Skip to main content

Madeleines

Who can resist a madeleine? They are so charming, so fair—so impossibly French. These Proustian delights have always appealed to the buttery fringes of my soul, and they’ve always acted as the perfect foil to the rebellious and messy attitude of my first love, the American chocolate chip cookie. Plus I get to whip out my handy madeleine tray, which I cherish wholly and completely. Get yourself one and be the envy of your baby girl’s bake sale.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 24

Ingredients

1/2 cup melted refined coconut oil or canola oil, plus more for brushing the madeleine trays
1 1/4 cups white or brown rice flour
1 cup vegan sugar
1/2 cup potato starch
1/4 cup arrowroot
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
3 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup vegan powdered sugar

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 325°F. Brush 2 madeleine trays with coconut oil and set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Step 2

    In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, vegan sugar, potato starch, arrowroot, baking powder, salt, xanthan gum, and baking soda. Add the 1/2 cup coconut oil, applesauce, and vanilla and stir with a rubber spatula until the batter is smooth. Gradually add the hot water, stirring constantly, until incorporated.

    Step 3

    Drop a rounded tablespoon of the batter into each mold, gently spreading it to fill the mold. Bake for 12 minutes, rotate the trays, and bake for 6 minutes more, or until the tops of the madeleines are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let stand in the trays for 15 minutes. Place the cooled madeleines on the prepared baking sheet and dust the tops with the powdered sugar.

Cover of the cookbook featuring gluten free vegan donuts with coconut.
Reprinted December 9, 2011, with permission from Babycakes Covers the Classics by Erin McKenna, © 2011 Clarkson Potter. Buy the full book at Penguin Random House, Amazon, or Bookshop.
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
A slow-simmering, comforting braise delivering healing to both body and soul.
Crunchy and crowd-pleasing, this salad can be prepared in advance and customized to your heart’s content.
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
Summer’s best produce cooked into one vibrant, silky, flavor-packed dish.