Lebanese Molasses Cake (Sfouf bi Debes)

5 from 1 vote

Lebanese Molasses Cake (Sfouf bi Debes)

Sfouf bi Debes is a traditional Lebanese semolina molasses cake flavored with anise and topped with sesame seeds. This simple one bowl cake has a moist crumb and deep molasses flavor, making it perfect to serve with Arabic coffee or tea.

Prep Time5

Cook Time40

Total Time45

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Lebanese

Diet: Vegan

Servings: pieces

Calories: 219kcal

Author: Janelle Hama

Ingredients

1 cup Molasses (carob or grape, see ingredients section for alternatives)
1 cup Milk room temperature, (I used dairy-free)
½ cup Neutral oil (vegetable or canola, though I used melted coconut oil)
1 teaspoon Ground anise
1½ cups All Purpose Flour
½ cup Fine Semolina
1½ teaspoons Baking powder
1½ tablespoons Tahini
1½ tablespoons Sesame seeds or as needed for topping

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, whisk together all the wet ingredients with the ground anise.
1 cup Molasses, 1 cup Milk, ½ cup Neutral oil, 1 teaspoon Ground anise
Sift in the fine semolina, all purpose flour and baking powder, then whisk to create a smooth batter.
1½ cups All Purpose Flour, ½ cup Fine Semolina, 1½ teaspoons Baking powder
Grease a 20x20 cm (8x8 inch) cake pan with tahini. Pour the batter into the pan. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Let the batter sit for 10 minutes before baking in a preheated 165°C (329°F) fan-forced oven for 35 minutes on the middle rack, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool completely. Transfer to a plate (see the video below for how I do this), cut into diamond shapes, and serve.
1½ tablespoons Tahini, 1½ tablespoons Sesame seeds

Video

Notes

You can used a combination of sesame seeds, chopped walnuts, pine nuts and cashews on top.

US tablespoons and cups have been used in this recipe: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 15 ml; 1 cup equals 240 ml

Nutrition