Peach Financiers: Elegant French Almond Cakes Recipe
Peach Financiers are elegant French almond cakes featuring a delicate, moist crumb enhanced by browned butter and topped with sweet, tender pieces of peeled peach. These bite-sized treats are perfect for sophisticated afternoon tea or a light dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 12 mini financiers 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Financier Batter Ingredients
- 3 ounces unsalted butter, plus additional for greasing
- 3 egg whites
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup almond meal
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting pan
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Topping
- 12 small pieces of peeled peach
Instructions
- Prepare the Muffin Tin: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Generously butter a 12-cup mini-muffin tin and lightly dust each cup with a pinch of flour, shaking out the excess to prevent sticking.
- Brown the Butter: Melt 3 ounces unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously to prevent burning; the butter will become foamy and then turn a golden brown color, which should take about 4 minutes. Remove the pan from heat once browned.
- Whisk Egg Whites and Sugar: In a large bowl, whisk together the 3 egg whites and ½ cup white sugar until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes thick and foamy, usually within 2 to 3 minutes.
- Combine Dry Ingredients and Flavoring: Add ½ cup almond meal, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, and ⅛ teaspoon salt to the egg white mixture. Whisk until evenly combined.
- Incorporate Browned Butter: Slowly whisk the warm browned butter into the batter until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup almost to the top. Tap the pan gently on the counter to release any air bubbles.
- Initial Bake: Bake the financiers for 5 minutes in the preheated oven.
- Add Peach Topping: Remove the pan from the oven and place one small piece of peeled peach on top of each financier.
- Final Bake: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cakes are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool Before Serving: Allow the financiers to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before removing them to serve.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is properly browned but not burnt to achieve the rich, nutty flavor essential to the financiers.
- Whisking egg whites and sugar until foamy helps create a light, airy texture in the cakes.
- Use peeled peaches to ensure a smooth topping without tough skin.
- These cakes are best enjoyed the day they are made but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Mini muffin tins are preferred to create the traditional small, elegant financier shape.
Keywords: Peach Financiers, French almond cake, mini cakes, browned butter cakes, gluten free dessert, elegant french pastry
