I have wanted to attempt this recipe ever since I saw an episode of Friends where Ross describes Madeleines as “lighter than air.” But somehow I assumed they would be impossible or too delicate to bake. I finally took the plunge and found them to be surprisingly simple. These two-bite cookies are refreshing with a lemon tang and perfect alongside tea or coffee. See full recipe below.
Ingredients
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
Pinch of salt
1 cup all purpose flour
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, cooled slightly
Powdered sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously butter and flour pan for large madeleines (about 3 x 1 1/4 inches).* Using electric mixer, beat eggs and 2/3 cup sugar in large bowl just to blend. Beat in vanilla, lemon peel and salt. Add flour; beat just until blended. Gradually add cooled melted butter in steady stream, beating just until blended.
Spoon 1 tablespoon batter into each indentation in pan. Bake until puffed and brown, about 16 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Gently remove from pan. Repeat process, buttering and flouring pan before each batch. (Can be made 1 day ahead.)
Dust cookies with powdered sugar.
*A metal mold with scallop-shaped indentations, sold at cookware stores.
