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A close-up of a perfectly baked French madeleine, showing its delicate, spongy crumb and golden shell shape. Making an authentic French madeleine is easy with these tips.
FL Recipes

French Madeleine Recipe (Classic & Foolproof)

This classic French Madeleine Recipe guides you to create light, buttery, shell-shaped cakes with the signature hump. An easy, foolproof guide for the perfect Parisian treat.
Prep Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 26 minutes
Servings: 12 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: French
Calories: 110

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp lemon zest

Equipment

  • 1 Madeleine Pan
  • 2 Mixing Bowls
  • 1 Whisk

Method
 

  1. Melt the butter and set aside to cool slightly.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk the room-temperature eggs and sugar together for 4-5 minutes until pale, thick, and ribbony.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture in two batches. Then, fold in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
  5. Slowly drizzle in the cooled, melted butter and fold until just combined.
  6. Cover the batter and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
  7. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Generously grease and flour a madeleine pan.
  8. Fill each shell mold about three-quarters full with the cold batter.
  9. Bake for 9-11 minutes, until the edges are golden and the centers spring back. Immediately release from the pan onto a wire rack to cool.

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcalProtein: 1.5gFat: 6gFiber: 0.2g

Notes

For the best flavor and texture, enjoy madeleines the day they are baked, preferably while still warm.
Ensure your batter is very cold and your oven is fully preheated to create the thermal shock needed for the signature hump.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Keyword french cookies,madeleines

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