Madeleine is a popular French pastry made of a light and fluffy dough, usually shaped into a shell shape. It is a classic French pastry that has been around for centuries and is now enjoyed worldwide.
Brief History and Origin
The origin of Madeleine has yet to be discovered. However, the most accepted theory dates the pastry back to the 18th century in the Lorraine region of France. It is believed that a certain Duke of Lorraine, Stanislas I, ordered the pastry to be made from a recipe from a local convent.
Madeleine became popular in France and eventually spread to other parts of Europe. It was in the 20th century that Madeleine began to be enjoyed all around the world.
In the early 20th century, Madeleine became associated with the French writer Marcel Proust’s novel, “Remembrance of Things Past.” In the novel, Proust writes about Madeleine and how it reminded him of childhood memories. This connection with Proust’s novel increased the pastry’s popularity and made it even more iconic.
Madeleine – The Recipe
- Preparation Time: 10 mins
- Cooking Time: 15 mins
- Total time: 25 mins
- Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 50g melted butter at room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp honey
- 50g white sugar
- 50g self-rising flour
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and preheat it to 190 degrees C. Also, prepare a madeleine tin by greasing the eight holes with butter.
- Add honey, sugar and egg in a bowl, and beat using an electric mixer until fluffy, pale and triples in volume.
- Then add salt and flour, mix well, and pour melted butter and whisk until everything combines well.
- When the batter is ready, transfer it to the prepared madeleine tin using a spoon. Transfer to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the color turns brown and puffs up.
- When ready, remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, then remove from tin and place on the wire rack until cooled completely.
Popular variations
Here are a few ways you can change this basic recipe to adjust it to your liking:
- Chocolate-covered Madeleine: Fragrant, buttery, and perfectly shaped madeleines coated in dark chocolate are to die for. These French cakes are perfect for teatime or snacks.
- Citrus Madeleines: These cake-like, buttery Citrus Madeleines are the ideal teatime treat with a citrus flavor burst. These orange or lemon madeleine cookies are made with basic ingredients and citrus extracts and have unique deliciousness.
- Matcha Madeleines: The traditional French Madeleines with a green tea twist are unique and delicious. They are easy to make, fluffy, light, and perfect for any time of the day.
- Orange-Cardamom Madeleines: The delicious citrus icing is spread over the buttery madeleines, flavored with crushed cardamom. These cakey, shell-shaped biscuits have sweetness, tang, and earthiness notes.
- Chocolate Madeleines dipped in Dark Chocolate: We already had the traditional Madeleines with chocolate, but these are made with chocolate and further dipped in chocolate. They are pure indulgent.
