Blood Orange Friands
For my 14th birthday, I was given a blood orange tree. A weird thing for a child to want, I know but I was fascinated by the fruit, mainly because of my morbid sense of humour. Since then every year my little tree in its terracotta pot grows about 6 small, pale green fruit. They are extremely sour, but I'm still proud of it for trying. These friands were made with store bought fruit, as I save my fruit for a jam or syrup, something with lots of sugar and that lasts for more than one sitting.
These friands certainly make a statement, and there is no artificial colourings in the icing. Just the juice from the oranges.
INGREDIENTS
40 min Cooking Time | Serves 8-12
5 egg whites
100g butter, melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup icing sugar
1 cup almond meal
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 tsp baking powder
zest and juice of 3 blood oranges (1 extra for garnish)
1/2 cup icing sugar (for icing)
METHOD
Preheat oven to 200°C and grease a friand or muffin tray
Whisk egg whites in a bowl with and electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add butter, sugars, almond meal, coconut and the zest and juice from two blood oranges. Fold in gently until combined.
Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted at the centre comes out clean. Stand in pan for 10 minutes (to allow for shrinkage and easier removal). Transfer to wire rack.
For the icing, combine remaining icing sugar and the juice from one blood orange, and whisk with a fork until smooth.
