Almond Friands

Almond Friands are delicate and delicious almond-based pastries that are perfect for tea time or any sweet indulgence. These little treats are characterized by their moist and tender texture, subtle almond flavor, and golden-brown exterior.

To make Almond Friands, melted butter is combined with ground flaked almonds, flour, and icing sugar to create a rich and nutty batter. Whisked egg whites are gently folded into the mixture, providing a light and airy consistency. The batter is then portioned into greased friand tins and baked until golden and slightly crispy on the edges.

The result is a batch of delightful almond friands that are soft, slightly chewy, and bursting with almond goodness. They are best enjoyed dusted with icing sugar and served alongside a cup of tea or coffee.

INGREDIENTS:

• 150g/5oz butter
• 75g/3oz flaked almonds
• 50g/2oz plain flour
• 175g/6oz icing sugar, plus extra for dusting
• 5 egg whites

PREPARATIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 210°C/425°F/Gas mark 7. Lightly grease ten 125ml/4fl oz friand tins.
2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the butter turns a deep golden color. Strain the butter to remove any residue and set it aside to cool until just lukewarm.
3. In a blender or food processor, finely grind the flaked almonds. Transfer the ground almonds to a bowl and sift in the flour and icing sugar.
4. In a separate bowl, lightly whisk the egg whites with a fork until just combined.
5. Add the lukewarm butter to the flour mixture, followed by the whisked egg whites. Gently mix all the ingredients together using a metal spoon until well combined.
6. Spoon the batter into each greased friand tin, filling them about three-quarters of the way up the sides.
7. Place the tins on a baking tray and bake in the center of the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Then, reduce the oven temperature to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4 and bake for another 5 minutes until the friands are golden and cooked through.
8. Remove the tins from the oven and let the friands cool in the tins for 5 minutes before carefully turning them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Once cooled, dust the friands with icing sugar before serving.

YIELD: Serves 5

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

• Make sure to cool the melted butter until it is lukewarm before adding it to the batter to prevent the egg whites from curdling.
• Be gentle when folding the whisked egg whites into the batter to maintain its light and airy texture.
• If you don’t have friand tins, you can use muffin tins as a substitute, but adjust the baking time accordingly.

TIPS:

• Serve Almond Friands as a delightful accompaniment to tea or coffee.
• These pastries can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.
• For an extra touch of sweetness and presentation, sprinkle some extra icing sugar on top of the friands just before serving.

Almond Friands are delightful little almond-based pastries with a moist and tender texture, subtle almond flavor, and golden-brown exterior. Made with ground flaked almonds, butter, flour, icing sugar, and whisked egg whites, these treats are easy to prepare and perfect for any occasion.

Whether enjoyed with a cup of tea or coffee, Almond Friands are a delicious and elegant sweet treat. Their nutty flavor and delicate texture make them a delightful addition to any dessert spread or afternoon tea gathering. Dust them with icing sugar for an extra touch of sweetness, and savor their delectable almond goodness.