Marmalade Coconut Semolina Cake
Deliciously moist Marmalade Coconut Semolina Cake.

This marmalade coconut semolina cake is one of the reasons Yotam Ottolenghi and I are best friends.
Ok, he does not know that we are best friends. But I know that if he knows that I know that we are best friends, we would be best friends. For now though, his cooks books and I are tight.
There are two parts to making this popular Middle Eastern cake. The cake itself and the soaking syrup. Feel free to make it exactly as it appears in Jerusalem. However I absolutely love it without adding the syrup. That way I get to eat this as a breakfast bread, or with soups, yoghurt or even salads. And simply as a cake with some tea. See what combination works for you (that’s the fun part).
If you want more semolina recipes then why not try this Semolina Cake.
OH and the kiddoes have promised (with just a teeny weeny bit of hinting from me) to make me this cake for my next quarter birthday, half birthday and main birthday. Lucky, lucky me.
Don't forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try Marmalade Coconut Semolina Cake! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I'd love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.
Marmalade Coconut Semolina Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 160 ml (2/3 cup) sunflower oil
- 250 ml (1 cup) freshly squeezed orange juice
- 160 g (6oz) orange marmalade
- 4 eggs
- Zest of 2 oranges
- 70 g (2.5oz) caster sugar
- 70 g (2.5oz) desiccated coconut
- 90 g (3.2oz) all purpose flour
- 180 g (6.4oz) semolina (fine or coarse, up to you)
- 2 tbsp ground almonds
- 2 tsp baking powder
Soaking syrup:
- 200 g (7oz) sugar
- 140 ml (1/2 cup + 1 tbsp) water
- 1 tsp orange blossom water
To serve:
- Yoghurt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to fan 160 C / 180 C / 350 F / gas 4.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, orange juice, marmalade, eggs and orange zest until the marmalade dissolves.
- In another bowl, mix all the dry ingredients and add them to the wet. Combine everything together into a runny batter.
- Grease 2 loaf tins and line them with greaseproof baking paper. Split the batter evenly between the tins and bake for about 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
- This is where I stop as the cake is perfect for me but I will continue with the recipe from Jerusalem.
- Near the end of baking time, bring the syrup ingredients to boil in a small saucepan and set aside.
- Remove the cakes from the oven start brushing the syrup them with the syrup until as much syrup as you want has been absorbed.
- Let the cakes cool and remove them from the tins and serve with some Greek yoghurt.
Notes
Nutrition
Your semolina cake looks delicious Bintu. Light and airy with just the right amount of sweetness.
I am just having another large mouthful of this now Tina and I so agree.
That looks squidgey and totally delicious, I love Ottoleghi recipes too!
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I love that you are going to have this for ALL your birthdays (and half-birthdays!;-) It sounds very tasty, I would love to try a piece!
great looking cake! i can totally have it with a cup of tea or an espresso!
Perfect recipe for a summer’s afternoon tea in the garden!
This cake sounds and looks so moist and delicious Bintu!
A glass of milk is calling my name for this cake. I would probably end up eating this late at night, for sure…
this sounds devine! I think I will give this one a go.
It sounds and looks delicious!
Oh I so have to start having quarter and half birthdays! This cake looks great, I’m so looking forward to seeing Ottolenghi at the weekend. GG
You can’t possibly be best friends with Ottolenghi, Bintu, because I am (he doesn’t know that either, though). This cake sounds just incredible with all that lovely orange flavour in (and the almond meal). With the syrup it reminds me of a very popular cake in Greece, but I think I agree with you; I would try it without the syrup first!
this looks so yummy, fantastic idea
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This cake looks amazing, Bintu!
Thanks Jess – that why I love Ottolenghi.
What a beautiful looking cake! I love the flavor combination. Perfect for the summer!
Yeah would go well with lovely iced tea etc.
This would be perfect for afternoon tea. It sounds amazing. I hated marmalade for years, but now I am a big fan of it.
I tend to use marmalade for cooking more than for eating Dannii.
Wow this cake looks delightful and a huge step up from Basbousa which is the semolina cake I used to eat in Egypt – although I was very fond of it. Love the addition of marmalade and you ARE going to be meeting the great writer himself very soon. Enjoy.
I know. I am sooooooo over excited at meeting him.
That looks TOTALLY lush and VERY delish and just the sort of cake I LOVE! Karen
Thanks Karen. Cant believe I will be meeting Ottolenghi soon.
Oh can I be your best friend, then you may share your cake, this sounds heavenly! Thanks
Very happy to have new best friends and eat cake with them.
Oh my goodness this sounds delicious, never thought about marmalade and coconut before. Please free feel to link up to my recipes blog post for others to read http://www.mummy2monkeys.co.uk/2014/06/golden-oldies-linky-week-3-theme-recipes.html
Ok Michelle, I will come and check out your linky now.
Thanks so much for linking up via http://www.mummy2monkeys.co.uk #GoldenOldies