Mini blood orange & almond cakes with salted caramel sauce

Method

To make the cakes

1. Preheat the oven to 180˚C/160˚C fan-assisted/gas mark 4. Grease a 12-hole muffin tin and line the base with greaseproof paper circles.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. 
3. Crack the eggs into a jug and add the almond essence and orange zest. Beat with a fork and slowly mix into the butter and sugar mix. Add 1 tbsp of flour if it begins to curdle. 
4. Fold together the flour, ground almonds and baking powder until just combined and add to the mixture.
5. Thinly slice the oranges and place in the bottom of the muffin tins.
6. Pour the mixture on top and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through. (While cooking, make the salted caramel sauce.)
7. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool slightly before turning out. 

To make the sauce

1. Gently dissolve the sugar in the water over a low heat. Once dissolved, turn up the heat and boil without stirring until the sugar turns a deep golden colour.
2. Stir in the orange juice and cream. Lower the heat and stir gently. 
3. Add the butter and sea salt. Bring to a rapid simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes.
4. Allow to cool. The sauce should thicken on cooling.
5. Pour the caramel sauce over the cakes to serve.