This week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe – honey spiced madeleines – was a little too complex for this new-to-madeleines baker so I chose to try my hand at plain ones instead. On our recent trip to France, on our very last day in Burgundy as I was, ahem, in a hypermarché acquiring a (cough cough) new suitcase, I was forced to made everyone go down every aisle, including kitchenware. Because clearly I need more kitchenware! And lo-and-behold, what came home in said new suitcase but a smart silicone madeleine mold. I am not a huge fan of silicone but I was excited to see the madeleine shape and, you know, it doesn’t weigh anything…
Dorie’s recipe is easy – though it does suggest letting the batter rest for 3 hours up to overnight in the fridge. She also suggests the “bonne idée” of filling the madeleine molds with the batter before you let it rest. I wish I had done this. The somewhat liquidy batter was fairly solid when I came to it about 5 hours later. Kind of like soft spreadable cream cheese. I found the silicone molds to be a little slippery and difficult to fill since the batter kept slipping out. I guess that’s the point. My madeleines puffed up a lot when they baked too, meaning the batter spilled over the edges, resulting in not-so-neat edges. That got a little crispy.
Well these were spectacular, if I do say so myself. Perfect “crumb”, a lovely freshness from the lemon zest, nice and moist but light. Beginner’s luck? I hope not.
I’ll be making these again, making even less than half the batter to accommodate my 9-madeleine mold, filling the molds before the batter rests and not filling them nearly as much.
Of course we did!
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Your blog looks like food heaven 🙂
These madeleines look just perfect – crispy golden edges and so soft and light inside. Big time YUM.
This sounds like a super recipe. I think we got the same molds from that hypermarché and so will be interesting to find out how you get on with them later. Mine are now beginning to smell of well, material (silicone flavour?) I wish I knew what was going on since followed manufacturer’s mode d’emploi. Perhaps I just need to buy another set!
Well Mardi – ahem – seems to purchase new baking sheets about every six months, so I’m not sure she’ll ever get to the stage where she finds out…. 😉
LoL!
Simple, delightful, perfect breakfast nibble, lunch snack, after-dinner bite (with a touch of Limoncello).
Love that there is a French pastry that is actually easy to make! And SO flavorful!
What a coincidence, I was just on Dorie’s site reading about Madeleines. Now I came across yours in Food Buzz.
These sound so good, and I’ve never tried them before. Definitely on my “To Try” list.
I too am a total sucker for kitchenware shops when I travel and I have purchased more than a few souvenirs that way. Just makes cooking with said souvenirs that much more exciting.
Your madeleines look delicious. I was actually wondering if I should have given the original recipe a try first, I may still give it a whirl.
Beautiful pictures. They make me want to try the recipe!
Mardi,
Your madeleines are perfection! You should give the honey-spiced ones a whirl too…they have a terrific flavor!. Thanks for the ff on Twitter. 🙂
Great job on the madeleine.
These ARE lovely!
Just perfect! I actually had to take some kitchen scissors to trip up some of my edges but the crispy part is the best part of these…gives them character didn’t you think? I’ll be making the regular versions tonight.
Frankly, I don’t consider a vacation/ trip successful unless I can sneak home at least one or two kitchen items 🙂
Beautiful cookies
Lovely madeleines! I had crispy edges too, which were my husband’s favorite part. After reading all the madeleine posts I want to go home and make more…
Ahem, as I recall i was in the aisle of loveliness and petit marsellais product!!!
These came out perfect! Very nice!
I need to try the classic recipe. I think I’d like that one better. These look great, and it’s fun that your mold was a souvenir from France!
The crispy edges were my favorite! I loved the contrast they created with the rest of the cookie. The traditional ones are definitely on my to-try radar, although I’m still on the fence about buying a madeleine pan.
I make it a point to visit the grocery store wherever I’m traveling. I think re-useable shopping bags are the best souvenirs! Your madeleines look wonderful!
The true test of a great recipe is whether they disappear! So these were a winner! And at least you had no problems with sticking 🙂
I love how you stacked them on their humps! LOL! I live in England and both my husband and I are addicted to kitchen/cookware shops! … we go in and troll the aisles to see if there is anything we want to bring home. I even stop into grocery stores abroad to see if there are any elusive ingredients I can’t get at home, or get for a smaller cost to fill my suitcases with! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed them, these are a bit of a love-affair type cake for me!
Honestly, I always head for the kitchen shops before I ever head for the shoe and clothing stores and can spend hours in one as I’m afraid to miss something I just might *have to have* for my kitchen.
I saw an aluminum Madeleines pan in a kitchen shop a few weeks ago. It was a little pricey so I never picked it up but I’m on the look-out for a less expensive *model*. As I’ve never made Madeleines yet, this post was very helpful. For your first time out and especially with a silicon pan, I think your Madeleines look just wonderful. What matters most though is that they tasted good and I’m glad yours did.
That pile of madeleines looks fantastic. I can vouch for the fill before chill suggestion. I filled before bedtime, and baked them up in the morning. Simple! My favorite kitchenware brought home from a trip is the paella pan I bought in Spain — from the supermarket.
Your madeleines look so lovely! I have actually never made madeleines… And I’m not even sure if I have a mold. I think there may be one down in the basement with a bunch of pans that my grandmother dropped off a while ago. Now I think I am going to have to go check!!
I typically don’t like baking with silicone, but definitely agree, the weight would have been an advantage in your case! 🙂 I remember visiting E.Dehillerin on my last trip, and wanting to throw everything else out of my suitcase to accommodate the entire store. LOL!
Your madeleines look lovely and light. Dorie’s recipes are all fabulous, aren’t they?
Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday! 🙂
These do look delicious, they look light as a feather. And wonderful photographs as always.
Is there anything better than a good madeleine?? These look just lovely. I have Around My French Table but have yet to make these! Gotta get to it.
You can never have too many kitchen items! And when your traveling you definitely have to check out the culinary merchandise – who knows if and when you’ll see it again. Love your Madeleine’s, they are the perfectly golden.
What a great treat! Happy baking!
I love madeleines! I even sometimes add coconut or almond flavoring and dip half of the batch in chocolate! These are such great cookies and I love that they can be eaten during practically any meal! Love your photos! 🙂
yummm! I’ve always wanted to try making these but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Yours look so good for a first try… hope mine turn out too!
J’adore madeleines!
The best in Mexico City are sold at JASO restaurant.
Can you believe I have never made madeleines?? They always look so perfect – and yours are no exception – and I know they taste great. I just have to get the right pan… Thanks for sharing your recipe!
looks good to me! you are ready for the next batch