Heavenly Madeleines Recipe

Difficulty:

1/5

Serves:

4 PEOPLE

Prep Time:

30 minutes

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Madeleines Recipe

This Madeleines recipe creates classic French shell-shaped sponge cakes with a soft, light texture and rich buttery flavor. Featured on Dinner in Paris, host Romain Avril combines eggs, sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and fresh lemon zest to create delicate little cakes that are perfect with coffee or tea. A short chilling period helps the batter rest before baking, while a final dusting of icing sugar gives the Madeleines an elegant finish.

The Inspiration

Madeleines are among the most recognizable small cakes in French baking, instantly distinguished by their beautiful shell shape. Although they are often grouped with cookies because of their individual size, Madeleines are actually tender sponge-like cakes made from a simple batter of eggs, sugar, flour, and butter.

In Dinner in Paris, Romain Avril keeps the flavors classic by adding vanilla and fresh lemon zest. Vanilla introduces warmth and sweetness, while lemon zest gives the cakes a fragrant citrus note that cuts through the richness of the butter.

A final dusting of icing sugar adds sweetness and emphasizes their elegant shell pattern. Served slightly warm, Madeleines are a wonderful example of French baking that feels refined without requiring complicated decorating or elaborate pastry techniques.

Ingredients

100 g (¾ cup) flour
100 g (½ cup) sugar
2 large eggs
110 g (1/2 cup) butter, melted
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
Zest of 1 lemon
Small pinch of salt
Icing sugar, for dusting

Method

Preheat oven to 190°C / 375°F. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until pale.
Add flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla and lemon zest. Fold in melted butter.
Let batter rest and chill in the refrigerator for 45 minutes. Fill greased Madeleine molds.
Bake 10–12 minutes. Remove immediately and cool slightly.
Dust with icing sugar and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

This Madeleines recipe is ideal for afternoon tea, brunch, dessert platters, or a simple sweet treat with coffee. Their individual size makes them easy to serve and gives them a naturally elegant presentation without requiring frosting or decoration.

For a classic French-style pairing, serve the Madeleines with coffee, espresso, or tea. Their buttery sweetness works beautifully with the gentle bitterness of coffee, while the lemon zest makes them equally appealing with black or herbal tea.

For brunch, arrange them on a serving platter with pastries, fruit, and warm drinks. Their light texture makes them particularly suitable when a sweet option is desired without serving a heavier cake. Madeleines can also be included on a dessert tray alongside fresh fruit, chocolate desserts, or other small French cakes. A simple dusting of icing sugar is usually all they need.

Final Thoughts

This Madeleines recipe showcases the elegance of classic French baking through a simple combination of eggs, sugar, flour, butter, vanilla, and lemon zest. Bring the charm of French baking to your table with Romain Avril’s heavenly Madeleines recipe, featuring tender sponge cakes, rich butter, vanilla, lemon zest, and a delicate dusting of icing sugar.

Find more recipes from Dinner in Paris here!