Madeleines

Ingredients · 8 servings

• 125 gFlour, sifted and divided
• 125 gButter, melted and divided
• 2Egg, room temperature
• 100 gSugar
• 4 gLemon zest, finely grated
• 4 gBaking powder
• 1 gSalt

Equipment

stovetop, refrigerator, oven, mixing bowl, whisk, spatula, sieve, small pan, pastry brush, madeleine mold, wire rack, cover

Instructions

1. 1
   Mise en place

   Gather the flour, butter, eggs, sugar, lemon zest, baking powder, and salt, plus a bowl, whisk, spatula, sieve, pan, brush, mold, and rack. · 5 min

   What to look for: Ingredients are measured and tools are within reach

2. 2
   Melt butter

   Melt 115 g of the butter gently in a small pan, then let it cool until fluid but not hot to protect the egg foam. · 5 min

   What to look for: Butter is clear, liquid, and no longer steaming

3. 3
   Whisk egg foam

   Whisk the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, and salt for 4 minutes until pale, thick, and falling from the whisk in a soft ribbon. · 4 min

   What to look for: Mixture is pale yellow, glossy, and visibly thicker

4. 4
   Fold dry mix

   Sift the flour and baking powder over the egg foam, then fold with a spatula until no dry streaks remain. · 3 min

   What to look for: Batter looks even with no pockets of flour

5. 5
   Add melted butter

   Fold in the cooled melted butter in 3 additions, scraping the bowl gently until the batter looks glossy and smooth. · 4 min

   What to look for: Batter is shiny, smooth, and softly flowing

6. 6
   Chill batter

   Chill the covered batter for 30 minutes so the flour hydrates and the cakes rise with a rounded hump. · 30 min

   What to look for: Batter is cool, slightly thicker, and still spoonable

7. 7
   Fill and bake

   Brush the shell mold with the remaining butter, dust with a little flour, fill each hollow 3/4 full, and bake at 204°C / 400°F for 9 minutes. · 11 min

   What to look for: Cakes are domed with lightly golden rims

8. 8
   Serve warm

   Unmold the madeleines while warm, let them breathe on a rack for 2 minutes, and serve the tender cakes the same day. · 2 min

   What to look for: Shell pattern is clear and edges are delicate