SERVES 12  I   DIFFICULTY Easy
COOK TIME 30  I  PREP TIME 25

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan- forced). Lightly grease a 12-hole muffin pan & line the bases with baking paper rounds.
2. Combine poppy seeds & milk in small bowl; stand for 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, beat butter, rind & sugar with electric mixer until light & fluffy; beat in eggs, one at a time, until just combined between additions.
4. Stir in sifted flour, almond meal, juice & poppy seed mixture.
5. Place 1/4 cup of mixture into each prepared hole; smooth surface with metal spatula.
6. Bake cakes in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
7. Meanwhile to make the sticky mandarin topping, place the sugar, water & vanilla bean in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
8. Add the mandarin juice, zest & simmer for 5 minutes.
9. Remove cakes from oven & while cakes are still hot prick the top all over with a skewer.
10. Drizzle the mandarin syrup over the cakes. Allow the cakes to cool slightly before serving with cream.