Makes: 18 financiers
There are many different versions of how the traditional French financiers came to be. Nobody knows their origins with certainty, but what we do know is that they’re an addictively delicious treat.
Ingredients
- 180g butter
- 70g all-purpose flour
- 150g ground almonds
- 230g powdered sugar
- 5 egg whites
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 organic lemon
Directions
1Preheat the oven to 200°C and butter the financier molds.
2Sprinkle the molds with flour, tapping away any excess.
3Allow the butter to melt on a low heat, wait until it turns a light brown color and begins to release a nutty scent (this is called ‘beurre noisette’), then remove from the heat.
4Mix the flour, ground almonds and powdered sugar in a large bowl.
5Add the egg whites, vanilla extract and lemon zest, and mix everything well using a whisk. Add the melted butter and whisk vigorously again.
6Fill the molds with the batter and bake the financiers for 5 minutes before lowering the heat to 180°C and allowing them to bake for an additional 12-15 minutes.
7Transfer the financiers to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
Recipe curtesy of Paola Westbeek’s “LE GOÛTER: AFTERNOON SNACKING THE FRENCH WAY“
