Description
Peach Financiers are elegant, bite-sized French almond cakes with a deliciously nutty flavor and a tender crumb. Featuring browned butter and fresh peach pieces, these delicate mini cakes offer a perfect balance of sweetness and fruitiness, making them ideal for afternoon tea or a sophisticated dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Batter
- 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
- â…› teaspoon salt
For the Topping
- 12 small pieces of peeled peach
Instructions
- Prepare the pan: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Generously butter a 12-cup mini-muffin tin and lightly dust each cup with flour, then shake out the excess flour to prevent sticking.
- Bake the butter: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Allow it to bubble and foam as you gently swirl the pan to avoid burning. Continue toasting the butter until it turns a golden brown color and emits a nutty aroma, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat immediately to stop browning.
- Mix egg whites and sugar: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites and white sugar until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes thick and foamy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
- Combine dry ingredients: Add the almond meal, all-purpose flour, vanilla extract, and salt to the egg white mixture. Gently whisk these ingredients together, then slowly whisk in the browned butter until fully incorporated.
- Fill the molds: Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them almost to the top. Tap the pan gently on the counter to remove any air bubbles and ensure an even texture.
- Initial bake: Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.
- Add peach topping: Remove the pan from the oven and carefully top each financier with a small piece of peeled peach.
- Final bake: Return the pan to the oven and continue baking for an additional 10 to 12 minutes until the cakes are golden brown and set.
- Cool and serve: Allow the financiers to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before carefully removing them. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Browned butter is key to achieving the nutty flavor typical of financiers; watch it carefully to avoid burning.
- Peach pieces can be substituted with other stone fruits such as plums or apricots when in season.
- These cakes are best eaten within a day or two as they can dry out; store in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Ensure egg whites are free of yolk for proper foaming.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend.
