Lebanese Molasses Cake – Sfouf Bi Debes

Molasses cake or sfouf b debs is an egg-less Lebanese cake made with local carob molasses instead of sugar. Carob molasses (debs el kharroub) is traditionally prepared in Lebanon – in the South mainly – from carob pods: a thick and sweet liquid is extracted from the milled pods soaked in water. Carob molasses is a natural and healthy substitute for chocolate, rich in potassium, calcium, and phosphorous, and an important source of iron.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups All-Purpose Flour
2 cups Fine Semolina
4 tbsp. Baking Powder
2 cups Carob Molasses
1/2 cup Milk Powder
1 cup Vegetable Oil
2 tsp. Anise Powder
1 tsp. Turmeric Powder
2 cups water + 2 tbsp. Anise Seeds, to boil together
2 tbsp. Tahini Paste
Sesame Seeds and Pine Seeds for decoration

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Boil the anise seeds in the water, drain, and let the anise water cool.

In a big bowl, mix well the dry ingredients (flour, semolina, milk powder, anise powder, turmeric powder, and baking powder).

Add the oil and knead well before adding the anise water gradually until the dough becomes soft.

Prepare your baking pan by brushing it with the tahini paste.

Spread the dough in the pan and decorate it with sesame seeds or pine seeds.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Allow cooling before cutting the sfouf cake into squares.

NOTE

Sfouf Bi Debes, this Lebanese cake is flavored with Carob molasses and sprinkled with pine nuts or sesame seeds. Some like their molasses sfouf plain without any decoration. Sfouf is a Lebanese turmeric cake. The turmeric gives the cake a beautiful yellow color and such a distinct and wonderful taste!!