Koumbou / Koumba (Mahlab Spice Cake)
A special spice cake made on St. Sarkis' Day. A Mousadaghian (Armenian) tradition. The cake is Lenten and is very aromatic.
⏱️ Prep: 20 min🍳 Cook: 90 min
Ingredients
| 8 cups | 1.9 l | all-purpose flour |
| 1 1/2 cups | 360 ml | sugar |
| 1/2 tbsp | 7.5 ml | cinnamon |
| 1/2 tbsp | 7.5 ml | nutmeg |
| 1/2 tbsp | 7.5 ml | mahlab |
| 2 tsp | 10 ml | baking powder |
| 1 cup | 240 ml | oil (for the dough) |
| 1/4 cup | 60 ml | oil (for the top) |
| 1 1/2 cups | 360 ml | orange juice |
| 1 1/2 cups | 360 ml | chopped nuts (walnut, almond, pistachio) |
| 1/2 cup | 120 ml | raisins |
| 1/2 cup | 120 ml | white sesame seeds for the top |
Instructions
Course: dessert. Servings: 12 portions.
- Mix all the dry ingredients (except the sugar) and the nuts together and leave it aside. Dissolve the sugar in the orange juice, then add it along with 1 cup of oil to the dry ingredients and knead well. You will have a thick dough.
- If you want to put a coin in the "cake" wrap the coin in foil and insert it in the dough.
- Spread the dough in a large non-stick pan. Dip your hands in water and smooth out the surface of the dough. Then pour over it the ¼ cup of oil and sprinkle the sesame seeds and decorate with nuts. Bake for about 1.5 hours on low heat.