oven and pierce all over with a skewer or knife.
7. MEANWHILE make the orange syrup and combine the orange juice, lemon juice, maple syrup, star anise and cinnamon into a saucepan.
8. SIMMER for 5 minutes on a gentle heat until the syrup has reduced slightly, and the aromatics have infused into the syrup.
9. POUR the hot syrup over the cake and leave it in the tin for 30 minutes to soak up the syrup.
10. SERVE at room temperature or chilled and devour.