Sfouf bil debis (carob molasses cake) recipe (2024)

With all due respect to brownies, these Lebanese
Sfouf bi debs bars are rich, moist and almost fudgy,( the very definition of irresistible) and they might have just taken brownies’ spot as my kids’ new favorite dessert!

Molasses cake orsfouf b debsis an egg-less, vegetarian Lebanese cake made with local carob molasses instead of sugar.

What is carob molasses (dibs kharoob)?

Carob molasses (debs el kharroub) is a thick brown syrup, traditionally prepared in Lebanon -and throughout the Levant -from carob pods:the pods are milled then soaked in water and a thick and sweet liquid is extracted by reducing the liquid from soaking the pods.

Sfouf bil debis (carob molasses cake) recipe (1)

What can I use carob molasses for?

You can think of carob molasses as a natural and healthy sweetener and as a substitute for chocolate. As a sweetener,it is a wonderful addition to your baked goods and desserts, it adds a mild sweetness and a mild nutty tone. You can use it instead of honey, syrup or sugar in a recipe. I love it in the morning mixed with Greek yogurt then topped with some nuts, seeds or granola. If you have never tried it before,the best place to start is to mix equal parts tahini and molasses and dive in! You can dip some pita bread into the mix or simply enjoy it by the spoonful 😛
You can also use it in marinades, smoothies and salad dressings. If you can’t find carob syrup/ molasses you may be able to find carob powder and that is a great substitute for cocoa in dessert recipes .
In addition to its sweet chocolaty flavor, it is actually packed with nutrients. It is rich in potassium, calcium and phosphorous, and an important source of iron

Sfouf bil debis (carob molasses cake) recipe (2)

I am sharing two versions of this recipe with you today. One with added sugar and powdered milk and the other one is vegan and added sugar free. The recipe with added sugar yields a fudgy, moist and slightly dense sfouf that is almost brownie like in consistency. The sugar free version is lighter, not overly sweet and has a more airy cake like crumb.

Before getting to the recipe, please allow me to thank all of you my wonderful readers who have welcomed me back with your kind comments. Your words and warmth touched my heart and I am deeply grateful 🙂

Sfouf bil debis (carob molasses cake) recipe (3)

Carob molasses cake (sfouf bi debis kharoub)

1 tablespoon tahini
1 1/2 cup fine semolina flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup powdered milk
1 1/2 teaspoon ground anise
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/3 cup carob molasses (check out the notes for substitutions)
1/4 cup untoasted sesame seeds

Directions
1.Heat the oven to 350F (180C).
2.Use the tahini to brush a 10 inch (25 cm) round cake pan. Make sure to brush the base and sides. The tahini does a dual purpose: prevent sticking and adding flavor
3.In a bowl , add the semolina flour, both types of flour, sugar, powdered milk, ground anise, baking powder,whisk to combine
4. In another bowl, mix the water, vegetable oil, and carob molasses.
5. Add the wet mix to the dry mix and whisk until well combined.
6.Pour the batter in the cake pan.
7.Sprinkle evenly with the sesame seeds.
8.Bake in the oven for 40 minutes. (or until a cake tester comes out clean) 9.Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
10.Cut in small squares

Sugar free sfouf

1 tablespoon tahini
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon anise seeds
1 1/2 teaspoon ground anise
1 teaspoon ground fennel
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/4 cup carob molasses (check out the notes for substitutions)
1/4 cup untoasted sesame seeds for topping

Directions
1.Heat the oven to 350F (180C).
2.Use the tahini to brush a 10 inch (25 cm) round cake pan. Make sure to brush the base and sides. The tahini does a dual purpose: prevent sticking and adding flavor
3.In a bowl , both types of flour, anise seeds, ground anise,ground fennel , cinnamon, baking powder,whisk to combine
4. In another bowl, mix the water, oil, and carob molasses.
5. Add the wet mix to the dry mix and whisk until well combined.
6.Pour the batter in the cake pan.
7.Sprinkle evenly with the sesame seeds.
8.Bake in the oven for 40 minutes. (or until a cake tester comes out clean) 9.Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
10.Cut in small squares

Can I use different types of molasses in this recipe?

Traditionally this recipe is made with carob molasses but I have tried it with date molasses and a combination of date and carob molasses and it works really well with all the options. Do keep in mind though that each type of molasses has its own unique taste that it lends to the cake. So experiment with different types and decide which one or combination do you like best


سبق جربتوا السفوف؟ طيب جربتوا تعملوا حلويات بدبس الخروب؟
دبس الخروب من المحليات الطبيعيه التراثيه اللي كانت تستخدم بكثرة في بلاد الشام.هو بديل صحي للشوكولاته في وصفات الحلويات و هو غني بالبوتاسيوم و الكالسيوم و الفسفور و الحديد
السفوف بدبس الخروب وصفة تراثية لبنانيه جميلة

Sfouf bil debis (carob molasses cake) recipe (4)
Sfouf bil debis (carob molasses cake) recipe (5)
Sfouf bil debis (carob molasses cake) recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is carob the same as molasses? ›

The most common forms of molasses are made from either sugar cane or sugar beet juice which is boiled down to a syrup. Sugar crystals are extracted from the syrup, and the remaining dark liquid is molasses. Molasses can also be made from sorghum, pomegranate, carob, and dates.

What is carob molasses in Arabic? ›

Debs Kharroub (Carob Molasses), Organic, دبس الخروب at BuyLebanese.com. Dibs el Kharoub.

What does carob molasses taste like? ›

Carob molasses is a dark, slightly gelled syrup. It has an almost pungent, roasted, sweet-ish aroma with intense caramely, jammy dried fruit flavors, perhaps pruney or raisiny, with a note of burnt toast, a nuance of chocolate, and some bitterness.

How is carob molasses made? ›

You get carob molasses from cooking the fruit of the carob pod with water, then straining and reducing it down to a crazy delicious syrup. It's a Middle Eastern product, so if you want it, head to your nearest Middle Eastern market or look online.

Does carob molasses raise blood sugar? ›

Although carob is naturally sweet, it has a low glycaemic index, and studies demonstrate that it lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Can you eat too much carob? ›

As a dietary supplement, carob isn't under the same FDA guidelines. Consuming a lot of carob may not be safe, particularly for pregnant women. It may cause unintended weight loss and decreases in blood sugar and insulin levels.

What is carob in the Bible? ›

Another Biblical reference to carob is as the "locust bean" which tempted the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:16). The Hebrew word for carob is Charuv and the dried fruity pods are eaten on the Jewish Holiday, Tu Bishvat.

Why isn't carob more popular? ›

A 2018 New Yorker piece explains the evolution of carob in the United States, saying it failed to become a popular food because it "traumatized a generation." In the 1970s, children whose parents were members of the natural food movement felt betrayed when they were presented with carob-filled "chocolate" confections, ...

Does carob molasses need to be refrigerated? ›

Except for the unsulfured variety, molasses does not need to be refrigerated after a person opens the jar. They can store it in a cool, dry place. To prevent fermenting, a person should refrigerate unsulfured molasses.

What country is carob most popular? ›

It is widely cultivated for its edible fruit, which takes the form of seed pods, and as an ornamental tree in gardens and landscapes. The carob tree is native to the Mediterranean region and the Middle East. Portugal is the largest producer of carob, followed by Italy and Morocco. L.

Why do people eat carob instead of chocolate? ›

Carob is considered a healthier alternative to chocolate for some individuals. It is lower in fat, caffeine-free, and lacks theobromine. Carob is rich in fiber and naturally sweet, offering a nutritious option.

Does carob go bad? ›

Storage. Store carob powder, chips, and whole dried pods in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to one year.

Does carob molasses increase testosterone? ›

The results of multivariate analysis compared to the placebo group showed that by controlling the levels of hormones in the pre-intervention stage, in Carob users, the probability of normal levels of LH, prolactin, and testosterone were, respectively, 18%, 37%, and 40% higher than that of abnormal levels.

Is carob molasses healthy? ›

Although carob molasses is a source of nutrients, both sweeteners are considered added sugars. These types of sweets improve the taste of various foods but add very little nutritional value. It's OK to include sweets like molasses in your diet, but you should limit your intake to help keep calories under control.

What is the common name for carob? ›

Ceratonia siliqua, the scientific name of the carob tree, derives from the Greek κερατωνία keratōnia, "carob-tree" (cf. κέρας kéras, "horn"), and Latin siliqua "pod, carob". In English, it is also known as "St. John's bread" and "locust tree" (not to be confused with African locust bean).

What is the closest thing to molasses? ›

  • Honey. Generally speaking, honey is very sweet, floral in flavor, and golden in color. ...
  • Sorghum. Sorghum is sometimes known as sorghum molasses, which tells you how similar these syrups are. ...
  • Maple Syrup. ...
  • Dark Corn Syrup. ...
  • Golden Syrup. ...
  • Brown Sugar. ...
  • Simple Syrup. ...
  • Black Treacle.
Dec 5, 2019

What is the common name for molasses? ›

Molasses. Molasses (or treacle in the UK consumer market) is a general term for concentrated juice from sugarcane or sugarbeet, or raw cane sugar in concentrated solution after varying amounts of sucrose have been removed. Sugarcane molasses is the major food molasses.

What is carob similar to? ›

Both the powder and chips are similar to cocoa powder and chocolate chips in color, but their flavor is unique. Carob is less bitter than chocolate and has a roasted, naturally sweet flavor (carob chips aren't made with added sugar for this reason). Carob also happens to be caffeine-free and high in fiber.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Golda Nolan II

Last Updated:

Views: 5987

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Golda Nolan II

Birthday: 1998-05-14

Address: Suite 369 9754 Roberts Pines, West Benitaburgh, NM 69180-7958

Phone: +522993866487

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Shopping, Quilting, Cooking, Homebrewing, Leather crafting, Pet

Introduction: My name is Golda Nolan II, I am a thoughtful, clever, cute, jolly, brave, powerful, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.