Greek Syrup Cake Recipes

GREEK YOGURT CAKE SOAKED IN SYRUP RECIPE (YIAOURTOPITA)

Steps:

• To prepare the syrup for this Greek yogurt cake, add all the ingredients for the syrup in a small pot and bring to the boil. Boil for about 2-3 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup has slightly thickened. Leave aside to cool.
• To prepare the Greek yogurt cake (yiaourtopita), divide the eggs into yolks and whites. Place the egg whites in the mixer's bowl, along with a pinch of salt. Make sure your egg whites, bowl and whisk attachments are clean and free of any water. Whisk the egg whites until the mixture is very thick and glossy and a long trailing peak forms when the whisk is lifted (meringues). Place the mixture in a bowl and set aside.
• In another bowl, sift the flour and the baking powder and blend.
• Use an electric mixer, to mix the butter and sugar for about 15 minutes, until the butter is creamy and fluffy (it is very important that the butter is at room temperature). Add the egg yolks, one at a time, whilst mixing, allowing time for each one to be absorbed, before adding another. Add the yogurt, the orange and lemon zest and the vanilla extract and blend to combine. Add 1/3 of the sifted flour and blend, using a maryse spatula. Add 1/3 of the meringues and blend with light circular movements from the bottom up. Repeat with the rest of the flour and meringue (adding 1/3 of the flour and 1/3 meringue and then the remaining flour and meringue).
• Preheat the oven to 190C (both top and bottom heating elements on). To bake the Greek yogurt cake, use a round cake tin, approx. 26cm in diameter. Butter the bottom and sides of the tin and pour in the mixture.
• Place the cake in the preheated oven, on the lower rack, turn the heat down to 175C and bake for 50-60 minutes, until nicely coloured and cooked through. Check if it is ready, by sticking in the middle of the cake a wooden skewer or toothpick. If it comes out clean, then the cake is ready.
• To finish the Greek yogurt cake, ladle slowly the cold syrup over the hot cake, allowing each ladle of the syrup to be absorbed, before ladling again. Allow time for the syrup to be absorbed.
• This Greek yogurt cake is ideally served cold, not hot, with a fresh fruits, yogurt or ice-cream . Enjoy!

GREEK SEMOLINA CAKE WITH ORANGE SYRUP (REVANI)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch pan and set aside.
• Mix the flour, semolina, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
• Using an electric mixer , cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. With the mixer running, add the egg yolks one by one. Continue mixing until the batter turns light yellow. Add the vanilla extract and lemon zest .
• With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 batches alternating with the milk.
• Clean the beaters well and beat the egg whites in a separate bowl with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form.
• Using a spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter until just combined. Don't mix too much, or you will "flatten" your egg whites.
• Pour the batter into the pan, level with a spatula, and bake for 45 minutes or until the cake is a nice golden color.
• Add the water, sugar, and orange zest to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the lemon juice and cool.
• While the cake is still warm, cover it with the syrup. When the cake cools, you can sprinkle with some powdered sugar , cinnamon, and almonds, if using.

GREEK SYRUP CAKE

Steps:

• Combined water 1 1/2 c sugar 1 tsp vanilla and lemon juice boil for 10 minutes; cool and set aside.
• Cream butter and 1 c sugar, add one egg at a time beating after each addition. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat well then add vanilla and walnuts.
• Bake in an 8-inch square pan 30 minutes on 350°.
• As soon as cake is taken from the oven, pour cooled syrup over the cake.

GREEK HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and orange rind. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Stir in the walnuts.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then cut into diamond shapes. Pour honey syrup over the cake.
• For the Honey Syrup: In a saucepan, combine honey, 1 cup sugar and water. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.

GREEK HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and orange rind. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Stir in the walnuts.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then cut into diamond shapes. Pour honey syrup over the cake.
• For the Honey Syrup: In a saucepan, combine honey, 1 cup sugar and water. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.

KARITHOPITA (GREEK WALNUT CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F; butter and flour a 13 x 9 baking pan.
• In a bowl combine the walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, breadcrumbs, flour, and baking powder.
• In a small glass, dilute the soda with the cognac.
• Beat the egg whites in a bowl until stiff peaks form.
• In a large bowl mixing bowl, cream the butter with the sugar and then add the eggs yolks; mix in the soda with the cognac, and add the milk and the walnut mixture, beating until well combined; fold in 1/4 of the beaten egg whites to lighten batter, then carefully fold in the rest; it is ok if a few white streaks show in the batter; spread into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until the cake tests done. Cool cake completely (it is very important that the cake is cooled before pouring on hot syrup because otherwise it will turn mushy).
• For the syrup: Mix all the ingredients together in a medium saucepan; bring it to a boil and boil for 5-7 minutes; remove cinnamon stick and pour hot syrup over cooled cake; let the cake cool completely (from the addition of the hot syrup) before serving.

KARITHOPASTA - GREEK WALNUT SYRUP CAKE

Steps:

• Grease a 22cm by 35 cm pan with butter or margarine. Do not line with baking paper or use non-stick sprays.
• Beat butter in a medium bowl until softened and add sugar beating until light and fluffy.
• In a separate bowl combine breadcrumbs, spices and baking powder.
• Add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition and then the liqueur.
• Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and beat until combined.
• Finally add the walnuts and beat until just combined.
• Tip into baking pan and smooth evenly over bottom.
• Bake on the bottom rack of the oven at 200c for 30-35 minutes depending on how hot your oven is.
• Test cake by inserting skewer and allow to cool until room temperature.
• While cake is cooling add ingredients for syrup into a small saucepan, except for vanilla essence.
• Boil for 5 minutes at medium heat. Then take off heat and add the vanilla essence if desired.
• Pour hot syrup over cooled cake. Start by ladling slowly from one end to another and gently tip remaining syrup over cake trying to be as even as possible.
• Allow cake to soak syrup for a few hours. It is best if it soaks overnight.
• Cut cake into diamonds to serve with a swirl of whipped sweetened cream (I add a bit of vanilla essence or liqueur to the cream) and flaked chocolate.
• Note: It is beat to start with all ingredients at room temperature to avoid butter curdling when eggs are added.