French Butter Cakes (Madeleines)

Jun 09, 2023June 9, 20230 3

Scrumptious French Butter Cakes (Madeleines) recipe for your tea time

by The Chefin Pastry

Prep

20 min

Cook

10 min

Ready In

30 min

Level

Easy

Rating

Ingredients

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe

Calories

Sugar

Fat

French Butter Cakes (Madeleines) were made famous by the French writer Marcel Proust, who famously wrote about the small cakes in his novel, In Search of Lost Time. These cakes are a traditional French pastry, characterized by their distinctive shell shape. They are known for their light, buttery flavor and can be enjoyed with tea or coffee for a perfect afternoon treat or dessert. These cakes can also be made in different flavors, such as chocolate or lemon, making them a versatile addition to any tea or dessert table.

Instructions

1.	Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2.	In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, vanilla extract, salt, and white sugar until thick and lemon colored. Fold in the flour and lemon zest.
3.	Add the butter to small microwave-safe bowl and melt in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir the melted butter into the batter.
4.	Grease and flour a Madeleine pan. Spoon the batter into the pan, filling each mold about 3/4 full.
5.	Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cakes spring back when lightly touched. Remove from the oven and let cool for 1 minute before removing the cakes from the pan.
6.	Spread the granulated sugar onto a plate. While the cakes are still warm, gently press each one into the sugar, coating both sides evenly.

PROS

French Butter Cakes (Madeleines) are a classic dessert that is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

These small cakes can be enjoyed with tea or coffee, making them a perfect afternoon treat.

CONS

This recipe calls for a large amount of white sugar which makes it high in calories.

Moreover, Madeleine pan can be hard to find but silicone pans can be an alternative.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

While French Butter Cakes (Madeleines) are not particularly healthy, it has a slightly lower calorie content than typical pastries.
Additionally, it contains Vitamin E, a nutrient that acts as an antioxidant to protect cells from damage.

	2 eggs
	3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
	1/8 teaspoon salt
	1/3 cup white sugar
	1/2 cup all-purpose flour
	1 tablespoon lemon zest
	1/4 cup butter
	1/3 cup granulated sugar for decoration