The Christmas season doesn’t start until I taste my first madeline; one part cookie, one part cake in the shape of a seashell.  Recently, I gave a twist to my grandmother’s original vanilla recipe and made orange madeleines.  They are delicious and quick to make.

 

1 stick of butter, melted

1 cup of unbleached flour

2/3 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 Tbs. orange liquor

the zest of 1/2 an orange

cooking spray or additional butter for the pan

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Combine dry ingredients.  Add wet ingredients, making sure that the butter is cool before combining it with the eggs.  Apply butter or non-sick cooking spray to the madeleine pan.  Place one heaping Tbs of dough into each shell mold.  Bake for 13 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden.  Remove from oven and let sit 5 minutes.  Lift each small cake from the mold and let completely cool on a wire rack.  Serve.  Makes 1 dozen.