Friands are little cakes, typically oval shaped, originally from France. If you do not have a friand tin you can always use a muffin tin. The cakes are made with ground almonds, melted butter icing sugar and egg whites (instead of whole eggs) and a small amount of flour, which makes them super light and the almonds keep them moist.
Author: CluckMuckCook
Recipe type: Cakes
Serves: 12
Ingredients
6 egg whites
1 large or 2 small lemons
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
185 g butter, melted
120g ground almonds
240g icing sugar
75g plain flour
½ teaspoon lemon essence (optional)
Icing sugar to dust
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F/200C.
Grease 12 x ½ cup oval friand tins or a 12-hole muffin tin; stand on a baking tray.
Place egg whites in medium bowl and whisk lightly until they have combined together. they should still be runny, transparent with just a little froth on the top.
Zest the lemon, sift icing sugar and flour into the egg whites and add all remaining ingredients into the bowl.
Stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until just combined.
Spoon mixture equally into the fraind or muffin tin .
Bake friands about 25 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire tray, topside up.
Serve friands warm, dusted with extra sifted icing sugar.
Notes
These store well for a few days in an airtight container.
Recipe by Cluck, Muck & Cook at http://cluckmuckcook.co.uk/lemon-and-poppyseed-friands/