Berry Friands
Friands or financiers, this is the question! Some sources, such as Margaret Fulton, say they are exactly the same, other sources say they’re only similar, the differences being notable. After a bit of research, here’s what I’ve concluded: friands are round, oval or oblong shaped and are flavored with fruits, while financiers look like tiny bars of gold topped with sliced almonds. But they do have in common one very important part: the ingredients. Both friands and financiers are made using almond meal, melted butter (beurre noisette is often used for more flavor), egg whites, powdered sugar, flavorings and toppings – fruits for friands, nuts or coconut for financiers. Another difference I stumbled across is the fact that friands seem to be more specific to Australia, while financiers are definitely French. Either way, they are crusty, delicious, almondy and moist, sweet perfect bites for a party!
I’ve come across this recipe while reading Margaret Faulton’s book, Baking Classics, and it struck me at first how similar the ingredient list is to the more famous macarons. It this was intriguing enough for me to try it right away – mostly because I’m not too fond on macarons and an alternative was more than welcomed. The verdict you may ask – well, I think it’s safe to say I like friands more than macarons – the flavor is intense, the texture is delicate, the possibilities are endless. Sure, it’s just a matter of personal taste at the end of the day, but I think these tiny tea cakes do deserve a spot on the walk of fame of the pastry world.
Berry Friands
Ingredients
- 175 g butter 82%
- 100 g almond flour
- 2 g lemon zest
- 260 g icing sugar (sifted)
- 75 g all-purpose white flour (sifted)
- 1 g salt
- 150 g egg whites
- 2 handfuls fresh or frozen mixed berries
Instructions
- Place the butter in a saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the butter is melted and it starts to look golden brown. Be careful as it burns easily. This is beurre noisette. Place aside.
- In a bowl, mix the almond flour, lemon zest, sugar and flour. Add a pinch of salt.
- Stir in the egg whites and butter and mix just until combined.
- Spoon the batter into small muffin cups (silicone muffin cups in my case) and top each friand with a few berries.
- Bake in the preheated oven at 200F for 5 minutes then reduce to 180C and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and crusty.
- Allow to cool for a few minutes in the cups then remove on a platter.
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