Pistachio Friands

This was my first attempt at making friands. I had no idea what to expect or what they're supposed to taste like, and do you think I could find a proper friand tin? NOPE. So instead I just used a small muffin tin.


1 1/3 cups icing sugar
1/3 cup plain flour                         
1 cup ground pistachio nuts
160g melted unsalted butter
5 egg whites, lightly beaten
1.2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1/4 cup caster sugar
1/4 cup chopped pistachio nuts

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius, and grease small muffin holes (or a proper friand tin)

2. Combine the icing sugar with the flour and ground pistachios. Add the melted butter, vanilla and the egg whites, and stir with a metal spoon, until just combined.

3. Spoon the mixture into prepared tin.

4. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool.

5. Meanwhile, put the sugar and 1/4 of water in a small saucepan and stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and boil for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in chopped pistachios.

6. Working quickly, spoon hot sugar mixture over the top if the cooled cakes and sprinkle with extra icing sugar.