Lemon Earl Grey Madeleines Recipe

Introduction

These Lemon Earl Grey Madeleines are delicate, buttery French cookies infused with aromatic Earl Grey tea and bright lemon curd. Perfect for an afternoon treat or a sophisticated dessert, their tender crumb and citrus filling are sure to impress.

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon loose Earl Grey tea
• 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ⅛ teaspoon table salt
• ¼ cup lemon curd (for filling)
• Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and spray the madeleine pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Step 2: Melt the butter and stir in the loose Earl Grey tea. Let it steep while you prepare the batter.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl using a whisk attachment, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. The mixture should fall in a thick ribbon when you lift the whisk.
4. Step 4: Add the vanilla extract and mix briefly to combine.
5. Step 5: Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt over the egg mixture, then gently fold the batter with a spatula until no flour streaks remain.
6. Step 6: Strain the melted butter through a fine mesh sieve into the batter, discarding the tea leaves.
7. Step 7: Fold the butter into the batter gently until fully incorporated.
8. Step 8: Spoon about one heaping tablespoon of batter into each madeleine mold.
9. Step 9: Bake at 400°F for 3 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 350°F and bake for an additional 7 minutes.
10. Step 10: Let the madeleines cool in the pan for 3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Step 11: Fill a piping bag with lemon curd, cut a small opening at the tip, and pipe lemon curd into the center of each cooled madeleine. Dust with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

• Use high-quality Earl Grey tea for the best flavor infusion in the butter.
• If you don’t have a madeleine pan, mini muffin tins can be a substitute, though the shape will differ.
• For an extra citrus boost, add a teaspoon of lemon zest to the batter.
• To make these gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.

Storage

Store madeleines in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat gently in a low oven before serving, then add fresh lemon curd to preserve the best texture and flavor.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the batter ahead of time?

It’s best to bake madeleines right after preparing the batter for optimal rise and texture. However, you can refrigerate the batter for up to 4 hours before baking; let it come to room temperature before using.

What if I don’t have loose Earl Grey tea?

You can substitute with 1 teaspoon of Earl Grey tea bags (cut open and emptied), or use a few drops of bergamot extract to mimic the flavor.

Lemon Earl Grey Madeleines Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 745 reviews

• Author: Mariam
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 12 madeleines 1x

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Description

These Lemon Earl Grey Madeleines are delicate French butter cakes infused with fragrant Earl Grey tea and filled with a tangy lemon curd. Light, fluffy, and perfectly buttery, they make a sophisticated treat for tea time or dessert. The recipe involves gently folding the batter and baking in a classic madeleine pan for a crisp edge and tender crumb.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Madeleine Batter

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon loose Earl Grey tea
• 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ⅛ teaspoon table salt

Filling and Garnish

• ¼ cup lemon curd (for filling)
• powdered sugar (for dusting)

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Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray a madeleine pan with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy release after baking.
2. Melt Butter and Steep Tea: Melt the butter in a small saucepan or microwave, then stir in the loose Earl Grey tea. Allow the tea to steep in the warm butter while you prepare the batter.
3. Beat Eggs and Sugar: Using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment or a hand mixer, beat the eggs and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until the mixture is thick and ribbon-like, about 5 minutes. The batter should fall in a thick ribbon when the whisk is lifted.
4. Add Vanilla Extract: Mix the pure vanilla extract into the egg and sugar mixture until combined.
5. Sift Dry Ingredients: Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold these dry ingredients gently into the wet egg mixture with a spatula until no dry flour remains, being careful not to overmix.
6. Strain Butter and Combine: Strain the Earl Grey infused butter through a fine mesh sieve to remove the tea leaves, then gently fold the butter into the batter until fully incorporated.
7. Fill Madeleine Pan: Spoon about one heaping tablespoon of batter into each well of the prepared madeleine pan, filling them evenly.
8. Bake Madeleines: Bake the madeleines for 3 minutes at 400°F (200°C), then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for an additional 7 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers spring back when lightly pressed.
9. Cool Madeleines: Remove the pan from the oven, let the madeleines cool in the pan for 3 minutes, then transfer them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Fill and Serve: Fill a piping bag with the lemon curd and cut a small hole at the tip. Pipe a small amount of lemon curd into the center of each cooled madeleine. Optionally dust the madeleines with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

Notes

• The lemon curd filling adds a bright, tangy contrast to the fragrant Earl Grey flavor in the madeleines. Use good-quality lemon curd for best results.
• Ensure the eggs are at room temperature to help achieve the thick, ribbon-like batter texture.
• You can prepare the madeleines ahead of time and store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days; add lemon curd just before serving to avoid sogginess.
• If you don’t have a madeleine pan, you can use mini muffin tins, though the characteristic shell shape will be less pronounced.
• For a lighter dusting, sift powdered sugar over the madeleines just before serving.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Keywords: madeleines, lemon curd, Earl Grey tea, French dessert, tea cake, buttery cake, lemon, Earl Grey madeleines