Description
Browned Butter Financiers are delicate, moist French almond cakes with a rich, nutty flavor from browned butter. These bite-sized treats feature a tender crumb made with almond or hazelnut flour and are baked to golden perfection in mini muffin tins. Perfect for an elegant tea-time snack or a sophisticated dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup (140g) almond or hazelnut flour
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (180g) sugar
- 5 tablespoons (45g) all-purpose flour
- Generous pinch of salt
Wet Ingredients
- 4 large egg whites (at room temperature)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
- 2 1/2 ounces (75g) brown butter (slightly warm, liquified)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 375ºF (180ºC). Generously butter 24 mini muffin tins using softened butter, ensuring you cover the rims of each indentation well. This helps prevent sticking and gives the financiers a lovely crust.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the almond or hazelnut flour, sugar, all-purpose flour, and a pinch of salt. Stir the dry ingredients together until evenly mixed.
- Add wet ingredients: Stir the egg whites and your choice of vanilla or almond extract into the dry mixture. Then fold in the browned butter, which should be slightly warm but not hot. Mix carefully until the batter is smooth and homogeneous.
- Fill and bake: Spoon the batter into each mini muffin indentation almost to the top. Tap the pans sharply against the counter to level the batter and release any air bubbles. Bake for about 13 minutes, or until the financiers have risen and are beautifully browned on top.
- Cool and remove: Allow the financiers to cool completely in the tins. Use a sharp knife if needed to gently loosen the sides before carefully removing them. Enjoy these buttery, nutty cakes slightly warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Using browned butter adds a rich, nutty depth of flavor that is signature to this recipe.
- Room temperature egg whites help the batter come together smoothly without cooking them.
- Make sure to butter the mini muffin tins thoroughly including the rims to prevent sticking.
- Financiers are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- You can substitute hazelnut flour for almond flour for a slightly different nutty flavor.
