Gluten-Free Spiced Madeleines

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These delicious Gluten-Free Spiced Madeleines are light in texture, simple to prepare and gently spiced. If you have been looking for an easy madeleine recipe, this is the one for you.

small round black plate of madeleines on a pink and white stripe tea towel, sitting on a marble bench.

Why we love this recipe:

These Spiced Madeleines are really easy to make. Don’t be intimidated by the recipes which state that madeleines are for the experienced cook. This recipe is suitable for either the experienced cook or the beginner.

My method is simple; the batter is quickly whizzed together in a food processor. Whilst not traditional, it still achieves excellent results.

They are light, with a tender crumb, brightened by the flavour of warm spices and are perfect accompaniments to a cup of tea or coffee.

There is something very attractive and appealing about how elegant they are, thanks to their pleasantly curved, shell shape.

Despite their elegant, slightly fancy appearance, these little Gluten-Free Spiced Madeleines are made from simple, everyday ingredients.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Unsalted butter – I use unsalted butter so that I can control the amount of salt in the recipe.

Eggs – the eggs are large, ideally free range.

Caster/superfine sugar – is easier to dissolve and mixes more readily.

Vanilla extract – for the best flavour, ensure that the vanilla you use is naturally extracted from the vanilla bean and not synthetically produced.

Gluten-free plain/all-purpose flour – our gluten-free flour blends contain either xanthan or guar gum to stabilise and provide structure to our recipes. If your flour blend already contains either of these gums, there is no need to add more. If you do not require the recipe to be gluten-free, you can use regular flour.

Baking powder – ensure that your baking powder is gluten-free.

Sea salt – the addition of a small amount of salt is a flavour enhancer in baked goods. Use a coarse kitchen/cooking salt, not table salt.

Spices – I used ground cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. For the best flavour, use fresh spices. If you have had your spices a long time, they will have lost some of their flavour.

Pure icing/confectioners’ sugar – this, as the name says, is pure icing sugar. If you use an icing mixture, ensure that it is gluten-free.

Step by Step Instructions:

You’ll need to start by pre-heating your oven and preparing your tin.

the four steps required to make this recipe.

Prepare the baking tins by brushing them with melted butter and then dusting them with flour. This will ensure that the little cakes will be easily released from the tin.
Melt the butter and allow it to cool. Next, I add the cooled, melted butter and the remaining ingredients to the bowl of a food processor. I whiz all the ingredients together until they are well combined.
I spoon the madeleine mixture into the prepared tins and bake them in a pre-heated oven for 8-10 minutes.
After a brief rest, I release the madeleines from their tin and they are ready to be enjoyed with a cup of tea or coffee. Dust with icing sugar, or top with a glaze.

madeleines, dusted with icing sugar, sitting on baking paper, on a cooling rack.

Tips for Success and FAQs:

Perhaps the most important part of the recipe for Spiced Madeleines is that the tins be thoroughly prepared. Ideally, the baking tin will be non-stick. The shell shapes require a generous coating of melted butter followed by a dusting of flour after which I shake off the excess. The careful preparation of the tins means that the madeleines are easily removed.

It really is best to use the appropriate, shell-shaped baking pans for this recipe. They add an elegant touch to this little, plain cake. If you have just one tin, re-butter and flour the tin before the second baking.

Once the madeleines come out of the oven, let them sit for a minute before releasing them from their tins. If left to cool in the tins they will continue to bake from the heat of the pan, become dry and difficult to remove.

It is important to have the eggs at room temperature so they will incorporate more easily into the batter. If you have not thought to bring your eggs to room temperature, just put them in a bowl, cover them with warm water and leave to sit for a few minutes. Do not use hot water; it will partly cook the eggs.

How long do the Gluten-Free Spiced Madeleines stay fresh?

They are at their best eaten on the day they are made, ideally while still warm from the oven. In fact, some French bakeries make them to order and serve them warm as that is when they are most enjoyable. However, they are still lovely two days later.

Can they be frozen?

Yes, they can. Allow them to cool completely and store them in the freezer in an airtight container. Dust them with icing sugar just before serving.

More delicious recipes for you to try:

Here are some more of our favourite gluten-free small cakes:

The fragrance of these very elegant little French tea cakes as they are baking will fill your home. It is warm and alluring, attracting all within reach. But don’t worry, after removing them from the oven you can enjoy them almost immediately as they are at their best while still warm. Enjoy these beautiful Gluten-Free Spiced Madeleines!

Alex xx

pinterest image with photos of recipe top and bottom and text overlay in the centre.