30-Minute Cardamom Orange Madeleines Recipe
These 30-Minute Cardamom Orange Madeleines are delightful, buttery French shell-shaped cakes infused with fragrant cardamom and bright orange zest. Perfect for a quick yet elegant treat, they combine a tender crumb with a light citrus and warm spice flavor, making them ideal for tea time or a sweet snack.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 madeleines 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tbsp orange zest
Other
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease your madeleine pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and ground cardamom until evenly combined.
- Beat Eggs and Sugar: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes pale, thick, and fluffy, indicating proper aeration.
- Add Butter and Zest: Fold the melted unsalted butter and fresh orange zest gently into the beaten eggs and sugar mixture to maintain airiness and incorporate flavor.
- Combine Mixtures: Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined without overmixing, preserving the batter’s light texture.
- Fill the Pan: Spoon the batter into the prepared madeleine pan molds, filling each about three-quarters full to allow room for rising.
- Bake: Bake the madeleines in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges turn a golden brown and the centers spring back when lightly touched.
- Cool: Let the madeleines cool in the pan for 2 minutes to set, then transfer them carefully to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is cooled to avoid cooking the eggs when mixing.
- If you don’t have a madeleine pan, you can use mini muffin tins, though the classic shell shape will be missing.
- Serve madeleines fresh on the same day for best texture and flavor as they can dry out quickly.
- For extra flair, dust with powdered sugar before serving or dip one end in melted chocolate.
- Room temperature eggs will beat better and create a fluffier batter.
Keywords: madeleines, cardamom, orange zest, French pastries, quick dessert, tea time cakes, buttery cake, shell-shaped cookies
