Recipe of the week: lavender and lemon pandaleines
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Ingredients: (Makes 12-15)
100g caster or granulated sugar
2 medium eggs
70g salted butter, plus extra for greasing
135g plain flour
1tsp baking powder
¾ tsp culinary lavender buds
30ml whole milk
40-45ml lemon juice
200g icing sugar
Black food dye
A little extra icing sugar
Method:
1. Whisk together the caster sugar and eggs until thick and holds a trail. Melt the butter in 20-second bursts in the microwave so that it is liquid but not too hot. Combine the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Grind the lavender with a mortar and pestle to break up.
2. Pour the milk in the sugar and egg mixture, then sift in the flour and baking powder. Add the lavender and whisk until just incorporated. Pour in the cooled melted butter and whisk again until just combined. Do not over-mix.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the freezer for 30 minutes.
3. Grease a madeleine mould, then freeze it. Preheat the oven to 240°C/475°F/Gas mark 9.
4. Use a spatula to transfer the chilled mixture into a piping bag. Snip a medium tip and pipe 12-15 blobs into the chilled mould.
5. Place in the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark six. Bake for eight to 12 minutes until each madeleine has a hump and is starting to colour at the edges.
When baked, slide them out of the mould and onto a rack.
6. Meanwhile, make the lemon dip. Whisk the lemon juice and icing sugar together until smooth and runny but still opaque when coating the back of a spoon. Add a little more lemon juice or icing sugar until you have the correct consistency.
Pour into a cup suitable for dipping the madeleines into and cover with plastic wrap.
7. When the madeleines are cool, dip, one by one (narrow, scalloped end first), into the lemon dip. Leave the madeleines to set on a rack.
8. Mix the remaining lemon dip with black food dye and a little extra icing sugar until it becomes pipeable. Transfer to a piping bag and cut a small tip.
When the white icing has set, use the black icing to pipe ears, eyes and a nose on each madeleine.
