Blackberry Friands
Forget Friday nights with friends. Why not throw a fun, low-key get together this weekday? On any typical weekend you may find yourself preparing for a special occasion like a surprise birthday, but why wait so long to catch up with friends?
A casual approach to low-stress entertaining is much easier and doesn't mean it cannot be elegant, so why not make as much make-ahead food in advance? This way you can enjoy an all easy, comfortable evening with friends and arouse their senses to a moist, decadent and sumptuous fruity friand...some might say the best part of any evening!
Makes 10-12, ideal for sharing over a cup of tea
Ingredients:
5 large egg whites
180 grams icing sugar, sifted
150 grams unsalted butter, melted
90 grams ground almonds
50 grams plain flour, sifted
A small punnet of blackberries (or why not try 2 figs, cut into fifths, raspberries, small strawberries or blueberries)
Method:
Preheat the oven to 200˚C/ 400˚F/ Gas mark 6.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites using a handheld egg beater. Whisk the egg whites until lightly combined into a frothy, bubbly mixture. (this normally takes about 3-4 minutes) Once the egg whites are frothy, pour in the melted butter and ground almonds and mix well with a spatula.
Next, sift in the icing sugar and flour and mix again until well combined and set aside.
Next, lightly grease a small friand tray or small cupcake tray and fill each mould two thirds full with the friand batter. Once the trays are set with the batter, place a blackberry at the top of each friand. Bake on the middle shelf for 20-25 minutes, until golden on top. (If you are using blueberries, place 3-4 on top of each friand or 1-2 raspberries or a small strawberry or if not a slice of fresh fig).
Once the friands are baked, set aside to cool for 10 minutes and dust with a little icing sugar. Serve warm with your favorite hot beverage and a side dish of girlie natter!
