Traditional Turkish Semolina Halva with Walnuts and Cinnamon

Discover a comforting Turkish dessert packed with warm spices and crunchy walnuts. This semolina halva is simple to prepare, fragrant with cinnamon and cardamom, and perfect for a hearty breakfast or a satisfying snack with a glass of milk. For a fancier touch, you can substitute walnuts with pistachios, almonds, or pine nuts.

🕒 Prep Time: 10 min

🍳 Cook Time: 30 min
🍽️ Servings: 6

Ingredients

400 ml milk
400 ml water
1 cinnamon stick
7 cardamom pods
300 g sugar, divided
100 g unsalted butter
300 g semolina
1 tsp ground cinnamon
150 g walnuts, finely chopped (or pistachios, almonds, pine nuts)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Aromatic Milk

In a saucepan, combine milk, water, 150 g sugar, cinnamon stick, and cardamom pods. Heat until sugar dissolves completely.
Remove the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods, and keep the milk warm over low heat until needed.
Tip: If using ground spices instead of whole, add ½ tsp of each directly to the milk.

2. Toast the Semolina

In a wide, deep skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
Add the semolina and stir continuously until it resembles moist sand and starts to turn a golden-rose color, about 20 minutes. Lower heat towards the end to prevent burning.
Stir in 100 g of chopped walnuts and toast for an additional 5 minutes.

3. Combine Semolina and Milk

Carefully pour the hot aromatic milk into the semolina mixture all at once—expect some splattering. Stir rapidly to combine and avoid lumps.
Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until all the milk is absorbed and the texture becomes like soft polenta.

4. Add Cinnamon Sugar and Finish Cooking

Mix the remaining sugar with ground cinnamon and stir into the semolina mixture.
Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens further, feels slightly grainy, and pulls away from the pan’s sides.

5. Set and Serve

Transfer the halva into a 20×20 cm baking pan lined with parchment paper.
Press evenly with the bottom of a glass to level the surface.
Sprinkle the remaining 50 g of chopped walnuts on top and gently press them into the halva.
Allow to cool completely.
Dust with powdered sugar or extra ground cinnamon before serving.
Cut into cubes and enjoy with a glass of milk.

💡 Tips

Use unsalted butter for balanced flavor.
Adjust sweetness by varying the sugar amount.
Experiment with different nuts for toppings or mix-ins.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

🎉 Perfect For

Traditional Turkish breakfast or dessert
Cozy winter snacks
Nutty, spiced treats

📝 Final Thoughts

This classic Turkish semolina halva balances rich, toasted semolina with fragrant spices and crunchy nuts. Its warm aroma and comforting texture make it an ideal homemade treat to share with family or enjoy with a calming cup of tea or milk.