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Financier Recipe: How to Make French Almond Cakes

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Dec 20, 2024 • 2 min read

This classic French financier recipe will transform your kitchen into a Paris patisserie—no fancy equipment or skills needed.

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What Is a Financier?

Financiers are small French cakes typically made with beurre noisette (brown butter), egg whites, and a mixture of white flour and ground almond meal. Financier cakes have a buttery, nutty flavor, moist texture, and slightly crispy outer crust. There are a few theories as to how financiers got their name, one of which is that the traditional rectangular molds make the golden brown cakes look like gold bars. You don't need special financier molds to make these little cakes at home; they turn out just as well baked in mini muffin tins.

How to Make Brown Butter

Browning butter is an easy process that takes only minutes to complete. You’ll need a stick of unsalted butter, a small saucepan, and a utensil to stir the butter as it browns.

  1. 1. Melt the butter in a pan. Melt one stick of unsalted butter in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally.
  2. 2. Stir the butter. Once the melted butter begins to bubble and foam, stir it continuously to ensure none of the milk solids—those little brown bits that appear as the butter melts—burn as they settle on the bottom of the pan.
  3. 3. Wait for the color to change. Lower the heat if necessary, and wait for the butter to become a warm shade of golden brown with an undeniably nutty aroma. Remove from heat immediately.
  4. 4. Transfer and cool. Transfer the browned butter to a heatproof bowl. Allow the butter sauce to reach room temperature before using it.

Simple French Financiers Recipe

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128 Ratings | Rate Now

makes

24 cakes

prep time

20 min

total time

34 min

cook time

14 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. 2

    Generously grease the inside of a mini muffin pan with butter or cooking spray. (Alternatively, use mini muffin cups/liners.)

  3. 3

    In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sugar, flour, and salt. Add the egg whites and almond extract to the dry ingredients and use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to stir the mixture until just combined. Add the brown butter and stir to combine.

  4. 4

    Spoon the batter into the muffin tins, filling each muffin cup two-thirds full, and tap the pan gently on the counter to flatten the batter. If desired, place a fresh raspberry, chocolate chip, or almond slice in the center of each financier.

  5. 5

    Bake until golden brown, about 12–14 minutes. Let the financiers cool in the muffin tins, on wire racks.

  6. 6

    When completely cool, unmold the financiers using a butter knife or offset spatula to help release them from their tins. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days or in the freezer for three weeks.

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