Honey, Lemon & Thyme Friands

FRIANDS

100g unsalted butter
80ml whole milk
220g honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
zest of 3 lemons
juice of 1 lemon
300g ground almonds
1⁄2 tsp baking powder
2 sprigs thyme leaves, finely chopped

TOPPINGS

roughly chopped pistachios
flaked almonds

GLAZE

50g caster sugar
25ml water
2.5 tbsps lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 175°C

Place a small pan over a medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, pour into a bowl with the milk, honey, vanilla extract and eggs, lemon zest and juice and whisk until smooth.

Add the ground almonds, baking powder and thyme and combine until you get a relatively thick batter.

Divide the mixture equally into your friand tin and sprinkle with toppings of your choice – we like to make a mixed batch with chopped pistachios, flaked almonds while leaving some plain too. Bake in the oven for 16- 20 minutes until lightly golden and cooked through. A skewer inserted into the centre should come out clean when they are cooked.

While the friands are baking, make your glaze. Combine all of the sugar and water in a pan. Heat gently until the sugar has melted and you have a syrup-like consistency. Add the lemon juice and set aside.
Remove the friands from the oven and immediately pour over the glaze. Leave to cool slightly before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve as a deliciously soft, lemon infused treat with afternoon tea in the garden among the bees.