Blueberry and lemon friands

Soft, light-as-a-feather pillows of citrus and berry love

INGREDIENTS:

5 egg whites
150 g butter, melted
1 cup almond meal
1/3 cup plain flour
1 cup icing sugar
zest of 1 lemon
150 g fresh or frozen blueberries
icing sugar for dusting

Makes 12 friands or 32 mini muffins

METHOD:

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 180°C. Grease a 24-hole mini-muffin pan or 12-hole friand pan. I have two mini-muffin pans and find that I use roughly 32 holes with this recipe. Be sure to grease the holes well as the cooked friands can be a nightmare to pry from their little homes.

Step 2: In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites until well combined and a foam has formed at the top. Add the melted butter, as well as the almond meal, sifted sugar and flour, and lemon zest. Whisk the ingredients together until just combined. Spoon the mixture evenly into the prepared holes then place two or three blueberries on top of the batter in each hole. Friands are also delicious with raspberries or strawberries instead of blueberries and lemon.

Step 4: Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Remove from the oven then leave the cooked friands in the pan for a few minutes. I then run the handle of a teaspoon around the edges of each friand to gently wriggle them out. Place them on a wire rack to cool then serve with a little icing sugar dusted over the top.

I dare you to eat only one!