Turkish-Style Revani Semolina Cake Steeped in Syrup

By
Elizabeth Taviloglu
Elizabeth Wilson Taviloğlu
Elizabeth Taviloglu
Food writer Elizabeth Taviloğlu learned Turkish cooking hands-on in Turkey where she has lived and traveled for more than 24 years.
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Updated on 03/30/22
Revani semolina cake

Only Fabrizio / Fotolia.com

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 12 to 15 servings

Revani is a classic dessert that has been present in Turkish cuisine since the Ottoman period. It is said to have been given its name when the Ottomans conquered the city of Yerevan in what is today Armenia. The Persian name for the cake, revani, is also used by the Greek culture. This dessert has been adapted by many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures. It is called basbousa in Arabic and shamali in Armenian.

In Turkish cuisine, revani is one of the most common desserts and is served both at home and in restaurants. It is a simple dessert made with a single layer of soft, yellow semolina sponge cake steeped in lots of light syrup.

Different versions of revani exist throughout the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, including Greece, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Arab cuisine, to name a few.

Try this easy recipe and experiment with different flavorings to make authentic Turkish-style revani at home. While good all by itself, topping it with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream adds an extra deliciousness.

Ingredients

For the Syrup:

  • 3 cups sugar

  • 3 cups water

  • 1/2 lemon, juiced

For the Cake:

  • 3 large eggs

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil

  • 1 lemon, zested

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • 1 cup plain yogurt

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup semolina

  • 1/4 cup finely ground hazelnuts

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • Coconut flakes, for garnish

  • Ground nuts, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F / 175 C. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

  3. Before you start making the cake, prepare the syrup to give it time to cool down. Begin by mixing the sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Turn the heat on high and bring the mixture to a boil while continuously stirring it.

  4. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low and let the syrup boil gently for about 10 minutes with the cover off. Add the lemon juice toward the end. Turn off the heat and let the syrup cool down while you make the rest of the recipe.

  5. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar. Whisk the mixture briskly for several minutes until the sugar dissolves. The more you whisk, the better your revani will turn out.

  6. Add the oil, lemon zest, vanilla, and yogurt and whisk for several minutes more.

  7. Add the dry ingredients—flour, semolina, hazelnuts, baking soda, and baking powder—and mix together well until you have a smooth batter.

  8. Pour the batter into the greased baking pan. Bake until the top is nicely browned, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 to 40 minutes. Once you remove the pan from the oven, let it rest for about 5 minutes.

  9. Cut the cake into portion-sized squares or rectangles while still in the pan.

  10. Using a large spoon, slowly drizzle all of the cooled syrup over the cake and let it soak in. Cover the cake with foil and refrigerate it for several hours.

  11. Before serving, garnish each square of cake with a pinch of coconut and ground nuts.

Tip

  • Putting the revani in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight before serving gives the syrup a chance to soak in and provide the utmost flavor.

Recipe Variation

  • You can also make orange-flavored revani by substituting the lemon zest and juice with orange zest and juice, or you can eliminate the lemon and use rose water instead to give the cake a wonderful rose aroma.

How to Store Revani Semolina Cake

This cake can be stored in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for three to four days.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
400 Calories
16g Fat
62g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 15
Amount per serving
Calories 400
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 38mg 13%
Sodium 156mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 62g 22%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 50g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 3mg 17%
Calcium 80mg 6%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 129mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)