It’s interesting how so many of Dorie Greenspan’s recipes (and I’m sure French recipes in general) start with the same basic ingredients (eggs, sugar, flour, and butter), yet proportions and technique transform them into such a variety of delicious treats.
This week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe starts with the same basic ingredients, then adds coconut and vanilla for a tasty little treat. Coconut Friands are a moist little cake related to financiers.
These little cakes are quick and easy to make. You can even make the batter ahead of time and bake the cakes a day or two later. Egg whites are whisked in a bowl, then the additional ingredients are whisked in one by one. These are meant to be baked in mini-muffin tins, and luckily I already had one.
I loved these little cakes! Very moist and coconut-y. I love vanilla so I enjoyed the vanilla flavor, but I can also imagine these made with almond extract or lemon zest and flavoring. These would also be very good drizzled with a little bittersweet chocolate. They are perfect for a tea party or shower.
French Fridays with Dorie is an online cooking group, cooking our way through Dorie Greenspan’s book Around My French Table. Join us!
From Scratch 
Karen – the plates and tea cup are just beautiful!
Your friands are just as lovely 🙂
Have a great weekend.
I haven’t made mine yet. Your Friands are lovely.
Karen, Your Friands look lovely! Such a beautiful tea cup! Have a great weekend!
Oh I am so loving your tea set! How elegant. Your little cakes look ready for high tea in a high endt London hotel.
You friands look perfect with that beautiful tea china!
Beautiful setting! The cakes look really good also.
Thanks for the compliments! The beautiful teacup was my grandmother’s – I love it!
Oh, how beautiful, Karen! Your dishes and table setting are so inviting it just makes me want to sit down and have a cup of tea with you! Your friands look so light and moist – just perfect!
I love the look of your tiny teacakes, Karen. Did you have a tea party with the table set so elegantly? I hope everyone enjoyed them.
No, it was just me. But I did enjoy myself!