I will admit I am not into the commercialism of Valentine’s Day. If you want to buy me roses, then please do any other day of the year, don’t waste your money on the 14th February. Even though I don’t celebrate in a commercial way, in other words, paying big bucks for flowers, chocolates etc, I do like to play with the ‘Valentine’ concept in the kitchen.
Last year I made Robots bearing hearts biscuits. So cute and quirky, who doesn’t love a robot with a love heart, all together now, aawwwwe.
This year I wanted to play with my new small love hearts cake tin. Very cute and picked up at a steal. With a nice supply of green tea powder from a recent visit to Tokyo Mart, left over almond meal from Christmas baking, financiers (or friands) seemed a logical baking move on my part.
The recipe is inspired by one of my favourite cook books, Okashi by Keiko Ishida. This is a sweet treat recipe book, but for all you pet owners, Keiko even has a section of pet treat recipes. Keiko is a dog lover and owns a gorgeous Golden Retriever called Cookie, how appropriate is the name!
- 50g plain flour
- 5g cornflour
- 10g green tea powder
- 4 egg whites
- 130g caster sugar
- 50g ground almonds
- Pinch of salt
- 130g unsalted butter
- Preheat oven to 220 degrees C. Lightly grease your desired cake/friand tin.
- Place butter in a small saucepan, stir constantly until it browns and is nutty in fragrance. Set aside to cool.
- Into a medium bowl sift flour, cornflour, green tea powder and almond meal. Add caster sugar and salt.
- In another medium blow beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
- Gently mix egg whites in to your dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. The stir through the browned butter.
- Fill your tins and cook for around 10 - 15 minutes until just golden. Remove from tins and cool on racks.
- Financiers will keep for 5 days in an air-tight container, they can also be frozen.
Don’t forget the fantastic GLAD giveaway on at the moment, if you haven’t entered there is still time. A year’s supply of product!
Do tell dear Belly Rumbles reader, are you ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ for Valentine’s Day?
Sara xxx
I definitely fall in the nay category. I’m not one to fall for the commercialisation of such days as well as crumble to an expectant partner. I’d quite happily make these cakes any time of the year, heart-shaped or not. They look great!
Thanks John, I will be definitely be making them again. I won’t be waiting for Valentines day to roll around.
Definitely a yay on the Valentines Day!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Bacon Roses For Valentines Day!
I hope you had a lovely one with Mr NQN.
Nay – give me romance on any day it isn’t expected and charged at 10x the usual rate ;D I do love a good matcha cake though!
JJ – 84thand3rd recently posted..100+ alternatives to PB&J
Yup, unexpected acts of love do it for me anytime.
I love Valentines Day!
…but I don’t want roses or commercial stuff I like to picnic or do something lovely with Mr GG. I think Valentines day is only commercial if you let it be.
I love your little cakes. I would definitely make something like this for the children to tell them I love them on Valentines day 🙂
GourmetGetaways recently posted..Street Treats Guest Post: A Guide to Penang Street Food
I think a picnic is the perfect way to make the most of Valentines’ day.
Wow, this recipe sounds wonderful! I loved the pictures of these green financiers!!
Thank you so much Purabi.
These are so cute and would be so lovely in a high tea situation!
Let me know when you are next at Tokyo Mart and I’ll shout you a coffee – I live about 2 minutes from there! 🙂
Anna @The Littlest Anchovy recently posted..Pasta with Bread Crumbs and Anchovies
Definitely will let you know I up your way next time.
These are sooo cute and I love green tea flavoured cakes.
Christine @ Cooking Crusade recently posted..Super Low Fat Lime Cheesecake with a Vanilla Almond Crust
Thanks Christine, so do I.
Anything with green tea is always a winner for me. I quite like them when they are more bitter than sweet too!
Food is our religion recently posted..Banjo Patterson Cottage Restaurant, Gladesville
There is something magical about matcha
Hehe totally appealing to this matcha fiend! And gosh I love the texture of friands/financiers!
Rita (mademoiselle délicieuse) recently posted..Chinese New Year 2013
I tried this yesterday and I’m having it with my morning coffee now 🙂
Love it !
You can see the result on my Korean blog : http://blog.naver.com/hojubogi1005/220310421531