Honey Cake Balls

I must first start with a confession. This bake was going to be a honey bundt cake, but some issues with the delicate nature of a vegan sponge meant it didn't quite like being shaped in the wonderful bundt shape. So, in the spirit of the Great British Bake Off, I did some improvising and instead turned the sponge into some little cake balls. In fact, I think this was probably a better bake as they are little mouthfuls of deliciousness and perfect for treating yourself whilst sat enjoying the sunshine.

Recipe - Makes 32

For the sponge:

• 1 tsp cider vinegar
• 100ml dairy free milk 
• 125g margarine
• 65g light brown sugar
• 60ml honey (or maple syrup if you don't eat honey)
• 75g self-raising flour
• 75g polenta
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

For the icing and decoration:

• 50ml coconut milk
• 200g icing sugar
• Pistachios, chopped, to sprinkle

Preheat the oven to 160C and grease then line a 6inch square baking tin. First, add the vinegar to the milk and stir, then set aside until needed. Cream the margarine and sugar together until light and pale. Add the honey and whisk in thoroughly. Tip in the flour, polenta and bicarbonate of soda and fold in. Add the milk a little at a time and mix gently until incorporated then tip into the lined baking tin and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Once baked, remove the cake from the oven, leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack. Leave to cool completely. 

Prepare the icing by mixing the coconut milk and icing sugar together until a smooth paste forms that slowly drops from the spoon (you want it fairly thick). Break the cake up into crumbs into a large mixing bowl and add 1/4 of the icing. Stir together. Take pieces of the cake mix in your hands and press into a firm ball. Place on a rack and repeat until balls are formed from all the cake mix. Drizzle the icing over the balls, ensuring that it goes down all the sides to cover them then sprinkle the pistachios on top. Leave to set then serve.