Madeleines

Madeleines: those small, moist cakes with the famous bump, flavoured with lemon or vanilla. The childhood teatime treat, much better homemade and easy to lighten.

Preparation: 15 min  |  Cooking: 12 min  |  Servings: 12  |  Difficulty: Easy

Calculated per portion from the Anses Ciqual 2025 values for each ingredient, based on the quantities listed. Household measures (spoonfuls, pieces) use average weights. 112 kcal · 2 g protein · 14 g carbohydrate · 5 g fat

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 80 g sugar
• 120 g flour
• 60 g melted butter
• 1/2 sachet of baking powder
• 1 lemon (zest)

Method

1. Whisk the eggs and sugar, add the zest.
2. Fold in the flour, baking powder, then the melted butter.
3. Rest the batter for 1 hour in the fridge (the secret of the bump).
4. Fill the moulds and bake for 12 minutes at 200 °C.

Nutritional benefits

Homemade madeleines can be made with less sugar and butter than the shop-bought kind, and without additives. By replacing some of the butter with yoghurt and using semi-wholemeal flour, they become a sensible snack for children.

Variations and substitutions

• With honey.
• Dark chocolate centre.
• Lighter (half butter, half yoghurt).
• Semi-wholemeal flour.

Storage and making ahead

Keep for 4 days in a tin and can be frozen; best on the day.

💡 Good to know

Thermal shock makes the bump: very cold batter (1 hour in the fridge) in a hot tin, in a hot oven. That is the whole secret.

Read more

Discover more vegetarian recipes · kids’ recipes.

The foods in this recipe: eggs · sugar · flour · butter · baking powder.

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