(makes 12)

Friands, perfect morning or afternoon coffee or tea accompaniment, are easily over-cooked and tend not to bounce back when prodded in the centre, until they are overcooked.  If you wish also serve warm at dessert time with Brandy Cream.

INGREDIENTS

170g butter

225g (1½ cups) icing sugar (sieved)

130g (1¼ cups + 1 tbsp) ground almonds

70g (1/2 cup) flour (sieved)        

5 egg whites

2 tsp lemon zest

about 180g Christmas Fruit Mince (rolled into 12 approx 15g balls)

extra icing sugar for dusting

METHOD

Preheat oven to 180ºC.

Clarify butter by placing butter in a small pot and over a medium temperature heat until hot.  Leave to simmer for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and slowly pour through a fine sieve leaving the milk solids in the base of the pot.  Discard milk solids.  The sieve will remove any scum off the top of the butter that has formed during the clarification process.

In a large bowl combine icing sugar, ground almonds and flour.

Pour in egg whites {not beaten} and lemon zest and stir well.

Slowly pour in clarified butter.  Combine by using a lifting and stirring action until butter is entirely combined.

Using baking spray or melted butter grease friand moulds and evenly spoon half the batter into prepared moulds.  Place a ball of Christmas Fruit Mince into the centre of each mould and cover with remaining batter.

Place in preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until just cooked.  They will still look a little undercooked, as they remain moist on top.

Cool on a cake rack and serve inverted dusted with icing sugar.

Christmas Fruit Mince

 INGREDIENTS

50g (1/3 cup) sultanas

50g (1/3 cup) currants

50g (1/3 cup) raisins

20g (3) dates (cover with hot water to soften)

25g (4-5) dried apricots (chopped)         

25g (3 tbsp) brown sugar

70g (½ small) apple (peeled, cored and diced)

75g (1 small) banana mashed

15ml (1 tbsp) brandy

METHOD

In a food processor with a metal blade place sultanas and pulse to roughly chop.  Remove from food processor bowl into a large ceramic bowl.  Continue to chop raisins, dates and apricots in a similar manner.

Roughly chop currants by hand and add to the bowl with the other fruits.  Combine well with a wooden spoon.

Add sugar, apple, banana and brandy and combine.

Store in an airtight container in refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.