FINANCIERS | FRENCH ALMOND CAKES

Cuisine: France

Financiers are small cakes that originated in France during the late 19th century. They are believed to have become popular near the Paris Stock Exchange, where they were baked in small rectangular moulds resembling gold bars, inspiring the name "Financiers".

Ingredients:

Whole wheat flour – 1 cup

Almond flour – 2 cups

Egg whites – 9

Jaggery powder – 2 cups

Adulteration-free sunflower oil – 1 cup

Salt – ¼ teaspoon

Vanilla powder – ¼ teaspoon

Roasted Almonds (split or chopped) – 10

Method:

1. Beat the egg whites until frothy.

2. Add oil and mix.

3. Add jaggery powder, salt and vanilla powder. Mix well.

4. Add whole wheat flour and almond flour. Beat well until the batter is smooth and lump-free.

5. Pour the batter into greased financier moulds or muffin moulds.

6. Top with roasted almonds and a little jaggery powder. The jaggery powder gives the financiers a beautiful golden-brown colour after baking.

7. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean and the tops are nicely golden brown.

Note:

• The whole wheat flour should be sieved before using for baking. Over a broad plate or a bowl, add flour into a thin cotton cloth or Fine-mesh sieve (A sieve is a circular gadget with a finely-woven mesh net used for sieving flour or rava) and tap the side with one hand. After sieving the flour, the particles left on top of the cloth or sieve should not be used for baking.