Cakes, Madeleines & Financiers

  • This Chocolate Vanilla Marble Cake is typically what we call a “Gâteau régréssif” in France – meaning it makes you feel like a kid again. With a buttery and tender crumb and beautiful chocolate and vanilla swirls, this is a staple French afternoon snack for kids and adults alike. Ready for this childhood favorite?

  • King’s Brioche (La Brioche des Rois)

    by Audrey

    January in France is the month of the King’s Galette, or if you are in Provence, the King’s Brioche. This sweet, crown-shaped citrus-flavored brioche is adorned with candied fruits and traditionally enjoyed the first few weeks of the year to help celebrate the Epiphany. This bakery staple is easy to recreate at home, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the fun tradition that comes along with it!

  • Gâteau Basque (Basque Cake with pastry cream)

    by Audrey

    Halfway between a cake and a pie, the classic Basque Cake, known as “Gâteau Basque”, is a staple from southern France and northern Spain – the lands of the Basque people. It has a deliciously rich and buttery double layered crust encasing a delicious pastry cream. Although locals tradtionally serve this cake to accompany coffee or tea, its elegant crosshatch pattern on the top gives it a rustic charm and makes this cake plenty elegant for special occasions, or as a centerpiece for dessert.

  • Queen of Sheba Chocolate Cake (Reine de Saba)

    by Audrey

    This Queen of Sheba Chocolate Cake is one of Julia Child’s most famous recipes, and for all the right reasons. It’s a simple cake recipe that yields a rich chocolatey taste with hints of almonds and a thin layer of chocolate buttercream to wow your guests. If you are learning French baking and need a staple dessert up your sleeve, the cake is a must!

  • Chestnut Cream Cake (Gâteau Ardéchois)

    by Audrey

    Known in French as Gâteau Ardéchois, this Chestnut Cream Cake is a rustic recipe originating from the French Ardèche, in Southeastern France. Made with homemade chestnut cream, this simple cake yields an incomparable nutty taste and a wonderfully rich, moist texture from the chestnut spread. This is a home bakers’ favorite, and a great French classic to add to your Winter repertoire. 

  • Classic French Chocolate Moelleux Cake

    by Audrey

    A Classic of the French repertoire, a Chocolate Moelleux Cake is a decadent and intensely chocolatey cake, relying on only a few ingredients: eggs, sugar and a solid amount of butter and good-quality dark chocolate. Made with no flour, hence naturally gluten-free, this cake combines the richness of chocolate cake with the airiness of a mousse. A must for all chocolate lovers! 

  • Raspberry Bûche de Noël

    by Audrey

    A Bûche de Noël is a must on the French Christmas table. But if the classic chocolate version is too rich for you, here is your answer… This lighter Raspberry Bûche de Noël features an airy Génoise cake rolled up with a subtle orange-flavored mascarpone filling with fresh raspberries. It is simpler and quicker to make than most Bûches recipes, but remains an ultimate show-stopper for the Holidays! 

  • Roasted Hazelnut Financiers

    by Audrey

    While classic French financiers are typically made from ground almonds, these Roasted Hazelnut Financiers are made from – you guessed it – roasted hazelnuts, to help provide bolder flavors. This variation on these iconic French bite-sized cakes is a favorite of mine for its perfectly-matched notes of nutty brown butter and rich, toasty hazelnuts. These financiers are quick and easy to make, incredibly delicious and the perfect treats to ease into Fall baking.

  • Brownies with Pecans and Fleur de Sel

    by Audrey

    We’re putting yet another French twist on an American classic! Today’s recipe revisits classic fudgy Brownies, but with the addition of pecans and Fleur de Sel – a star ingredient of French cuisine. These brownies are deeply chocolatey, chewy in the center with crunchy bits of pecans, and topped with that shiny crackly top we all love. Fleur de Sel also sprinkled over top makes all the flavors pop and makes them even more addictive.

  • Fresh Strawberry Moelleux Cake

    by Audrey

    A “moelleux” is a very casual yet scrumptious French cake made with the simplest of ingredients and a generous amount of butter, for a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The crumb is rich and a little dense, which makes it the perfect vessel for ripe Summer berries or stone fruits. After last Summer’s success of my Plum Moelleux Cake recipe, I present today my Fresh Strawberry Moelleux Cake – just as easy to make and equally delicious. 

Pardon your French

Let’s bring French flavors to your kitchen! I share uncomplicated and classic recipes, lesser-known regional dishes and a few modern takes. Making French cooking easy, approachable and cliché-free is my priority.