A foolproof and straightforward recipe for madeleines. Buttery and delicious, these madeleine cookies have a crispy, crunchy edge. Serve in the afternoon with a cup of coffee or tea.

MADELEINE COOKIES

My favorite are those bit shell-shaped French madeleine sweets found in Costco, Target, or Starbucks.

Petite Madeleine is the French name for them because of their diminutive stature. These sugary treats are irresistible while they’re still warm from the oven.

To sweeten them up a little, you may either sprinkle them with confectioners’ sugar or serve them as-is. A cup of coffee or tea is the perfect accompaniment!

MADELEINE RECIPE

This Madeleine recipe is foolproof, and each biscuit has a lovely hump on top. Using this procedure is an absolute breeze for even the most beginner bakers.

The following items are needed to make this dish:

• All-purpose flour
• Eggs
• Lemon juice
• Butter
• Sugar

The use of a stand mixer is not required for this recipe. All you need is a mixer with an electric motor to get started. Otherwise, it’s just a simple batter that you’ll need to combine and whisk.

Pumpkin spiced madeleines are my favorite this time of year. In my opinion, they are far superior to Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Madeleines.

BAKER’S TIPS

The following are my recommendations for making the best Madeleines.

• Make sure you’re using the best-unsalted butter you can find. Butter by Challenge is what I use.
• Use a sieve to sort the flour. To get a smooth batter, do this.
• To make this dish, you’ll need butter that has been melted. Put the butter in the microwave and wait for it to cool down. Eggs should not be “cooked,” thus the melted butter is added to them after they’ve been whisked together.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Before baking the Madeleines, do I need to cool the Madeleine batter?

• You’re not required to. Bake the madeleines as soon as possible.

WHY DO MY MADELEINES HAVE NO HUMPS?

• The oven temperature is to blame for the hump. The high heat will cause the batter to rise in the center, resulting in the beautiful humps when the cookies are baked for 10-12 minutes at 400°F.
• Baked Madeleines with taller humps can be made by chilling the mixture for 1-2 hours before baking.

What is the average number of calories in one serving?

• Each serving of this recipe contains only 80 calories.

With this recipe, what are its complementary dishes?

With a coffee or tea, you can enjoy these small cakes with French and English pastries. I recommend the following accompaniments for serving madeleines during an afternoon tea party.

• SCONE RECIPE
• BLACKBERRY FINANCIERS
• FRENCH YOGURT CAKE
• CHEESE PUFFS (GOUGERES)

HOW TO BAKE MADELEINES?

Please see the recipe card below for a thorough step-by-step guide to making French Madeleines from scratch.

INGREDIENTS

• 5 oz. (140 g) all-purpose flour sifted
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
• 5 oz. (140 g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
• powdered sugar for dusting
• 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk
• 5 oz. (140 g) sugar
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder added to the all-purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Your oven should be preheated up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (207 degrees Celsius). Butter should be used to coat the Madeleine pan.
2. Whip the eggs and sugar into an electric hand mixer until thick and foamy. Lemon juice should be incorporated into the egg mixture, and the mixture should be thoroughly mixed. Mix well with a spatula after adding the flour. Add a small amount of melted butter to the mixture and mix it thoroughly. Stir in the pumpkin spice and blend thoroughly.
3. Pour about 90% of the batter into each mold in a Madeleine pan. Shake while tapping. Ten to twelve minutes in the oven should be enough time to turn a light golden color and be cooked through. Cool on a cooling rack after taking it out of the oven. Before serving, sprinkle the Madeleines with powdered sugar.

NOTES

• If you don’t like pumpkin spice, you can leave it out. The result will be a better-tasting version of Starbucks’ seasonal Madeleines.