Upgrade your banana bread to a banana cake, with the flavors of the Middle East and North Africa. This banana cake is inspired by the flavors that were introduced to me and my brother by my Moroccan grandmother. Semolina flour for a coarse and dense texture, orange blossom water to compliment the sweet flavors of banana, and tahini, cardamom, and cinnamon to bring all of the rich flavors together. This cake is sweet, rich, moist, and perfect for breakfast, dessert, and any snack in between.

This version of the classic Banana Cream pie uses sesame in variable forms to tame the sweetness. A nutty and sweet tahini cream pudding is used in place of boring vanilla. The typical buttery flaky crust is replaced with a crumby “sesame & oat” crust, making each bite a textural experience. From sesame seeds to tahini- this pie perfectly incorporates an earthy flavor with the sweet and subtle banana flavoring resulting in a bite that actually takes your tastebuds on a journey.