Lemon thyme, wildflower honey & polenta cake

Step by Step

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 170ºC, gas mark 3; lightly grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm cake tin. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric hand mixer to cream the butter and honey together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks and lemon zest, then the almonds, polenta, baking powder, salt and thyme leaves.

Step 2

In a separate, clean bowl, using clean beaters, whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks. Gently fold into the polenta mixture, being careful to retain as much air as possible but making sure all the egg white is mixed in. Pour into the cake tin and bake for 40-50 minutes until golden and cooked through (cover loosely with a sheet of foil after 30 minutes if it browns too quickly). Cool the cake for 15 minutes in the tin, then remove and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 3

When ready to serve, whisk the double cream to very soft peaks, then whisk in the yogurt and vanilla bean paste; set aside. Heat the syrup ingredients in a small pan until bubbling, then pour over the cake. Top with extra thyme leaves, slice and serve with the vanilla cream.