Friands

Old fashioned French cake now a trendy cafe item "Down Under". I like these because they are so quick and easy to make; minium effort, maxium affect. My sister in law in Australia introduced me to them.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 cakes

Ingredients

• 185  g butter, melted
• 1  cup  ground almonds (125g)
• 6  egg whites, lightly beaten
• 1 1⁄2 cups icing sugar (240g)
• 1⁄2 cup plain flour or 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour (75g)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to Gas 5, 200-210C, 400-425 degrees F.
2. Grease 12 muffin cups or friand pans.
3. Combine ground almonds, sieved sugar and flour in medium bowl.
4. Add egg whites and cooled melted butter and mix with wooden spoon.
5. Pour or spoon mixture into prepared pans.
6. Bake about 25 minutes, turning pan/s during cooking.
7. Friands should spring back to the touch Variations: Before baking- Scatter sliced strawberries on top.
8. Add juice and grated rind of lemon to batter, top with raspberries.
9. Scatter sliced plums or nectarines or peaches on top and add a tsp of almond essence to batter.
10. Any flavourings work plus adding some finely chopped chocolate, white or dark works well with raspberries.