Have you ever tasted a little piece of heaven that fits perfectly in your hand? Welcome to the world of homemade financiers, where melting that golden, nutty brown butter will have you swooning before you even start mixing!
I love the classic French pastry known as financier, which has a delicate texture and nutty flavor. Financiers are made with almond flour, which gives them a quietly sweet flavor that balances perfectly with the powdered sugar used in the recipe.
My favorite version contains unsalted butter, mild vanilla extract, and the purity of flavor that almond flour imparts. Almonds, sliced or whole, can also finish the pastry, which is light and low in gluten.
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter: Rich in fat, adds moisture, and imparts a nutty flavor.
- Powdered Sugar: Dissolves easily, adds sweetness, and gives a fine texture.
- Almond Flour: Provides protein, healthy fats, and a nutty taste.
- All-Purpose Flour: Essential for structure, creating soft and light cakes.
- Egg Whites: High in protein, aids in leavening, and keeps cakes airy.
Ingredient Quantities
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: sliced almonds or fresh berries for topping
How to Make this
1. Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to warm up and get your muffin tin or special financier mold greased.
2. In a tiny saucepan, over medium-low heat, melt the butter until it turns a golden brown, gives off a nutty smell, and is just this side of burned. You can’t leave it and do something else, or else you’ll have to start over (and again, be careful not to burn it). Then take it off the heat; stir it a little to cool the butter down.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, almond flour, and all-purpose flour with the salt. Sift together these ingredients.
4. In another bowl, beat the egg whites lightly until they are frothy but not at all stiff. This can be done by hand, or with a mixer.
5. Combine the dry ingredients and the egg whites by folding them together until they are just combined.
6. Incorporate the cooled brown butter and vanilla extract to the assemblage, and do so gently. The key to maintaining the state of smoothness and the appearance of well-combinedness for the batter is to avoid vigorous stirring or mixing.
7. Fill the prepared molds with batter, filling each one about two-thirds full.
8. If you want, you can add sliced almonds or fresh berries on top for an extra layer of texture and taste.
9. Preheat the oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes. The cakes are done when the edges are golden brown. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick in the middle of one of the cakes. It should come out clean.
10. Let the financiers set for a few minutes in the molds; then unmold them and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve and enjoy!
Equipment Needed
1. Oven
2. Muffin tin or financier mold
3. Small saucepan
4. Mixing bowl (x2)
5. Sifter
6. Whisk or mixer
7. Spatula
8. Measuring cups and spoons
9. Wire rack
10. Toothpick (for testing doneness)
FAQ
- What are Financiers?Financiers are little almond cakes with a crispy crust and a buttery, moist interior. They hail from France.
- Can I use regular flour instead of almond flour?Substituting regular flour for almond flour in this recipe will keep you from enjoying the nutty, textured, and oh-so-delicious morsels these cookies will be. So really, just use the almond flour.
- What can I use instead of vanilla extract?You can use almond extract to achieve a different flavor profile, or you can leave it out for a more delicate, subtler taste.
- Why use egg whites instead of whole eggs?Structure and light texture are the hallmarks of a financier, achieved without the richness of yolks, thanks to the egg white. Financiers are typically made with nut flours and brown butter, making them neat little packages of flavor.
- Do I need to brown the butter?Enhancing the flavor by browning the butter is step one. You’re aiming for a nutty aroma that complements the almond flour and makes your cookies irresistible. That said, step one is not set in stone. If you’re short on time, you can skip this step and go straight to mixing the remaining ingredients.
- How should I store financiers?Keep them in a sealed container at room temperature for as long as 3 days, or stash them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Recette Financiers Recipe Substitutions and Variations
Butter, unsalted: Change it out for the same amount of coconut oil or margarine.
Powdered sugar: Use an identical amount of sugar that is in a form of fine powder. Replacing sugar in an average recipe with powdered sugar will yield the same overall amount of sugar in the recipe.
Hazelnut flour: Substitute for almond flour to create a distinctively different nutty flavor.
All-purpose flour: Replace with a blend of gluten-free all-purpose flour.
Almond extract: Use as a substitute for vanilla extract to achieve a different scent.
Pro Tips
1. Brown Butter Monitoring: When browning the butter, use a light-colored saucepan to better observe the color change. This will help you prevent the butter from burning and ensure that it achieves the perfect nutty aroma.
2. Egg White Temperature: Bring your egg whites to room temperature before using them. This helps them incorporate more easily into the dry ingredients, resulting in a smoother batter.
3. Even Baking: For uniform baking, use a cookie scoop or piping bag to portion the batter into the molds. This ensures that each financier is the same size and bakes evenly.
4. Optional Toppings: Lightly toast the sliced almonds before adding them as a topping. This enhances their flavor and adds a nice crunch to the financiers.
5. Cooling Technique: After removing the financiers from the oven, allow them to cool slightly in the molds before transferring to a wire rack. This short settling period helps them maintain their shape and texture.
Recette Financiers Recipe
My favorite Recette Financiers Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Oven
2. Muffin tin or financier mold
3. Small saucepan
4. Mixing bowl (x2)
5. Sifter
6. Whisk or mixer
7. Spatula
8. Measuring cups and spoons
9. Wire rack
10. Toothpick (for testing doneness)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: sliced almonds or fresh berries for topping
Instructions:
1. Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to warm up and get your muffin tin or special financier mold greased.
2. In a tiny saucepan, over medium-low heat, melt the butter until it turns a golden brown, gives off a nutty smell, and is just this side of burned. You can’t leave it and do something else, or else you’ll have to start over (and again, be careful not to burn it). Then take it off the heat; stir it a little to cool the butter down.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, almond flour, and all-purpose flour with the salt. Sift together these ingredients.
4. In another bowl, beat the egg whites lightly until they are frothy but not at all stiff. This can be done by hand, or with a mixer.
5. Combine the dry ingredients and the egg whites by folding them together until they are just combined.
6. Incorporate the cooled brown butter and vanilla extract to the assemblage, and do so gently. The key to maintaining the state of smoothness and the appearance of well-combinedness for the batter is to avoid vigorous stirring or mixing.
7. Fill the prepared molds with batter, filling each one about two-thirds full.
8. If you want, you can add sliced almonds or fresh berries on top for an extra layer of texture and taste.
9. Preheat the oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes. The cakes are done when the edges are golden brown. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick in the middle of one of the cakes. It should come out clean.
10. Let the financiers set for a few minutes in the molds; then unmold them and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve and enjoy!
