Cinnamon anise snack cake

By hand with a wooden spoon, work the softened butter into the sugar, pressing against the side of the bowl until lighter in colour and texture, about a minute.

Add the eggs and milk.

Heat the oven to 350F.

Add the anise extract, the finely chopped vanilla bean and the orange zest.

Beat briefly to combine, then whisk until relatively smooth; it may look curdled when mixed by hand.

Mix the flour, almond flour, salt, cinnamon and baking powder together.

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet until no flour lumps remain, without over-mixing.

Scrape into a heavily buttered eight-inch square pan and spread.

Bake at 350F, checking at 15 minutes; done at 20 minutes, browned at the edges and springing back in the centre.

Cool before cutting; best eaten within a short time, as it dries out.