Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (2024)

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ByCamila Hurst Posted on Updated on

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I came up with this madeleines recipe after a long journey. A journey that involved making just about every madeleines recipe I found on the internet.

If you don’t know what madeleines are, or if you’ve never had one before, let me paint this picture for you…

French madeleines have this attractive finesse and lightness that all the other cookies lack.

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Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (1)

The beauty of a madeleine is effortless. It just happens. Their shape kinda flows. Even when they just sit there on a plate, at the table, it’s almost like they are moving.

And when you pick one up and bite it, you feel like you are biting into a cloud, a cakey and perfectly sweetened cloud.

If there was a contest for the Most Sublime Cookie, the winner would certainly be a Madeleine. No doubt about it.

First of all, this is a very easy cookie to make. I have experimented with just about every method that explains how to make madeleines that is out there on the internet.

Without any further ado, let’s go over them!

Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (2)

The eggs

There are basically three different approaches to how to mix the eggs in your batter:

  • Whipping the eggs over a double boiler and getting them to a certain temperature and then whipping them longer until they are in ribbon stage.
  • Whipping one egg white until medium peaks are formed and then folding that into the batter.
  • Simply whisk the eggs until they are frothy and lightened in color.

And to me the last one is the winning method. It’s what works best for me, and conveniently enough, it’s the easiest method.

The baking powder

To use it or not to use it is the question here.

My answer is NO!

I do not use baking powder in my madeleines. Baking powder makes the madeleine have this unnecessary elevated bump that completely throws off the shape of the perfect madeleine cookies.

Therefore, leave the baking powder out! (please)

The butter

  • Cream softened butter with sugar
  • Melt the butter

Most methods are going to request for the butter to be melted. And that is the approach I take.

Seems to me that, texture wise, there isn’t much of a difference between creaming or melting the butter. The melted butter madeleine is slightly lighter and the crumb is a bit finer.

When melting the butter, I let it bubble up and cook it for about 1 minute, until it smells nutty and toasty, slightly browned in color. This provides depth of flavor to the final product.

What a difference, guys! Definitely try this next time you make madeleines.

Resting or not resting

The answer is yes!

Rest your dough in the fridge. Your madeleine will have a much prettier shape.

This right here is the reason why you don’t need the baking powder to create the beautiful madeleine bump. When the batter rests in the fridge, the butter will harden up and give the cookie a much better structure when it bakes.

Citrus

I like to add lime (or lemon) juice and zest to my madeleines. For this recipe, I made it a orange one to go with my cranberries.

Conclusion

This orange cranberry madeleines came out so delicious I didn’t even know what to do with myself. (Sorry, Dulce de leche Snickerdoodles, I might have a new favorite)

Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (3)

Orange Cranberry Madeleines

Camila Hurst

Madeleines are pillowy cookies you won't be able to stop eating!

5 from 8 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine French

Servings 24 cookies

Calories 70 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter 4 oz or 113 g
  • 2/3 c white sugar 4.7 oz or 133 grams
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 3.4 oz or 95 grams
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon vanila extract
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
  • 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour

Instructions

  • Start by melting the butter in a small sauce pan.

  • Once butter melts and starts to boil, cook it, stirring non-stop for about 1 minute, to give the butter a nutty, toasty taste and aroma.

  • Set butter aside to cool.

  • In a bowl, sift together sugar, flour and salt. Set aside.

  • In another bowl, whisk the eggs, orange juice, orange zest and vanilla extract until eggs are frothy and lightened in color, 1-2 minutes.

  • Pour the egg mixture into the dry mixture and fold with a spatula until just incorporated.

  • Don’t overmix the ingredients. Make sure you stop stirring as soon as you can’t see anymore streaks of flour.

  • Add melted, toasty and cool butter in and whisk slowly to combine.

  • Mix dried cranberries and 2 teaspoons of flour together. Add it to the batter. Fold with a spatula until incorporated.

  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.

  • When you are ready to bake, grease your madeleine pans with butter and coat with flour.

  • Remember to grease really well between the creases.

  • Pre-heat oven to 350F.

  • Pour 1 tablespoon of madeleine batter into each mold. Bake for 8-12 minutes until golden brown on the edges and puffed.

  • Don’t overbake the madeleines or they will become hard.

  • To serve, sprinkle powdered sugar on top or you can glaze it with some orange glaze.

  • To make a quick orange glaze, simply mix 1 cup of confectioners sugar with 1-2 tablespoons of orange juice.

  • You can add the consistency of the glaze by adding more sugar if it’s too runny or more orange juice if it’s too hard.

  • Then drizzle over the madeleines or dunk the top part of the cookie in the glaze and let it dry for a few minutes.

Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (4)

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  1. Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (11)
    YUMMY! So festive and I know delish! I’ll go ahead and order a couple dozen for myself!

    Reply

    1. Haha, come over girl! Let’s eat them together! haha 🙂

      Reply

  2. You take the best pictures! Beautiful

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Patrick!

      Reply

  3. You had me at whipping over a double boiler….ok yes, that was much further down in the post but it sure painted a fun photo in my noggin’! 😉 These look fantastic!!

    Reply

  4. Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (12)
    Quanta delicadeza e gostosura!!😋😋

    Reply

  5. Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (13)
    I’ve never actually heard of madeleines but I love the orange cranberry combination. Would be perfect with morning coffee.

    Reply

    1. Thank you my dear!

      Reply

  6. Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (14)
    I have a madeleine pan that is not getting much use. Need to get it out and give these a try!

    Reply

    1. Yes, Lisa! Give that pan some work to do! 🙂

      Reply

  7. Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (15)
    These look so delish…I love orange and cranberry together. And after you tested lots of recipes they are sure to be perfect! I will have to save this recipe to make with my daughter, her name is Madeline and she would think that is so cool to have a cookie/cake named after her.

    Reply

    1. Love that name!! Awe!!! She sure will love it!

      Reply

  8. Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (16)
    These are just so beautiful!
    I made a couple of batches before Christmas, to give as hostess gifts.
    Just pulling the recipe up again to make for a friend who hasn’t been well.
    Such a lovely treat. Thank you for the recipe

    Reply

    1. Awe, thank you Claire! I hope your madeleines help your friend feel better!!

      Reply

  9. Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (17)
    I”m sold! I want to make your Madeleines recipe as soon as possible. I love the flavors of orange and cranberry together and these cookies look simply delightful and delicious!

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Elaine!

      Reply

  10. Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (18)
    I love the traditional ones, but these are next level! Thank you for an amazing recipe! Plus, I really appreciated the quantity adjustment feature!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Sonia!

      Reply

  11. Thinking may not get a response since we’re a few years off here haha but can orange juice be juice from an actual orange or does it need the extra stuff from a bottle of OJ?

    Reply

    1. yes from an actual orange 🙂

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Camila

Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (19)

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Orange Cranberry Madeleines Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep madeleines moist? ›

Be careful to not overbake the Madeleines as they will be dry. Remove the Madeleines from the oven and let them cool in the pan for a couple of minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Why are my madeleines sticky after baking? ›

Sticky cake and cupcake tops are from a reaction with sugar and water. Sugars are hygroscopic, meaning they attract water. Within baked goods, sugars help maintain a moist and tender crumb. Sugar on the exposed tops, however, will grab water from humid air, creating a wet or sticky top.

What is a substitute for madeleine molds? ›

Perhaps the most straightforward alternative is to use a mini muffin pan. Most hold just the right amount of batter to make madeleines — about 2 teaspoons of batter per well. (Despite the name, our teaspoon cookie scoop actually holds about two teaspoons in each scoop, which makes it a perfect tool for these cookies.)

How do the French eat madeleines? ›

Madeleines are incredibly popular all throughout France, often enjoyed with tea, coffee and during the “goûter” – the 4 o'clock snack time. They are a favorite among home bakers as they're simple to make with just the baking essentials: sugar, flour, butter and eggs – and very easy to please kids and kids alike.

What is the difference between financiers and madeleines? ›

What is the difference between this and madeleines? Both are classic French tea cakes, but they use different ingredients. A financier recipe uses egg whites with no leavening agent such as baking powder, whereas a madeleines recipe uses the entire egg and baking powder. Madeleines also require a madeleines pan.

Why do my madeleines taste eggy? ›

To ensure that your meringue is sweet and not eggy, make sure to use fresh egg whites, beat them to soft peaks, add sugar gradually and make sure it's fully dissolved, and use appropriate amounts of vinegar or cream of tartar. You probably forgot to put the sugar and a tiny pinch of salt in when you were beating it.

What makes madeleines so good? ›

Madeleines are petite, bite-sized French sponge cakes that are as delightful to the eye as they are to the mouth. Flavoured with a hint of lemon, these adorable mini-butter cakes are gorgeously tender. With their signature shell shape they make for a lovely afternoon tea or a pretty finish to any meal!

Why does madeleine batter have to rest? ›

The batter goes into the refrigerator to chill for four hours, which helps hydrate the ingredients and lets the flavors meld. To bake the madeleines, I grease a 12-cup nonstick madeleine pan with melted butter (you can also use cooking spray), then use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion out the batter.

How long do homemade madeleines last? ›

You can keep them overnight in a sealed container, but they really are better on day 1. If they must be kept, wrap them airtight and freeze them, they'll keep for up to 2 months.

What is the difference between muffins and madeleines? ›

Muffins are for Spanish the most similar thing to their common madeleines, but muffins come along with add-ins (dried fruit, fresh fruit, aromas, chocolate). The muffins can be sweet or salty and their moulds and bigger than madeleine's.

What's the difference between a madeleine and a macaron? ›

Madeleines are soft and bumpy, dipped in coffee, making a messy table from spilling milk.... and the macaron with its thin crunchy exterior and refined almond crumb is like the perfect, slim daughter of a diplomat... the macaron has travelled the world and can be filled with matcha ganache, passion fruit... she has ...

Why are my madeleines dense? ›

Madeleines turn out too dense if you don't whisk your egg mixture enough. The mixture should be whipped to the point where it is thick and pale, and drops from the whisk into the bowl like ribbons.

What do the French call madeleines? ›

The term madeleine, used to describe a small cake, seems to appear for the first time in France in the middle of the 18th century. In 1758, a French retainer of an Irish Jacobite refugee in France, Lord Southwell, was said to prepare "cakes à la Madeleine and other small desserts".

What do you eat with madeleines? ›

How do the French eat madeleines? There's really no wrong way to enjoy a French madeleine! They're a favorite during the afternoon “goûter” (snack) time and perfect for dipping into a cup of tea. They're often dusted with powdered sugar or glazed with a light citrus or chocolate coating for an extra touch of sweetness.

What does the name madeleine mean in French? ›

Origin:French. Meaning:Woman of Magdala; One that evokes a memory.

How do you keep baked goods moist overnight? ›

3 Add a piece of bread for moisture

Add a slice of bread, along with your baked cookies, to an airtight container and store them at room temperature.

How do you lock moisture in a cake? ›

Using an air-tight container is the best and easiest way to keep your cake from getting exposed to air. However, if you don't have one of those, you can wrap your cake in cling film, or if it's iced, place a large inverted bowl over it to trap the air.

Should you keep madeleines in the fridge? ›

Storing: The batter can be covered with a piece of plastic film pressed against the surface and kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but the madeleines should be eaten soon after they are made. You can keep them overnight in a sealed container, but they really are better on day 1.

How do you keep baked cookies moist? ›

Keep Them Sealed

The key to keeping cookies fresh and soft is to seal them in an airtight container, like a resealable freezer bag. And here's a nifty little trick: add a piece of bread to the bag. You might think that the bread trick works because the cookies absorb moisture from the bread.

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