Sunday, January 30, 2011

Madeleine Cookies

I always see these delicious little cookies at Starbuck's and wondered how difficult it must be to make them. However after some investigating, I found a recipe that looked easy enough to make. Also since Santa bought me the madeleine pan from Williams Sonoma this past Christmas, I had to give them a shot. This recipe is delicious and the madeleines came out so beautiful! This is definitely a "keeper" recipe.

These scrumptious little cookies are so delicate and beautiful to make.
Madeleines
Recipe by 101 Cookbooks
Makes 2-3 dozen madeleines
Special equipment: A madeleine baking pan

Ingredients:
1 ½ sticks unsalted butter (6 ounces)
2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter (for greasing pan)
¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
a pinch fine-grain sea salt
cups sugar
zest of one large lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
powdered sugar
a bit of extra flour for dusting baking pan

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°. Melt the 1 ½ sticks of butter in a small pot over medium heat until it's brown and gives off a deliciously nutty aroma, roughly 20 minutes. Strain (using a paper towel over a mesh strainer) - you want to leave the solids behind. Cool the butter to room temperature. By doing the butter first you can complete the rest of the steps while it is cooling. While the melted butter is cooling, use the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to grease the madeleine molds - get in there and make sure you get in all the ridges. Dust with flour and invert the pan tapping out any excess flour. Put the eggs with the salt in the bowl of an electric mixer with a whisk attachment. Whip on high speed until thick - you are looking for the eggs to roughly double or triple in volume - approximately 3 minutes. Continuing to mix on high speed, slowly add the sugar in a steady stream. Whip for 2 minutes or until mixture is thick and ribbony. Now with a spatula fold in the lemon zest and vanilla (just until mixed). Sprinkle the flour on top of the egg batter, and gently fold in. Now fold in the butter mixture. Only stirring enough to bring everything together. Spoon the batter into the molds, filling each mold 2/3 -3/4 full. I use a small cup filled with batter to keep things clean and manageable, it is easier than using a spoon. Bake the madeleines for 12 - 14 minutes (7-10 minutes for smaller cookies), or until the edges of the madeleines are golden brown. Remove from oven and unmold immediately. Cool on racks and dust with powdered sugar.
I was so excited that I forgot to take pictures of the first batch. This is the third batch -- which is just a couple of cookies short -- before it goes into the oven.

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