French Lemon Madeleines

French Lemon Madeleines.

Madeleines are little sponge cake cookies that are baked in special molds that give them a delicate shell shape. According to one story the name "Madeleine" was given to the cookies by Louis XV to honor his father in-law's cook Madeleine Paulmier. Louis first tasted them at the Chateau Commercy in Lorraine in 1755. Louis' wife, Marie, introduced them to the court and they soon became all the rage at Versailles. Whatever the origins, they have become inextricably linked with the author Marcel Proust, who described them as "...little shell of cake, so generously sensual beneath the piety of its stern pleating."

Ingredients: (makes 22-24 large cookies)

140f flour

120g butter, melted + 1 tbsp for molds

120g sugar

3  medium eggs

1/2 packet baking powder (about 1 tsp)

zest from 1 lemon

Material: large madeleine molds

Method:

1) In a bowl beat eggs and sugar until white and fluffy.

2) Sift in flour, then baking powder, gently mix the ingrédients together until combined.

3) Add melted butter & zest, mix until homogeneous.

4) Refrigerate for minumum 1 hour.

5) When ready, butter the molds. Spoon batter into molds filling up to 2/3 of each mold.

6) Bake at 180°C for 12-20 min depending on your oven.

*** Madeleines are best eaten the day they're baked. Leftover madeleines are wonderful when dunked into coffee or tea.