Baked Cardamom and Rosewater Semolina Cake
A fragrant semolina cake infused with cardamom and rosewater, baked to golden perfection and soaked in a light sugar syrup. This Indian-inspired recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, layers semolina flour, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups semolina flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tbsp rosewater
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chopped pistachios
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups semolina flour, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp ground cardamom. Stir to mix evenly.
- Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, and 1 tbsp rosewater until smooth.
- Step 3: Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry semolina mixture, folding gently until well combined. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes to allow the semolina to absorb moisture.
- Step 4: Pour the batter into a greased 8-inch square baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Step 5: While the cake bakes, prepare the sugar syrup by combining 1 cup water and 1 tbsp lemon juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Step 6: When the cake comes out of the oven, immediately pour the hot syrup evenly over the cake. Allow it to soak and cool completely.
- Step 7: Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped pistachios before serving for a nutty crunch and vibrant color.








