Pistachio Rose Brown Butter Honey Madeleines

I’ve always adored the way madeleine’s look; their small shape and unique ridges is so eye-catching… but I put-off making them for far too long under the assumption that they’re tricky to make - they’re not! The process reminds me of making a fluffy American-style pancake (resting the batter and letting the ingredients shine). It’s a very low-effort bake that looks impressive!

Inspired by the sunny days here welcoming the start of spring, and the popular flavour combination of my Persian love cake, I made these gorgeous little madeleines which mirror the same flavours. They come together within 2 hours, and make the perfect homemade gift, or a pretty serving treat for guests.

The crumb is very soft and melt-in-your mouth- the honey helps with this softness. This recipe uses finely ground pistachio flour to give flavour from the inside out. Pistachios naturally add fat and tenderness so these will not be as light as a traditional Madeleine, however still very delicious and moist.

To decorate the Madeleines, you can use either a white chocolate shell, or a simple honey-rose soak (with crushed pistachios on-top). Feel free to use milk, or dark chocolate you prefer!

I advise using a dark and rich honey for the best flavour and moisture. Avoid a light, mild honey. For the rose petals (to decorate), you can find them online at Amazon, alternatively your local Middle Eastern or Asian store may have dried rose petals/buds so feel free to check there!

3 important points to keep in mind to ensure your madeleine’s come out in the best way:

1. Madeleines require aggressive heat to rise properly with a nicely shaped dome. Ensure your oven is fully pre-heated to the correct temperature before they bake so there is a ‘freezer shock’ from when they’re baked. (This is why the recipe says to pre-heat the oven before they freeze)

2. The egg whites need to be whipped for a long time. If the ribbon disappears quickly, they’ve not been whipped long enough!

3. Make sure the dry ingredients are properly sifted, and be very gentle with the whisking once they are added to the wet mix. Over-mixing can cause density.

Let’s begin…