Revani Macedonian Syrup Cake Recipes

REVANI, SYRUP SOAKED SEMOLINA CAKE

Steps:

• Grease an 8" x 8" square cake pan. Preheat oven to 375 deg. F. Combine all syrup ingredients, bring to a boil and let it simmer for 10 minutes and take off heat and set aside. Note that this syrup is more on the thin side due to the water/sugar ratio of 2:1 rather than 1:1. I thought to decrease the water from 2 to 1 1/2 cups to make the syrup thicker; but I think this would make the cake more sweet than what it needs to be.
• In a bowl mix together the semolina, flour, cornstarch, and baking powder and set aside. Using a hand or stand alone mixer, mix until well combined the sugar, eggs, oil, vanilla, zest and eggs. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until all ingredients are well incorporated. Pour into greased 8x8 square cake pan, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. It took me 25 minutes. Let cake cool in pan for ½ hour to 1 hour, then cut into 9 squares, and slowly pour the syrup into the cake. You can serve immediately or wait until the following day, as many think it is best the day after. You can serve as is or with a dusting of ground pistachios, and/or grated coconut flakes, and/or whipped/clotted cream.
• NOTE: Semolina is the coarse, purified wheat middlings of durum wheat used in making pasta, breakfast cereals, puddings, and couscous. The one I used was given by my mother and found in the Latin American section of a supermarket. But you can also find it (I think ) either in the pasta or baking section.

REVANI CAKE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the syrup ingredients, bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Set aside to cool completely.
• Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
• In the bowl of your standing mixer, add eggs, sugar and whip on high until it triples in volume and gets pale yellow and fluffy. 4-5 minutes.
• Add butter, vanilla extract and mix.
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, semolina, baking powder and salt.
• Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients working in batches.
• Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Poke the cake several times using the toothpick then pour the cooled syrup over.
• Allow the cake to cool down and rest for 1-2 hours before inverting on a serving platter. Decorate with coconut flakes and pistachios if desired.

REVANI (MACEDONIAN SYRUP CAKE)

Steps:

• Syrup: boil ingredients.
• Melt butter and sugar and beat for 5 minutes, then add eggs one by one mixing in between.
• Mix flour and semolina and add to egg mixture gradually.
• Pour into greased pan, and bake 40-45 minutes at 400 degrees.
• When baked, cut into diamond shapes and pour syrup over the cake (make sure the syrup and the cake are both hot).
• Crushed walnuts may be sprinkled on top of the mixture before baking or lemon or orange rind may be added to the mixture before cooking.

REVANI (GREEK CAKE USING SEMOLINA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Butter and flour a 13 X 9 inch pyrex baking pan.
• Sift flour, baking powder and salt.
• In large electric mixer bowl, beat egg whites until frothy.
• Gradually beat in 1/2 cup of the sugar.
• Continue beating until very stiff and glossy.
• Set meringue aside.
• Beat egg yolks, remaining sugar, and butter until very light and fluffy.
• Add orange rind and vanilla.
• Beat in dry ingredients alternately (slowly, on a low speed) with orange juice and semolina until incorporated.
• Fold in meringue.
• Turn into prepared pan and sprinkle with almonds.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until it tests done.
• Cool.
• For syrup: Boil sugar, water and cinnamon stick for 8 minutes.
• Add brandy and remove cinnamon stick.
• Pour hot syrup over cooled cake.
• Cool and cut into squares.
• Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

SEMOLINA CAKE SOAKED WITH LEMON SYRUP (REVANI)

Steps:

• Butter and coat with fine dry breadcrumbs a 9 x 9 inch Pyrex pan.
• Set oven rack in the middle of the oven; preheat to 350°.
• Whisk eggs and ½ cup sugar by hand in the bowl of an electric mixer.
• Place the bowl on the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; whip the mixture on high speed until pale and thickened, about 4 minutes.
• While the eggs are whipping, stir the semolina and remaining ½ cup sugar together in a medium mixing bowl; stir in the sour cream.
• Dissolve the baking soda in the brandy in a small cup and stir into the semolina mixture; add in the orange zest and butter, stir to combine.
• When the egg mixture is ready, fold it into the semolina batter with a large rubber spatula.
• Scrape the cake batter into the prepared pan; smooth the top.
• Bake cake for about 30 minutes, or until it is well risen and deep golden and a pick comes out clean.
• Cool the cake on a rack for 10 minutes.
• While the cake is cookng, prepare the syrup: stir together all the ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat; let the syrup boil gently for 5 minutes.
• While the syrup is cooling, score the cake into 2 inch diamonds or rectangles with the point of a sharp knife, cutting about 1 inch into the cake.
• After the syrup is cooked, remove the lemon half from the syrup and slowly pour the syrup all over the top of the cake so that it is evenly absorbed.
• Cool completely.
• Serve: cut through the scoring marks completely with a sharp knife; use a flexible spatula to first loosen each piece of cake, then remove it from the pan.
• Only the first piece is difficult and may break slightly, the rest should come out easily.
• Storage: keep the cake pan covered with plastic wrap at a cool room temperature.