Mini Lemon Polenta Cakes

Asked by Richety. Answered on 6th November 2015

Full question

Do you think the Lemon Polenta Cake recipe will work for very small cakes, such as using a 12-cake fluted cake pan. I was concerned they might be too light to get them out the pan?

Our answer

Nigella's Lemon Polenta Cake (from Kitchen and on the Nigella website) is a flourless cake and, in common with most flourless cakes, it lacks gluten and so can be very tender and crumbly. Consequently a springform pan is one of the best pans to use as the outside unclips and is easily removed and you can leave the cake on the base of the pan.

Fluted pans and bundt pans usually need a more robust cake as they have ridges and edges that can be more difficult for a flourless cake as if any part of the cake sticks to the pan it can tear easily. If you wanted to try a mini fluted pan (that makes 12 mini cakes) then you would need to grease the indents of the pan very carefully with a flavourless vegetable oil. Use a pastry brush to ensure that every nook and cranny of the pan is greased. You could also use a non-stick baking spray but check the can before you use it as some of the sprays contain flour and this would not be suitable if you are making the cake for a coeliac or someone with a wheat intolerance.