There’s a well known saying from Coco Chanel that in regards to accessorising, before you leave the house you should take the last thing that you put on off. Coco Chanel was of course known for her understated elegance and much imitated distinctive style. It’s great advice but as for me, you won’t find me on my way out of the house taking something off. I’m more likely to be piling more on. Another bracelet, necklace or a giant hat? How about all three! And that’s not even counting the fact that I wear enough makeup to power a drag queen to the moon and back. I’m more of the more is more variety than the less is more I suppose. Try as I might to be the latter.
I apply the same principle to food. I love icing because it’s like an extra layer of makeup. That’s why muffins rarely turn up here but cupcakes with their strange and fanciful decorations are a frequent guest. I really just can’t leave well enough alone and if there is a chance to put something more on, I do. I don’t know if it’s wise to go so overboard but I will say that it is fun and Chanel also said that it was better to be overdressed than under dressed which I wholly subscribe to.
Friands enjoyed a revival several years ago and then sort of disappeared replaced by the cupcake and macaron. I always enjoyed these plain sweet and moist cakes in the distinctive oval shape. But the drag queen in me wasn’t quite as taken with their plain exterior. Perhaps some icing and flowers could zjush up the plain friand? It’s an idea I saw in the delicious. More Please cookbook where they added lavender icing and flowers on top of a friand. It reminded me of Nigella’s Lavender trust cupcakes which were a favourite of mine. And friands were an even more moist version of a cupcake so how could this not be a good idea?
I couldn’t leave the friand recipe alone too and so I added some lovely magnolia essence from iFlavour to carry through the floral theme and I bought these edible flowers from the Pyrmont Grower’s Market from the Darling Mills stand (sadly there were no actual magnolia flowers in the box). They were $6 a box with plenty of pretty and colourful flowers in them. Of course I had no idea what to use them for and I just knew that I had five days in which to use them. By all means if you have unsprayed edible flowers in your garden you could always use these. And even better was the fact that it allowed me to use up five of the egg whites that I had in the fridge.The beautiful blue floral cupcake liners were a gift from my adopted mum Barbara from a couple of Christmases ago.
What were the friands like? I gave some to Mr NQN who instinctively looked wary at their sheer and utter girlyness but he sank his teeth into a friand and murmured with assured assent. “These are really good” he said before reaching for another. I gave the prettiest one in a box to Queen Viv as a mini birthday cake and she adored them too. So perhaps I haven’t learned a lesson and perhaps sometimes more is more…
So tell me Dear Reader, are you a minimalist dresser or a maximalist?
Flower Friands
Recipe adapted from delicious. More Please published by ABC Books
Makes 12 friands
- 1 1/3 cups/200g icing sugar
- 1/2 cup/60g plain flour
- 1 cup/125g almond meal, sifted
- 5 egg whites (about 180g-200g)
- 180g/6ozs unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1-2 sprays of Magnolia essence (I used an iflavour spray) optional-you can use vanilla extract or another flavour if you like
Icing
- 300g/10 ozs icing sugar
- Food colouring (I used yellow, pink and blue)
- Edible flowers to garnish
You will also need a friand tin and cupcake liners
1. Line a friand tray with cupcake liners which will fit the friand trays quite nicely although you can see that there were some that rippled a little with the raw batter in them but then they were fine once baked. Preheat the oven to 180c/350F. Place the sifted almond meal and flour in a bowl and mix thoroughly (I hate sifting so I just put the icing sugar through a small food processor, you can use it again for the icing later too).
2. In a bowl or a jug using a fork beat the egg whites until frothy and then fold this into the flour mixture. Then slowly fold in the butter until combined. I found this easiest to pour into the friand tin when I pour the batter back into the jug as it is quite liquid. Bake for 20-25 minutes until light golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool in the tin. If the friands are a little too high you can trim them with a sharp knife to get a flat surface to pour the icing on.
3. Sift the icing sugar again (or process again in the food processor-you can make the icing in the processor too. Just add about 3-5 tablespoons of warm water, more if necessary to achieve a liquid but viscous consistency. If you want to tint it several colour you can portion it out into bowls and tint it or you can keep them the same colour. It’s up to you. Spoon a tablespoon or two of icing on top and then top with flowers and allow the icing to set fully (the icing cracks if you move these before they are set).
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84 Comments | Add your own
Those are beautiful, Lorraine! I once had an edible flower salad at a fancy, shmancy farm to table restuarant. OK, it was kind of blah and well, flowery, but it was definitely under seasoned and under dressed. Yes, I am a maximist, just gotta watch the perfume, since it’s always the last thing I put on, but can’t take off! lol
Minimalist.
Jinx! I’ve spent the weekend making friands too! Not nearly as pretty as yours though! You know, it never occurred to me to line the friand pans with paper – as a result I’ve trashed my tray! Will buy another one, now that I know the cupcake liners fit..
I’m definitely a minimalist! It must be the Scandi in me
These friands are so pretty, I love the edible flowers!
So pretty!
Cheers,
Rosa
I have hands down NEVER seen friands this pretty in my entire life! hehehe! I have to take a note from your book for myself and my cooking. I’m often too plain and need to accessorise more, as do my cakes!
Very pretty! I have never seen edible flowers for sale, but I am sure someone out there sells them. Whether I dress minimalist or maximalist is determined by how lazy I feel that day!
oooh these are too cute!
Aww, they’re so pretty and tropical!
They are so cute!, I especially like the blue ones.
I tend to be a Coco Channel type of girl, less is more with everything, even styling food, although it is a little through lack of confidence accessorising perhaps.
Your little cakes are gorgeous and girly, just beautiful.
Oh Lorraine … these friands are too sweet …loving that blue icing i must say …. perfect for a girly picnin or high tea .. loving it darling
I am such a minimalist that my husband even tries talking me into an extra necklace or pair of heels
I think I look back at my lairy 90s fashion mistakes and compensate with Dark Jeans and a White T – too afraid of my past to use a colour. Must work on that!
So So pretty!
I love friands and they’re a great way to ues up those eggwhites cluttering up my freezer. Great idea to add some flowery bling too.
I’m absolutely more minimalist, but we have pretty strict dress codes. I once tried wearing makeup to work, but after several hours over the grill and opening and shutting the steam oven all day, I realised it was a big mistake. My ‘face’ had puddled around my neck in a very unattractive bathtub-style ring!
The less said about my wardrobe the better, but when it comes to little cakes, I think the prettier the better. I still can’t believe that I of all people still don’t own a friand tin but after seeing these gorgeous confections, I think the time has come for me to come to the party. Love the idea of Magnolia scented cakes too!
Lorraine, I HAVE to admit these are gloriously pretty! And imaginative! Minimalist or maximalist in dressing? I don’t think it matters as long as what you do reflects the inner you and makes you feel comfortable and attractive. Being a Nordic blonde (well, originally
!), and brought up in a very minimalist-thinking family in dress, home decor etc, the genes and childhood patterns have carried thru’ – I very definitely follow the Coco Chanel pattern – but that is simply me!
I’m definitely a minimalist dresser. When it comes to clothes, I prefer simple lines cut well. But when it comes to baked goods, I love the frills. The more the better. Go figure, huh?
If I took of the last thing I put on before leaving the house, I might not have pants on some days… :S
Gorgeous – all those flowers are edible?
I always had this strange idea that friands were difficult to make.
I love the more is more attitude, its the perfect attitude for food. Love the decorations!
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! SO pretty so girly..the colours are stunnning. I need flowers.
I’ve never had a friand, but you can see in the photo of the uncooked mixture that they’re SUPER moist!
It depends for me. Day to day I’m a minimalist, but if I’m going to an event where I get to air out my goth clothes, I go OTT (well, for me anyway, there’s always someone with a massive spikey collar and there’s no way I can match that!). BUT, I never wear make-up!
These look too cute. Love the idea of magnolia essence, I had never heard of it before…
Oh, these are so pretty and so vivid! I put edible flowers all over a cake for my mother in law last year, which worked quite well, but I love the way you’ve carried the colours through into the icing.
These look so lovely and girly! Too cute. So many different types of edible flowers. Must try this recipe.
Maximalist I would have to say. Although I’ve been slightly minimalist as of late!
So pretty! These would be perfect for a girly high tea. But I’d probably just use the edible flowers and not the flavouring as I have issues with floral tasting food.
Minimalist – maximalist? – on second thoughts, have to admit to having used the perfume bottle too liberally at times: when your guy takes a step back
, you know you’ve overdone it!
I love accessories but I’m definitely a “less is more” person. I rarely have too much makeup, or accessories on. Although I do LOVE massive earrings.
Hi Lorraine,
That’s the flower that you’ve bought when I met you at Pyrmont market. I wonder what would you do with them. It looks great! what a fantastic idea. I love friand better then muffin or cupcake.
Hi Jessica-you’re absolutely right it was! Great to meet you and thankyou so much for your kind words
They are so pretty Lorraine, much prettier than a plain friand especially if you like to bling things up! I am more of a minimalist, I just had my mum down for a visit and I blinged it up with makeup and earrings because normally I’m makeup free apart from mascara and really only wear my engagement ring and wedding bands and my husband commented as soon as he saw me on the makeup I was wearing and earrings. Luckily he likes me as a plain Jane because I couldn’t do the makeup routine every day!
i love the friands, the flowers definately give them colour.. oooh i could be eating them right now.. mmh comfort food for sydneys cold weatther
These friands are just gorgeous. It’s amazing what a layer of icing can do (give me an iced cake over a muffin anyday).
So for food, I’m maxi; for clothes, it’s minimalist
really pretty lorrinae!~
I’m less is more when it comes to make up but for a special occasion I’ll go all out with my outfit.
Just stunning, I haven’t yet tried edible flowers. I am planning to make friands this week too!
oh pretty pretty pretty!
My problem is that I love the prettiness of icing but such sugariness does not interest me when it comes to eating the cake – so I prefer to eat muffins but love to admire cupcakes like yours – they are gorgeous
Oh Lorraine, beautiful! Utterly beautiful! I’m particularly enamoured with the magnolia essence idea, as while I do enjoy friands and order them fairly often, i often find myself bored halfway through by the one note sweet-almond flavour. Hurrah for you!
So beautiful! What a wonderful bonus that they tasted fantastic as well. Thanks for the link love! xoxo Mum
Oh! These are just beautiful…. So girly
thanks for brightening my afternoon. I’m totally a minimalist. I always forget to put jewellery etc on!
Heidi xo
Lavender icing and flowers – what could be better?
i love how you put a different flower on every cupcake. it looks like a mini edible flower garden!
They are so pretty. Would be lovely for a high tea.
Just adorable and so pretty! I feel like I’ve skipped through a flower field.
I sent this link around the office. I hope someone makes them for me for my birthday coming up. Hinthinthint…
Looks delicious
Lovely presentation….
Could eat them off the screen….
Had done Edible Containers made with flowers for the April 2011, Daring Baker Challenge.. was super fun…
Cheers,
The Variable, Crazy Over Desserts – Nachiketa
So pretty oh so pretty!!!!
I’m a minimalist, but I still love pretty things. Like these!
I can put any grad queen to shame both in adorning myself and my baked goods. These are just fantastic. What a gorgeous use of edible flowers.
It is Spring in my neck of the woods. These would be perfect for my Spring tea party.I think with a nice cup of espresso or loose leaf tea too.
Ps I am a maximalist the whole way and nine yards.
Minimalist! But it is an effort for me!
I have been looking for a friand tin for several months. Internet search keeps turning up ‘friend’.Google was worthless and the baker supply places do not have them. Where on earth did you find yours??????
This post is so pretty with all the different colors and flowers.
I’ve never even heard of friands, but really want to try one after reading this post. They look lovely!
How pretty and delicate!
So pretty. I’ve never heard of magnolia essence. Lovely, lovely.
Simplicity brings the focus back to the food rather than superficial decorations. Great presentation.
Those are so precious!
These are so gorgeous! Like works of art really!
Ha ha ha, zjushing is a word I haven’t heard in a while
I adore these delightful friands, what a great idea. I’m definitely a minimalist dresser but maximalist when it comes to food.
I am pretty understated, but if I ever eat a friand (I had never heard of them) I want it to be in this form.
These friands are simply gorgeous, with the different color icings and the flowers on top, how lovely!
Oh, these really are little beauties, Lorraine! I love their gorgeous accessories on top!
Truly exquisite, Lorraine. I made some friands last post with raspberries. I love those almondy bites! And with the edible flowers, what a perfect dessert plate for a ladies luncheon!
How beautiful. I love the idea of using edible flowers for decoration, the only problem is I’m always afraid i’ll poison myself LOL.
*kisses* HH
Lush. Sweet. Ooooh-so-Elegant. I adore these flowery little gems. And I loooooooooove the oval shaped pans. I shall buy one immediately.
I figured you for more of a Chanel type of girl than a drag queen, Lorraine!
The thing I problaby go overboard on is : LIPSTICK. This is my weakness & one of my greatest obsessions.
xxx Kisses.
I love friands too, lemon and raspberry are my favourites! As for dressing, I have to say that I’m a minimalist, but I do always like a bit of bling!
So pretty! Cupcakes are so much cuter than muffins. And they are a joy to photograph!
I’ve gotta get me some magnolia essence, it sounds so exotic I’m convinced it’d waft me to the tropics in no time. Fabulous idea lining the friand tray & icing them too … WOW. Love the face lift to the friands, so blingy, so girly.
I think I’m probably a minimalist, yep, that’s me!
I am so lazy so less is better for me. Especially work days, I just throw on something and run for the train!
But when it comes to food, that is a different story.
These are so gorgeous! A couple of days ago I made rose cupcakes(in honor of my mom, Rose-will post later today)and now I really wish I had colored the icing in complimentary colors!
P.S. I’m definitely a minimalist:)
Love your beautiful “friand ladies” =)
They are super pretty, I wonder if I could find those iFlavour sprays in New Zealand. Do you know?
Ciao
Alessandra
They are so pretty!
I just adore Friands and always have one with coffee when I’m shopping. Must stop being lazy and bake them at home as you did Lorraine. They are so pretty
Minimalist in dress but love to accessorise with jewellery and pretty scarves.
those are, hands down, some of the prettiest, most delicate and dainty little pieces of hand-food that i’ve ever seen. how gorgeous! they’re suitable for even the most posh of wedding receptions!
Lorraine these friands are so gorgeous – I love, love, love the colours and embellishments!
I’m very much a minimalist dresser
Hi Lisa-Thankyou so much!
Oh no sounds like they didn’t quite nail the salad. Haha you are absolutely correct! 
Hi Michelle-I wish I was!
Hi Celia-haha great minds think alike
Yes I didn’t know whether they would fit or not and I had a vague memory of seeing friand liners! Cool! 
Hi Maria-hehe yes it does seem very Scandi to be minimalist! Thankyou very much
Hi Rosa-Thanks Rosa!
Hi catty-Aww you’re so sweet Catty! And you’ve seen some pretty friands I bet!
Hehe just think drag queen! 
Hi Cakelaw-Thanks!
If you have a friend or family member with a garden that doesn’t spray you can use those too 
Haha indeed!
Hi Lisa-thanks Lisa!
Hi Anna-thanks! I was hoping for that!
Hi GourmetGetaways-Thankyou! They were my favourite ones too
I wish I was less is more! Maybe I need some lessons 
Thankyou!
Hi Monica-Thanks Monica!
Oh yes I can see these at high tea! Thanks!
Hi shan-Oh really?
Now Mr NQN wouldn’t do that. Ahh yes the 80s and 90s was quite the time for fashion! 
Hi The Food Mentalist-Thankyou!
Hi InTolerantChef-I know, I was quite strangely happy that the recipe came up at a time when I could use the whites too
Oh that’s a very practical consideration indeed! 
Hi Di-licicous-hehe! I only just bought a tin for these!
Wonderful! I hope you like them! 
Hi EHA-Thanks Eha!
yes that is true! Ahh so you’re a minimalist! 
Hi Carolyn-hehe well that makes total sense! You can be creative and frilly with the food!
Hi Tina-LOL OK! Yep they are all edible
Hi Apple-Oh really? They’re so easy I promise. Much easier than most cakes
Thankyou!
Hi zurin-thankyou! I was chanelling very girly so i’m glad you thought so!
Hi JasmyneTea-They are so moist which I love
Haha really! how fascinating! 
Hi leah-Thanks Leah!
I love that little bottle of magnolia!
Hi Catherine-Thankyou!
I cna imagine she would have loved it! Thankyou!
Hi Dressed and Eaten-Thanks so much!
Oh I should try being minimalist sometimes!
Hi Jen-Absolutely!
Ahh yes you can use vanilla extract if you prefer 
Hi EHA-haha yes that’s a good hint isn’t it!
Hi Caz-Ahh that sounds like your maximalist coming through with the earrings!
Hi Melissa-Thanks Melissa! hehe did you wear that for your mum?
Ahh that’s so sweet!
Hi Dolly-Thankyou Dolly!
Absolutely, isn’t it chilly! 
Hi OohLookBel-Thanks Bel!
I know, just one layer of make up 
Hi Betty-Thankyou!
Hi Claire-Ahh cool! That would certainly make for an impact!
Hi muppy-Oh cool! I can’t wait to see them!
Hi Johanna-Really! Ahh I’m obsessed with icing. I love the stuff
Thankyou!
Hi Hannah-Thanks lovely Hannah!
Ahh cool! And you can also use other flavourings like rose or vanilla! 
Hi mum-I know! It has to taste good too. Thanks for the lovely cupcake liners! xxx
Hi Heidi-Thankyou!
You are too kind! I sometimes forget and then I feel naked! 
xxx
Hi Debra-thankyou!
Hi sugarpuffi-Thankyou! I was hoping that it would look like that!
Hi Sara-thankyou! Yes indeedy-a girly occasion
Hi Amaranth-Aww shucks you are too kind
Hi Fi-haha I hope they do!
Happy Birthday!
Hi Nachiketa-Thanks so much!
Hi Hussy-thankyou!
Hi Bronnie-hehe there are so many minimalists!
Hi Lora-haha good on you!
You and me both 
Thankyou! 
Hi Amanda-Oh lucky you! We are going into Winter now. BRrrrrr!
Hi Percy-hehe it’s a battle that I lose
Hi Linda-Oh really? bakers Secret make a friand tin. I bought it from peters of Kensington but they’re pretty widespread I think. Thankyou
Hi Hanna-Oh really? they’re like a moister version of cupcakes
Thankyou!
Hi Midge-Thankyou!
Hi cityhippyfarmgirl-I got so excited when I first saw it!
Thanks! 
Hi Catering Equipment-hehe thanks…I think!
Hi Blond Duck-Thankyou Duckie!
Hi Maris-You are too sweet Maris
hi shaz-haha I know it’s so queer eye isn’t it!
Thankyou! Hehe that’s a good way to be!
Hi Nuts about food-hehe cool! Well a little extra icing doesn’t hurt does it?
Hi 5 Star foodie-Thanks Natasha!
I love playing with colours!
Hi Faith-Thankyou Faith! I just love adding flowers wherever I can
Hi Barbara-thankyou Barbara, you are too sweet! And hehe great minds think alike!
Absolutely I like your thinking!
Hi Heavenly Housewife-hehe I know what you mean! I was worried about that because so many are poisonous!
Hi kim-Thankyou lovely Kim! Hehe well I do love my makeup, a lot!:P Oh yes me too! xxx
Hi Jennifer-Ooh lemon and raspberry together? That sounds delicious!
Haha love the bling!
hi pigpigscorner-I couldn’t agree more!
Hi Anna-it’s really lovely stuff!
yes it makes them last longer too! 
Thankyou, you are too sweet Anna! 
Hi penny-Haha everyone is so minimalist. I think I’m the only drag queen
Hi Sue-Thanks Sue!
Oh I can’t wait to see them! They sound beautiful! 
Hi FOOD-Thankyou so much
Hi Alessandra-they might be able to send them over to NZ. Perhaps send them an email?
Hi Phunk-Thankyou!
Hi Matilda-Ahh sounds like a delicious break to delicious shopping! Ahh I love shopping!
Hi grace-Thanks Grace darlin’! Oh yes true, they’d be good for a spring wedding!
Hi Chanel-Thankyou Chanel!
I love using flowers! 
I think I’m the only drag queen 
I am never confident with too much accessorising. More fearful of walking out like a Christmas tree, I very often choose to go with less. Love the use of flowers for the friands!
These cakes are so pretty. It’s like art on a plate! I am a cup cake fan from way back. I love them… and the more icing the better!
Ooh Lorraine, those look so gorgeous. I’m totally the less is more types, but I’d love those cupcakes
They look so beautiful. I am definitely a minalimist. Although I love chunky necklaces.
Leave it to you, Lorraine, to talk about Coco Channel. You are my kind of girl. The “friand” is new to me and I love learning about new pastries. I’m indeed a minimalist, but I would think nothing of picking pansies out of the garden and dressing up a salad, but now I’m going to do cupcakes. (no friand pans here in US).
The flowery friands look fantastic! Very pretty.
By the way, I’m a Maximalist dresser.
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