The madeleine is the little pocket of joy we so need in 2020. They aren’t for everyone, because let’s face it, some people are intolerable and aren’t worth the time (and love) these beautiful nuggets of glory take to prepare.
For all the dreamboats in your life, however, this madeleine recipe* is top-notch. It can easily be adapted to accommodate different pallets. Not to mention it can be served and shared à la Covid-19, which is a definite bonus. Moreover, the base ingredients are remarkably basic so, if you’re strapped for dough (pun intended, obviously) this festive season, they make a lovely little gift to drop off on someone’s doorstep.
*This recipe has been adapted from Florence Edelmann’s 2005 Pâtisserie Maison desert book.
Incredible! As I’m typing this, our lovely neighbour, for whom I’m making these madeleines, brought back my mother’s bowl and filled it with goodies! How absolutely heartwarming.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 150g of powdered sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- 150g of flour
- 7g of baking powder
-
125g of butter/alternative
(here I did 75g of butter and 50g of sunflower oil for a little more bounce)
Fragrance
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp of cacao
- 1 tbsp of orange blossom water
- 1 tbsp of rose water
- 30g honey
Preparation
- In a bowl that sparks joy, beat the sugar, vanilla, eggs and salt until a uniform, pale white batter forms. Don’t settle for yellow.
- Gradually incorporate the sifted flour and baking powder. Followed by the softened butter or delicious fat alternative of your choice.
- If possible, let the batter have a well-deserved nap, preferably overnight. This will facilitate a more distinctive shape.
- Preheat your oven to 170c (340f).
- Prep your moulds by buttering and by lightly dusting them with four. If you pretend to be a fairy spreading fairy dust, this step is even more enjoyable.
- Once prepped, fill them with a spoonful of batter each.
- Pop these delightful creatures into your oven for 12 to 15 minutes. If you’re using a silicone mould, they may only need 10.
- Enjoy a madeleine and decide with whom to share them.
