Lemon Madeleines

I can provide you with the recipe for Lemon Madeleines, a sweet French temptation that can be presented with an Italian twist. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 130 g of all-purpose flour
• 130 g of granulated sugar
• 120 g of butter
• 2 whole eggs
• Grated zest of 1 lemon (preferably organic)
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1/2 packet of baking powder
• Powdered sugar (for decoration, optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Melt the butter and let it cool.
3. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until you have a light and frothy mixture. This process is important for the final consistency of the Madeleines.
4. Gently fold in the sifted flour with the baking powder and salt, mixing from the bottom up so as not to deflate the mixture.
5. Incorporate the grated lemon zest and mix until the batter is smooth and homogeneous.
6. Add the cooled melted butter and gently combine everything with enveloping movements.
7. Let the batter rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This step helps the Madeleines develop the typical “hump” during baking.
8. Butter and flour the Madeleine molds or use a release spray if you prefer.
9. Fill the molds 2/3 full with the batter.
10. Bake the Madeleines for about 10-12 minutes or until they are golden and have the characteristic raised “hump”.
11. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before removing them from the mold.
12. Once completely cooled, if you wish, you can dust the Madeleines with powdered sugar.

Curiosity

Madeleines are a classic of French pastry with an intriguing history; it is said that the name comes from a maid named Madeleine Paulmier who served them for the first time at the court of Louis XV. This dessert, originally from Lorraine, became famous also thanks to Marcel Proust who mentioned them in his work “In Search of Lost Time”.

To add an Italian touch, you might pair them with an Italian digestif liqueur, perhaps a homemade Limoncello that enhances the lemon flavor. Enjoy your tasting!