Sfouf Lebanese Turmeric Semolina Cake (Vegan)

Sfouf is an easy Lebanese semolina cake with turmeric that is a gorgeous bright yellow color. This Lebanese cake is soft, quite tender and slightly crumbly. The semolina contributes to this cake's unique texture, giving it a slightly pleasant graininess. The exterior is crunchy and the interior is moist.

What is Sfouf?

The most common Sfouf is a popular sweet eggless yellow Lebanese cake made with semolina and is flavored with anise and turmeric which gives it its distinctive golden yellow color. The other is a dark version, aptly named sfouf bi debes, which translates to sfouf with molasses. Both have differing in flavor profiles.

The Arabic word "sfouf" translates to English as "rows" or "parallel lines", which refers to the way this cake is cut as it generally rises flat and is cut in parallel lines.

It also references how the pine nuts (or nuts) can be lined up to fit per cut piece. 

However, in this recipe, the pine nuts/sesame are sprinkled on top in a casual fashion and I've used a round cake tin to bake it in rather than a square one.

How To Pronounce Sfouf?

The Arabic word "sfouf" or "sfoof" is easy to pronounce, it is said using two syllables sah·foof.

What Does Sfouf Taste Like?

Sfouf is something special in the flavor department. This Lebanese cake has a tahini lining that adds a subtle nutty touch. Then, you've got a mild sweetness with a hint of anise, kind of like a gentle licorice flavor.

But what really sets it apart is the turmeric, giving it a cool earthy spiciness. It's like a flavor combo that's comfy and unique all at once.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Only requires 5 minutes of preparation prior to baking
• This cheerful vegan yellow cake is an impressive bright color 
• Very tasty and perfectly pairs with your favorite cup of dalgona coffee or tea.
• This is a vegan sfouf recipe - a dairy-free, eggless cake!

Ingredients You'll Need

Semolina either coarse or fine semolina flour can be used. A 50:50 ratio of each can also be used. All will work well in this sfouf recipe. This ingredient is widely used in Middle Eastern desserts, you can find it in the famous maamoul with dates cookies.

All purpose flour should be fluffed, scooped and leveled when measuring out.

Raw sugar aka turbinado sugar is what I tend to use in this cake. Traditionally it is made with white sugar.

Water or plant-based milk is used as the liquid. I tend to use almond milk.

Neutral oil is best, use any type of nonheavy oil such as vegetable oil. I do tend to avoid coconut oil as it will alter the flavoring. I have in this recipe reduced the amount of oil, I found this amount was the lowest amount that I could use whilst still allowing for a moist cake with minimal cracking.

Turmeric powder is a key flavoring and how this vegan turmeric cake gets its coloring. It's a commonly used spice in the Middle East, you can find it in other Lebanese desserts too.

Anise seed powder is another key flavoring, it is a lovely subtle fragrant licorice flavor. This can be left out if you do not have it. Or you can steep some anise seeds in some boiling water instead of plain water. You can purchase some organic ground anise seeds here.

Pine nuts or sesame seeds or any type of raw nuts are sprinkled on top of the cake batter before baking and turn golden once this cake is baked, adding a lovely nutty flavor.

Tahini is used to grease the cake tin which helps the cake to not stick. Works perfectly every time! It also adds to the flavor, you can also use it in other desserts like tahini with molasses.

I also like to add a pinch of salt to enhance all the flavors and sweetness.

Optional flavors - you can use orange blossom water or rose water rather than anise if you prefer, just add a teaspoon.

How To Make Sfouf

Mix The Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, add all the dry ingredients (all purpose flour, semolina, turmeric powder, anise powder, baking powder, salt and sugar. Combine well ensuring the turmeric and anise powders are evenly dispersed throughout the flours. 

Add The Wet Ingredients

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the vegetable oil and water (or milk). Gently whisk until a thick batter has formed and everything is incorporated, do not overmix.

Pour the batter and Bake

Grease a 23cm x 23cm (9x9") cake tin/pan with tahini paste. Pour the batter into the cake pan and sprinkle the pine nuts or sesame seeds on top of the batter.

Bake in a preheated 180C (356F) oven for 30 minutes on the middle rack of the oven or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Allow sfouf cake to rest until cool, cut into pieces and serve with a cup of tea or coffee. Usually, this cake is cut up into diamond shapes.

FAQ

Other Vegan Baked Treats

Try baklawi a light golden flaky filo pastry stuffed with walnuts.

If you're digging vegan Lebanese desserts but don't want to bake, then you need to try my creamy Haytaliyeh Lebanese vegan milk pudding.

I've put together a little list of fancy kitchen serving ware/tools for serving Lebanese coffee which goes well with this cake. I called it Lebanese kitchen tools.