Velvet

Brown Butter Almond Financiers

Inspired by techniques from America's Test Kitchen and Serious Eats.

Financiers · French

Little bar-shaped cakes of ground almonds, icing sugar and egg whites enriched with nutty brown butter and baked until deep golden at the edges.

Prep15 min
Cook20 min
Total35 min
DifficultyEasy
Per serving179 kcal
FreeVegetarian
Servings12Recipe makes 12
Allergens (EU 14)
GlutenCrustaceansEggsFishPeanutsSoybeansMilkTree nutsCeleryMustardSesameSulphitesLupinMolluscs

Always check the labels of the products you use.

Method

  1. 1

    Brown the butter. Melt the 115 g butter in the light saucepan over medium heat, stirring and scraping, for 3-5 min, until it smells nutty and the specks turn hazelnut brown. A pale pan lets you see the colour change. Pour it straight into the heatproof bowl with the specks and cool for 10 min.

  2. 2

    Mix the batter. Whisk the ground almonds, icing sugar, flour and salt in the mixing bowl. Whisk in the egg whites until smooth, then add the brown butter in two goes, whisking until glossy. Cover and chill for 30 min, or up to 1 day, so the flour hydrates and the cakes bake with a fine crumb.

  3. 3

    Fill the moulds. Heat the oven to 200 °C (180 °C fan). Brush the moulds with soft butter, stand them on the tray and fill each three-quarters full.

  4. 4

    Bake. Bake for 12-15 min, until risen with a slight dome and deep golden at the edges. Rest for 5 min, then turn out onto the rack and cool for at least 15 min.

Storage

Best eaten the day they are baked. Keep in an airtight tin for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.

Equipment

  • small light-coloured saucepan
  • silicone spatula
  • heatproof bowl
  • mixing bowl
  • whisk
  • 12 financier moulds (about 8 x 4 cm) or a 12-hole mini loaf tin
  • pastry brush
  • baking tray
  • wire rack

Nutrition per serving (estimated values)

Per servingAmount
Energy179 kcal
Protein3 g
Carbohydrate15.6 g
of which sugars11.8 g
of which free sugars11.4 g
Fat12.2 g
of which saturates5.6 g
Fibre0.8 g
Salt0.11 g

Protein per 100 kcal

1.7 g High Protein needs ≥ 10 g

Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values