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Lime and Hibiscus Madeleines

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This classic French madeleine recipe is a favorite in my house. In fact it’s one of the first things I baked for Matt. While he refers to them as cookies, as do many others, they are actually little French butter cakes.

Hibiscus and Lime Madeines via Bakers Royale

Cakes, cookies—whatever. I’m just happy he enjoys them as much as I do. But what’s not to like about a tiny, butter-rich cake that’s browned and crisp on the outside and soft and spongy on the inside?

For this version, I made a lime and hibiscus variation. They turned out the way I intended – bright and citrus-y in flavor with a tiny hint of floral aromatics. Nothing overwhelming, just a subtle flavoring to give these little cakes a summer boost. Of course you can skip the hibiscus and the lime for that matter, but make sure to use a high-quality butter like my favorite, Challenge Butter.

Hibiscus and Lime Madeines from Bakers Royale

Aside from its superior flavor, I love that it’s churned from 100 percent real cream from cows in California. And just as important, it’s rbST free—in fact they were first to implement a no-rbST policy. It’s no wonder that their foward thinking and the taste has kept them in business for a 100 years and it’s the largest butter brand in the West – and is now available the rest of the country. Look for it in the refrigerated section of your grocery store, it’s the box with the distinctive elk on the packaging.

Speaking of real flavor, Challenge, along with Good Cook™, Langers® Juice and Mrs. Cubbison’s® are celebrating great summer flavors with their “Real Summer, Real Flavor” sweepstakes, a fun spin-the-wheel game where you can win cash, coupons and products from these great brands. Check it out! The grand prize is $100,000!

Hibiscus and Lime Madeines by Bakers Royale

A few notes:

  • For the hibiscus, I used dried hibiscus flowers and processed it to a fine grind with a coffee grinder. I purchased dried hibiscus at a Persian market, but you can also find it online at Amazon.
  • Once you mix the batter, make sure to bake it immediately or else the hibiscus may start to tint the batter. On the flipside, for the glaze, the finer the grind the more it will tint the glaze. Keep in mind the color deepens as it sits.
  • Usually I brown the butter for most madeleines, but didn’t for these because I wanted the other flavors to come through more prominently.
Hibiscus and Lime Madeines via Bakers Royale 210x260

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Lime and Hibiscus Madeleines

Ingredients:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 2/3 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice
  • 2 teaspoon lime zest
  • 2 teaspoon hibiscus
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 stick unsalted butter (10 tablespoons), melted and cooled

Glaze

  • 1 cup confectioner's sugar
  • 2 - 4 teaspoon lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon hibiscus powder

Finish

  • 2 teaspoons grated lime zest
  • 2 teaspoon hibiscus petal finely crushed

Directions:

Preparation: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Butter madeleine pan and dust with flour (use a brush, so every part of every groove is covered), invert and tap out any excess flour.

  1. Place eggs in stand mixer bowl with a whisk attachment, beat until eggs triple in volume, about 3-4 minutes. Slowly add sugar and beat until mixture creates ribbons on the surface when the whisk is lifted, about 2 minutes. Turn off mixer and add in vanilla extract, lime juice, lime zest and hibiscus, then using a sturdy spatula fold until everything is combined. Gently fold in flour and until no streaks of flour are visible. Add in butter and fold until just combined. Fill mold 3/4 full. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Remove from oven and unmold. Cool on a wire rack.
  2. To make glaze: Place confectioner's sugar and 2 teaspoon of lime juice in a bowl. Whisk to combine. Add more lime juice as needed to achieve desired consistency. Sprinkle in hibiscus powder and stir to combine. *Note the longer the glaze sits the deeper the color will turn. Pour 1/2 teaspoon over each cookie and finish with a small sprinkling of grated lime and chopped hibiscus petals.
  • For the hibiscus, I used dried hibiscus flowers and processed it to a fine grind with a coffee grinder. I purchased dried hibiscus at a Persian market, but you can also find it online at Amazon.
  • Once you mix the batter, make sure to bake it immediately or else the hibiscus may start to tint the batter. On the flipside, for the glaze, the finer the grind the more it will tint the glaze. Keep in mind the color deepens as it sits.
  • Usually I brown the butter for most madeleines, but didn't for these because I wanted the other flavors to come through more prominently.

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Comments

  4. WOW! What a flavour combination, sounds so dreamy. I’ve never made Madeleines, this seems like a good excuse to rectify that, they are so trendy at the moment too.

  5. These are beautiful! What great flavors too. I’m a huge fan on madeleines. I think I need to break out my pans and get baking today!

  6. So how much flour is in the madeleines? It’s not listed as an ingredient, though you do mention it in the directions.

    • Avatar for Naomi Robinson

      Naomi Robinson replied: — August 4th, 2014 @ 7:33 am

      Hi Tanya – Thanks for letting me know. It’s 1 cup of flour. Ive updated the recipe.

  7. Such gorgeous, delicate madeleines – and what an amazing flavor combo! Love your use of natural hibiscus powder to color that glaze – gorgeous!!

  10. Sounds great but you didnt mention the amount of flour!!!

    • Avatar for Naomi Robinson

      Naomi Robinson replied: — August 4th, 2014 @ 7:34 am

      Hi Maris – Thanks for letting me know. It’s 1 cup of flour. The recipe has been updated to reflect that,

  15. Huh. I always thought they were cookies too. These look beautiful (as always).

  21. What a divine flavor combination! I never cease to be amazed at what you can churn out of your kitchen.

  25. I’ve been trying to get the nerve up to bake with Hibiscus… you’ve inspired me:) Looks delicious.

  29. Your pictures are simply amazing. Make the recipe very tempting :)

  30. well these are completely gorgeous. that hibiscus pink icing is amazing. and now off to try and make a gf version of these beauties!

  31. I love baking madeleines – so easy yet so delicious! This recipe has a nice swing to it, love it :)

  33. It’s okay, you can tell me. You cringe when you hear people call them cookies.

    Kudos on the hibiscus! Flowers are egregiously underused for culinary purposes. Lilacs are easier to source for me, so I think I will try this recipe with those.

  34. These look absolutely divine. While I’ve had hibiscus infused drinks, I’ve never thought to use them in baking! I’ll have to give it a try.

  35. What a fabulous flavour combination! I have never eaten a madeleine before but these are just darling! So sweet!

  36. These are absolutely amazing! And you’ve totally convinced me to make it! I love this. You are a total genius.

Naomi Robinson

Avatar for Naomi RobinsonWelcome to my cozy corner where baking meets random thoughts and musings. I’m a self-taught baker sharing all things sweet (and some savory—okay, and cocktails) with a whisk in one hand and a camera in the other. More about Naomi »

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