Easy Madeleine Recipe. (2024)

byBeth Le Manach

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This Easy Madeleine Recipe will have you whipping up Madeleines like a pro in no time! They are pretty easy to master if you follow my foolproof tips! You can flavor them with lemon zest, or vanilla extract, but my favorite is orange zest!

This is one of my favorite French Recipes to master because people are always so impressed with them, thinking you bought them at the local French bakery. Much like my Foolproof Macaron Recipe or my Classic French Apple Tart; two other great French recipes that will impress your friends!

Easy Madeleine Recipe. (1)

What To Serve With Madeleines?

Madeleines are a lightly flavored dessert that pairs well with tea or coffee. They are great for an afternoon snack or as a light dessert for a brunch or baby shower. I also think they work well on a cookie platter too or as a food gift for Mother’s Day or Teacher’s Appreciation Week!

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Is a Madeleine a Cookie or a Cake?

Well, it depends on how you look at it. Technically, it is a small sponge-like cake. But over the years it has “functioned” more like a cookie since they are typically served alongside tea or coffee.

Easy Madeleine Recipe. (2)

How Long Do Madeleines Stay Fresh?

Personally, I think Madeleines are best eaten the day they are made. But they will last in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. After baking, omit the powdered sugar, place them in an air-tight container, and then bring them to room temperature. Just before serving you can dust with powdered sugar.

Easy Madeleine Recipe. (3)

Can you Freeze Madeleines?

  • Yes! After baking allow them to cool completely. Omit the powdered sugar.
  • Then wrap in wax paper, then in aluminum foil. Place in the freezer for up to one month.
  • The day you plan to serve them, allow your Madeleines to thaw at room temperature, then dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

Easy Madeleine Recipe. (4)

How Do You Achieve The Traditional Madeleine Hump?

  • In order to get that traditional “hump” of a madeleine cookie (the true mark of success!), you must refrigerate the batter at least one hour before baking.
  • This is a step often overlooked, and really does make all the difference!
  • The madeleine hump is created due to the differences in temperature between the chilled batter and the hot oven. The steam that is produced creates the hump. So no chilling, no hump.
  • The hump also allows them to prop themselves up showing off their beautiful scalloped detail!

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How Do You Avoid Madeleines Sticking to the Pan?

  • Stay away from those metal pans that you have to butter and flour! Madeleine pans have so many crevices that you really need a non-stick surface for the most foolproof results!
  • And don’t fall for those silicone models either!
  • They may look easy enough the way they pop right out, but you have to put them on a baking tray to stabilize them, and then you’ll be left with a little mark on the bottom of your madeleine form where it became too hot against the pan.

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Which Pan is Best?

  • Trust me I’ve tried them all, and the best bet is a non-stick metal pan.
  • My recommendation for my favorite pan is The Chicago Metallic Non-Stick, Madeleine Pan.
  • I would not waste your time on a Madeleine pan that is not non-stick.
  • They are too many crevices in the scallop design, and half your Madeleine will end up sticking in the grooves with this time of pan.
  • Allow them to cool and then remove them with a small butter knife or icing spatula then dust with powdered sugar.

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Can You Make Madeleines Without The Pan?

  • Technically you can. You can use a muffin tin or a mini muffin tin for a smaller portion. They won’t have a hump, per se, but rather a dome.
  • They will still taste delicious and will give you a good sense of what the taste is like. If you enjoy them, then you can invest in the pan.

More French Desserts!

    • Foolproof French Macaron
    • Lavender Honey Creme Brûlées
    • Chocolate Souffle
    • Easy Ile Flottante Recipe
    • Classic French Apple Tart

Please let me know if you make this recipe

by leaving a rating and review below

Easy Madeleine Recipe. (8)

Easy Madeleine Recipe

Yield: 18 cookies

Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 28 minutes

This Easy Madeleine Recipe will have you whipping up Madeleines like a pro in no time! A dainty little sponge-cake served like a cookie Madeleines are wonderful served with coffee or tea.

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 2/3 cup (130 g) sugar
  • 1 1/2 (7.5 ml) tsp orange zest
  • 1 cup (120 g) flour
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder
  • ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) salt
  • 6 tbsp (90 ml) melted butter
  • 1 tbsp (7 g) powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Beat eggs with sugar until pale yellow. Add the orange zest.
  2. Whisk together dry ingredients add to the egg mixture gently, until just combined. Then add melted butter.
  3. Refrigerate the batter for at least 1 hour! Or overnight. This is really critical for getting the “hump” of a Madeleine, the traditional mark of this classic French cookie.
  4. Preheat oven to 350F/(176C).
  5. Lightly coat a non-stick, Madeleine pan with baking spray using this technique. Spray the baking spray into a small bowl and with a pastry brush lightly grease each well.
  6. Spoon 1 tbsp (15 ml) of batter into the center of the well and don’t touch it. It will spread out by itself and keep a more uniform shape that way.
  7. Bake 7-8 mins until slightly golden around edges and centers look set and a slight hump has appeared. Allow to cool slightly and remove from the tin and allow to cool.
  8. Once cooled completely and dust with powdered sugar and serve!
  9. These are best eaten the day they are made. Batter can be made 2 days ahead of time.

Notes

Batter can be made 2 days ahead. Batter MUST rest for at least 1 hour in the fridge in order to get that "traditional madeleine hump".

This is not the time for those silicone wonder molds. Non-stick metal all the way! I find those silicone molds don't allow for even browning like the non-stick metal does.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 18Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 47Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 42mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g

Easy Madeleine Recipe. (2024)

FAQs

How do you get the hump on madeleine? ›

Chilling the batter helps the ingredients hydrate, yielding tender madeleines with large humps. Baking the madeleines briefly at a higher oven temperature encourages an initial rise, leading to taller humps.

How are madeleines different from cakes? ›

The Madeleine is made with the same ingredients as pound cakes, but they are not the same thing. Instead, the Madeleine is cooked in small molds, generally shell-shaped. They are traditionally eaten at teatime, but you can eat them at any time of day or night. Watch out for their addictive taste!

What is a madeleine cookie made of? ›

On a pound of flour, you need a pound of butter, eight egg whites & yolks, three fourths of a pound of fine sugar, a half glass of water, a little grated lime, or preserved lemon rind minced very finely, orange blossom praliné; knead the whole together, & make little cakes, that you will serve iced with sugar.

What is the best material for a madeleine pan? ›

Aluminum and steel pans conduct heat well and offer even baking results. Since madeleines are prone to sticking, many pans are coated with silicone or similar material as well.

What makes a good madeleine pan? ›

The choice of madeleine tray is crucial as it determines what material is used. You can find different molds made of carbon steel or aluminum. Madeleine pan made of carbon steel are known for their excellent heat transfer properties. Adding a covering coating prevents it from spoiling during baking.

What is so special about madeleines? ›

Whether you prefer it plain or studded with chocolate chips, Madeleine is a delightful treat that can satisfy any Francophile craving. This soft, buttery cake is made with eggs, sugar, flour, and butter, and is traditionally baked in a shell-shaped mold, which gives it its distinctive shape.

Why does my Madeleine not have a bump? ›

If the madeleines didn't get bumps, it is likely that the batter wasn't cold enough. It is the heat shock of baking a cold batter on a very hot pan that creates the bumps. To ensure the batter is cold enough, make sure to rest it in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

What is special about madeleines? ›

They're a delicate little butter cake that most people refer to as cookies. However you categorize them, madeleines are known for their beautiful and distinct scalloped shell shape and need nothing more than a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar on top.

How do the French eat madeleines? ›

How do the French eat madeleines? There's really no wrong way to enjoy a French madeleine! They're a favorite during the afternoon “goûter” (snack) time and perfect for dipping into a cup of tea. They're often dusted with powdered sugar or glazed with a light citrus or chocolate coating for an extra touch of sweetness.

What is a proustian madeleine? ›

It is as baked into French language and culture as Lewis Carroll's rabbit hole is in English. In France, a madeleine de Proust is a common expression referring to a smell, taste or sound which dredges up a long-lost memory. For a long time, their Desert Island Discs equivalent was called Madeleine Musicals.

Why do you chill madeleine batter? ›

Chill the batter: After preparing the batter, allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. This step helps the Madeleines develop their characteristic hump while baking. Preheat the oven. Ensure that your oven is properly preheated to the recommended temperature before baking.

Are madeleines healthy? ›

Approved by Dr. Thomas Dwan - Madeleines are bad for you. They have some ingredients that by themselves may be good, but when mixed with sugar, fat, and cholesterol, they lose just about all nutritional value.

What does madeleine mean in English? ›

The name means both a "woman from Magdala" and “one that evokes a memory.” This name is famously associated with Mary Magdalene, a figure in the Christian Bible who hailed from Magdala and was a disciple of Jesus.

Why don't my madeleines have a hump? ›

Chill the batter: After preparing the batter, allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. This step helps the Madeleines develop their characteristic hump while baking.

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