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Madeleine is a small butter cake in beautiful shell shape. It's made of butter, eggs and flour. This easy madeleine recipe makes the best little dessert that you just can't stop eating.
I love Madeleines but I have never attempted to bake them at home. I would buy them at Costco, Starbucks, bakery or patisserie.
I can never get enough of them. Finally, I decided to buy a Madeleine pan and make them at home and I had great success. This fail proof recipe is novice baker friendly.
Madeleines Recipe
I did a thorough research for the best madeleine recipe online and finally turned to my favorite blogs for inspirations.
I checked out David Lebovitz and 101 Cookbooks and improvised their recipes to create my very own French madeleine recipe.
Is Madeleine A Cake Or A Cookie
Madeleines are actually small butter cake with the beautiful shell shape. It’s not really a cookie as a cake batter is used in the recipe. It’s sometimes referred as a cookie because of its beautiful cookie shape and the petite size.
My creation is almost perfect, each Madeleine is firm with crunchy edges, with the cutest signature hump in the middle of the cake! And yes, they are oh-so-good with a cup of hot coffee or tea!
Method/Directions: Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease the madeleine pan with butter. Make the batter by beat the eggs and sugar.
Add lemon juice and lemon zest and blend well. Fold in the flour and melted butter, stir and blend to form a smooth batter. Transfer the batter into the madeleine pan and bake for 12 minutes.
For the full recipe, click here to get the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is only 367 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Madeleine
For a delightful afternoon tea party, I recommend the following recipes:
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Other Cake Recipes You Might Like
Madeleine Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 jumbo eggs , plus 1 egg yolk
- 5 oz (140g) sugar
- 5 oz (140g) all-purpose flour, sieved
- 5 oz (140g) unsalted butter, melted
- lemon zest , from half a lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, add into the sieved flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (207°C). Grease the madeleine pan with butter.
- Using an electric hand mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until thick and foamy. Add the lemon juice and lemon zest to the egg mixture and blend well. Fold in the flour, using a spatula to mix thoroughly. Then, fold in the melted butter and stir until the butter is well incorporated into the batter.
- Transfer the batter into the madeleine pan, filling each cavity about 90%. Do not spread it. Bake for 12 minutes or until they turn light brown.
- Remove the madeleine pan from the oven and let it cool on a cooling rack.
- You may need to tap the madeleine pan to release the madeleines. Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I so want to try this recipe but im confused about the measurements and i want to get them right… 5 oz sugar , flour and butter to cups would be?
Please follow the recipe exactly.
I was wondering, by adding the lemon zest and lemon juice, will the cookie taste lemony? I don’t remember tasting lemons on madelines at Starbucks, Target,etc?
I saw a previous post about adding Vanilla extract, I think that will taste more like Starbucks.
You can skip. They are so mild you won’t even notice.
Hi,
Yesterday made these beauties , they were awesome. Made for a gettogether and everybody like it – it was vanishes in secs – thanks for the awesome recipe – I am in love with it
Thanks for trying my madeleine recipe.
Hi, I made these today – few doubts
1. How much time it will take to beat the eggs and sugar to get thick and foamy mixture? I did it until half an hour but didn’t get that much thick and foamy and I used electric beater only and does the eggs should be at room temperature or cold? I took them at room temperature
2. Please post the pic of the foamy and thick mixture when ever u make it next time
3. Will bake it tomorrow morning and will post u the result
Thank you for sharing this great madeleine recipe, Bee! This is the 3rd madeleine recipe I’ve tried, and it’s definitely my favorite! I don’t know what an authentic French madeleine should taste like, but I’ve been addicted to the kind they sell at Costco, Target, & Meijer, and this recipe satisfies my craving. The only change I have to make is replacing the lemon zest & lemon juice with vanilla extract, and voila: my batch of madeleines tastes just like the one from Costco or Target or Meijer!
Hi Lufi, thanks for letting me know. I will have to try the next time. :)
Tried your recipe and they turned out beautifully. Hubby loved them and says it tastes like the ones he gets back home. (he’s French). They were super easy to make. Thank you for sharing !!!
Hi Sandra, wow, I am so humbled by your comment. I am so glad that your husband loved the madeleines. :)
How do I convert oz to cup measure?
1 cup is 8 oz. For baking, though it is best to weigh out the ingredients. Butter: 2 Tablespoon is 1 oz
When calculating any recipe ingredient measurement conversions from UK or European/other metric to North American (USA or Canadian) it is important to determine and specify fluid ounces versus avoir du pois (weight) ounces. The equivalents are approximate as with some ingredients weight varies from brand to brand or, in the case of flours and other dry ingredients, with atmospheric humidity. 5 oz of sugar or flour should be weighed on a scale. 5 oz of butter would be slightly more than a half cup. One pound of butter is roughly equal to two cups fluid measure which is why it is easy to cut a full pound block into fractional slabs the accuracy of which can be verified by the water displacement method. Careful interpretation of recipes from other countries, cultures and traditions can require extra time and effort but the results can be rewarding!
my mom made this cute snack long time ago when i was a child. i”m suprized n glad to find this recipe. can’t wait to make it.
I will need to make this Madeleine Recipe…..
I am going to try these, they look yummy!!!!