Orange Semolina Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch round cake pan.
• In a small saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. Drizzle the semolina into the water, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Stir in 1/4 cup of the sugar. Cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, whisk the ricotta, egg yolks, liqueur, and zest. Stir in the raisins.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with salt on low speed until foamy. Gradually beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar on high speed and beat until the whites hold stiff peaks.
• With a spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the ricotta mixture. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan.
• Bake the cheesecake for 1 hour or until puffed and golden on top. Remove from the oven. Let cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Invert onto a plate and let cool.
• Serve at room temperature or chilled, sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

Steps:

• Combine chopped oranges and 1 tablespoon water in a small saucepan, cover, and cook over medium-low heat until oranges are soft and excess liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
• Place oranges in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until finely chopped.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until stiff peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, continuing to beat for 1 more minute.
• Beat egg yolks and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a separate bowl until pale and thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in finely chopped oranges. Fold in ground almonds, semolina, vanilla extract, and fiori di Sicilia. Stir in 3 spoonfuls of whisked egg white to loosen the batter. Gently fold in remaining egg whites with a spatula or large metal spoon. Pour batter into prepared springform and level the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cake is golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Check cake after 20 and 30 minutes to see if it is starting to brown too quickly. Cover top lightly with aluminum foil once cake starts to brown.
• Remove from oven and cool in the pan. Remove ring, peel away parchment paper and transfer cake to a serving plate. Drizzle with liqueur and dust with confectioners' sugar.

Steps:

• Syrup:
• Bring bay leaves, sugar, salt, and 1/2 cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Pluck out bay leaves; let cool.
• Cake and assembly:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9"-diameter cake pan. Whisk semolina, sugar, baking powder, orange zest, cardamom, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk yogurt and milk in a large bowl. Mix in dry ingredients, then 3/4 cup butter. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake cake until golden brown and firm, 55-65 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cake cool in pan 10 minutes. Turn a plate over top of pan and invert cake. Using a cake tester or toothpick, poke holes all over cake; gradually pour all but 1/4 cup bay leaf syrup over, letting it soak in. Let sit 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, remove peel and white pith from oranges. Slice into 1/4"-thick rounds; remove seeds. Combine in a medium bowl with remaining bay leaf syrup; let sit, tossing occasionally, at least 20 minutes. Taste and add lemon juice as needed.
• Serve cake with oranges in syrup.
• Do Ahead
• Cake can be baked 2 days ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.