Dec 9, 2009

20 Days of Cookies - Day 14

Day 14: Citrus Spice Madeleines

Madeleines to me represent magic and fairy tales. They're a cookie and a cake at the same time. They appear elegant and dainty, perfect with a hot cup of tea. You can turn them into any flavor depending on your mood of the moment. My mood right now of course is Christmas! So I'm taking seasonal fruit and spices and folding them into the light batter before baking. Dust them with snow, I mean powdered sugar, and watch them disappear right before your eyes!

6 Tbs. butter (I use salted)
1/2 cup AP flour
1/4 cup cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 whole eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbs honey
Grated zest of 1 Clementine
1 1/4 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice (or 1/4 tsp each of nutmeg, ginger, allspice + 1/2 tsp cinnamon)
1 tsp vanilla
Confectioners sugar for dusting

• Melt the butter in a small saucepan until it starts to turn golden brown and smells nutty, about 3 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
• Whisk together flours, baking powder and set aside.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs on high, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and the honey and beat until thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce to low and gradually add flour mixture, Clementine zest, spices and vanilla and melted butter. Beat until blended. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375ºF and butter and flour madeleine mold. Place mold on baking sheet for easy transfer in and out of oven.
• Stir the batter quickly before filling each prepared well 3/4 way full. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
• Invert pan onto cooking rack immediately after removing from oven. There is a short period of time between done and overcooking. Use a wooden skewer if they need a little help getting out of the molds. Let cool 10-15 minutes and dust lightly with confectioners sugar.

(Recipe adapted from Williams-Sonoma; Photo credit sunset.com)

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