12 Classic French Madeleines Recipes to Delight

Are you looking for the ultimate guide to making 12 classic French madeleines recipes? I am offering you a collection of timeless recipes that will help you create perfect, bakery-quality madeleines right in your own kitchen.

Discover the timeless charm of Classic French Madeleines, tiny cakes that combine buttery richness with a delicate, shell-like shape. Their perfect balance of crispy edges and soft, moist interior makes them a favorite treat in any setting. I vividly remember the first time I tried making them—how exciting it was to see the batter transform into those beautiful little shells.

These simple ingredients—butter, eggs, sugar, and flour—come together in a way that’s surprisingly easy to master. With just a few careful steps, you’ll create perfect madeleines that look as delightful as they taste. Over the years, I’ve mastered this recipe and learned how small details, like chilling the batter, make all the difference.

Imagine biting into a warm, aromatic French pastry with hints of lemon or vanilla—each one is a moment of pure joy. I’m confident that with the right guidance, you’ll craft beautiful, bakery-quality madeleines right in your own kitchen, ready to impress and delight.

1. How To Make Classic French Madeleines

How To Make Classic French Madeleines
Credit: emmaduckworthbakes.com

These classic French Madeleines are tiny, buttery sponge cakes baked in charming shell-shaped molds, offering a perfect balance of crispy edges and a soft, moist interior. Made with simple ingredients like browned butter and vanilla bean, they are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven for that irresistible, aromatic bite of French elegance.

Read the Recipe: How To Make Classic French Madeleines

2. How To Make Classic French Madeleines [www.thekitchn.com]

How To Make Classic French Madeleines [www.thekitchn.com]
Credit: www.thekitchn.com

Madeleines are adorable French butter cakes that are crispy on the outside and soft inside, perfect for a cozy tea break. Just mix flour, sugar, eggs, and melted butter, then let the batter chill in the fridge before baking in scallop shell pans until golden and irresistible.

Read the Recipe: How To Make Classic French Madeleines [www.thekitchn.com]

3. Classic Madeleines Recipe

Classic Madeleines Recipe
Credit: www.monpetitfour.com

Making classic madeleines is a fun and quick baking adventure—just whip up a batter with eggs, sugar, and butter, then spoon it into a buttered madeleine pan to shape those adorable shell-shaped cakes. After baking for about 10 minutes, you’ll enjoy light, fluffy, moist treats perfect for dusting with powdered sugar or dipping in chocolate—deliciously simple and irresistibly charming!

Read the Recipe: Classic Madeleines Recipe

4. Classic French Madeleines

Classic French Madeleines
Credit: thebakeologie.com

Making Classic French Madeleines is a delightful process that results in tiny, buttery cakes with a hint of lemon, featuring a crisp exterior and soft, spongy interior. The key is using a special scalloped shell pan and chilling the batter for 30 minutes to achieve that perfect rise and shape, making them almost too pretty to eat but irresistible once you take a bite!

Read the Recipe: Classic French Madeleines

5. Classic French Madeleines [bethcakes.com]

Classic French Madeleines [bethcakes.com]
Credit: bethcakes.com

Making classic French madeleines is a fun quick-bake adventure—these light, fluffy treats bake in just about 10 minutes and are perfect for displaying at summer events or cozying up with a sweet snack. Simply whisk together sugar and eggs, fold in flour, baking soda, and melted butter, then bake in a greased pan until they’re golden and irresistible, finished off with a dusting of powdered sugar for that perfect touch.

Read the Recipe: Classic French Madeleines [bethcakes.com]

6. Classic French Madeleine Cookies

Classic French Madeleine Cookies
Credit: momsdish.com

Madeleine cookies are charming shell-shaped treats that are crispy on the outside and soft like cake on the inside, perfect for tea time. With just a few simple steps, you can transform basic ingredients into these delightful French sponge cakes, piping the batter into a Madeleine pan and baking until golden, then adding your own creative touches with toppings or dips!

Read the Recipe: Classic French Madeleine Cookies

7. Traditional French Madeleines

Traditional French Madeleines
Credit: lacuisinedegeraldine.fr

Experience the joy of baking Traditional French Madeleines with their delicate, soft texture and irresistible butter and lemon flavor. To get that perfect bump, chill the dough well in the fridge and use a clever thermal shock by turning off your oven during baking, ensuring your madeleines turn out beautifully golden with a charming rise!

Read the Recipe: Traditional French Madeleines

8. Classic French Madeleines [youthsweets.com]

Classic French Madeleines [youthsweets.com]
Credit: youthsweets.com

Classic French Madeleines are tender, shell-shaped sponge cakes with a delicate vanilla flavor and a hint of citrus from lemon zest. They’re quick to bake and best enjoyed fresh, making them a perfect treat to impress friends or indulge yourself!

Read the Recipe: Classic French Madeleines [youthsweets.com]

9. Madeleines Recipe, Julia Child’s Classic French Madeleines

Madeleines Recipe, Julia Child’s Classic French Madeleines
Credit: www.kannammacooks.com

These Julia Child’s Classic French Madeleines are delightfully buttery and perfectly shaped in their signature scalloped shell form. Simply mix the eggs, sugar, and flour, then fold in browned butter and a splash of lemon and vanilla, pour into greased pans, and bake until golden and humped in the middle—a true treat that’s crispy on the outside and tender inside!

Read the Recipe: Madeleines Recipe, Julia Child’s Classic French Madeleines

10. Madeleines

Madeleines
Credit: preppykitchen.com

These buttery, light-as-air Madeleines are charming, scallop-shaped cakes that are perfect for any occasion. Simply whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest, fold in sifted flour and cooled melted butter, then chill the batter before baking until golden and irresistibly crispy on the edges—finished with a dusting of powdered sugar for a delightful touch.

Read the Recipe: Madeleines

11. Classic French Madeleines [www.pardonyourfrench.com]

Classic French Madeleines [www.pardonyourfrench.com]
Credit: www.pardonyourfrench.com

Madeleines are small, shell-shaped cakes with a buttery flavor that are crispy on the edges and soft in the middle. Made with just butter, sugar, eggs, and flour, they’re quick to make at home and perfect for enjoying with tea or coffee.

Read the Recipe: Classic French Madeleines [www.pardonyourfrench.com]

12. Madeleines [www.thefrenchcookingacademy.com]

Madeleines [www.thefrenchcookingacademy.com]
Credit: www.thefrenchcookingacademy.com

Madeleines are tiny, buttery cakes with a delicate, shell-like shape that are beloved in France. To make them, whisk eggs, sugar, and honey until fluffy, then fold in flour, baking powder, and melted butter with a squeeze of lemon, letting the batter rest before baking in a nicely greased madeleine tin at high heat. The result is a crisp-edged, moist treat perfect for enjoying warm or cool, and easy to customize with added flavors like citrus zest or chocolate.

Read the Recipe: Madeleines [www.thefrenchcookingacademy.com]