PETIMEZOPITA, SPICED CAKE WITH GRAPE MOLASSES
‘Petimezopita’ a delicious spice cake sweetened with grape molasses. Before refined sugar became popular in modern Greek baking, it was common for Greek housewives to harvest grapes in the autumn and make grape molasses that would be used as a sweetener throughout the year. Grape molasses are making a well deserved come back now that we look for healthier alternatives to sugar.
Petimezopita, from the Greek words petimezi (= grape molasses) and pita, (= pie) is an aromatic cake spiced with cinnamon and clove and doesn’t contain any dairy or animal fats.
Ingredients
180 ml grape molasses (petimezi)
150 ml olive oil
150 ml water
1 cinnamon stick
5-6 cloves
450 all-purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp. baking powder
2 medium oranges, juice and zest
6 tsp. sugar
A sprinkle of sesame seeds
Instructions
- For this recipe we used an 8×9 inch greased baking tin.
- Preheat the oven at 180 ⁰C (fan assisted)
- Bring the water, cinnamon and cloves to a boil. Remove from heat, cool and strain, discarding the spices.
- Using an electric mixer beat together the olive oil and sugar until creamy.
- Add the spiced water and beat until combined.
- Add the orange zest, mix to combine, followed by the orange juice.
- Slowly add the sifted flour and baking powder mixing until a thick batter forms.
- Pour the batter into a lightly oiled tray and sprinkle with sugar and sesame seeds.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until the cake has set or when a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.