Madeleine Cookies: How to Make a Classic Step-by-Step Recipe with Photos

If you like simple and quick baking, we suggest you try cooking Madeleine biscuits, using grandma's classic recipe and following our step-by-step algorithm with detailed descriptions of each step in detailed photos.

Madeleine Cookies: A Classic Step-by-Step Recipe

Nutritional value per serving

366 kcal

Proteins: 3.6 g
Fats: 7.9 g
Carbohydrates: 69.6 g

*Nutritional value is calculated per 100g of ingredients

Total time: 1 hour 27 minutes
Time in the kitchen: 30 min
Complexity:

A simple recipe.
Number of servings: 6

The original and delicious Madeleine cookies have a long and very beautiful history.

It is believed that this unusual treat was invented by a girl named Madeleine, who lived on the Spanish coast in the city of Santiago de Compostela. She simply began baking cookies in scallop shells, which gave the pastries a distinctive and very unusual shape for the time.

There's a second legend linking this unique treat to King Stanisław Leszczyński. It's believed that his maid, Madeleine, once prepared unusual cookies for the monarch using an ancient recipe, which is where the dessert's unusual name originated.

Madeleines, as they called it cookie Our grandmothers have a soft and airy center, the taste of which is complemented by a crispy, browned crust.

Today, it's quite difficult to find the classic version of this pastry, although cookies bearing the name "Madeleine" are available from a number of manufacturers. These treats are most delicious on the day they're made, so it's best to bake them at home.

Madeleines are incredibly easy to make, as the recipe is based on ingredients found in every home, and you can bake the crispy shells using special molds.

To make madeleines at home we will need:

shell-shaped baking pan;
container for mixing dough;
sieve;
whisk.

Madeleines can also be baked in a multi-baker; they won't have the original shell shape, but the taste will be just as unrivaled.

A step-by-step recipe for homemade Madeleine cookies

Madeleine Cookies – A Simple Classic Homemade Recipe

Ingredients

Servings

Egg C1

2 pcs
Butter (chilled)

80 G
Flour

80 G
Sugar

80 G
Lemon zest

to taste
Baking powder

3 G
Salt

1 pinch

Preparation

Step 1

Stage 1 - preparatory

We prepare all the ingredients.

The butter needs to be melted (this can be easily done in the microwave) and allowed to cool slightly.

Step 2

Finely grate the zest of half a lemon.

The classic Madeleine cookie recipe calls for lemon zest, but you can also use orange zest. Choose the flavor you prefer in your baked goods.

Step 3

Grind the zest and sugar thoroughly so that our madeleines turn out fragrant.

Step 4

Step 2 – knead the dough

Break 2 eggs (yolk + white) into a bowl, add a little salt and whisk until smooth.

Step 5

Gradually add the sugar and zest to the eggs. It's best to add the sugar gradually, mixing thoroughly.

Step 6

Continue whisking until all the sugar is completely dissolved. As you whisk, the mixture will lighten slightly and become fluffier, as shown in the photo.

Step 7

Mix the dry ingredients – 80 grams of flour and baking powder (3 grams of baking powder is approximately 1 teaspoon).

Step 8

Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl with the egg mixture.

Step 9

Knead the dough with a whisk until it becomes soft and elastic.

Step 10

Add melted butter at room temperature and mix it into the dough.

It is better to introduce the oil gradually, in 2-3 stages.

Step 11

Cover the finished dough with cling film and put it in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

You can bake it right away, but the chilled dough will be thicker and easier to work with.

Step 12

Step 3 – Bake the Madeleine Cookies

While the dough is in the refrigerator, prepare the baking pan, which will give our cookies a shell-like appearance. We're using a metal pan, so grease it with softened butter or margarine.

Step 13

Also dust the pan with a little flour.

Step 14

Place the chilled dough into a pastry bag.

Step 15

Fill the mold cavities 2/3 full.

Step 16

Madeleine cookies must be baked at a temperature 180-200℃ approximately 13-15 minutes.

Please note that this estimated time is only valid if you are baking in classical form in the "top + bottom without convection"If your parameters are different, cooking may occur faster, so it is worth constantly monitoring the process.

Step 17

Remove the finished cookies from the oven and remove them from the mold while still hot.

Step 18

Before serving, you can sprinkle the cooled cookies with powdered sugar.

You can add variety to the classic recipe by adding chopped nuts, coconut, or cocoa powder to the madeleines, and by coating one side of the shell with glaze.

We also suggest trying a simple recipe for making pistachio Madeleine cookies at home, following the video's instructions:

We also suggest you delight your friends and family by making rum Madeleine cookies with cherry filling and chocolate icing, following the simple step-by-step recipe in this video: