Lemon Madeleines Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
A classic French teatime cake with buttery crumb and bright lemon zest.
Madeleines are small French butter cakes known for their delicate shell shape and soft, tender crumb. Lightly scented with fresh lemon zest, these classic lemon madeleines are simple to make yet feel quietly elegant - perfect for afternoon tea, brunch, or a light dessert.
Recipe Overview
These classic lemon madeleines come together quickly with simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes-1 hour
- Bake Time: 9-12 minutes
- Total Time: about 1½ hours
- Yield: about 24 madeleines
- Skill Level: Easy
- Special Equipment: Madeleine pan
What I Love About This Recipe
These lemon madeleines are made with simple pantry ingredients and an optional brief chill, which helps create their signature rise. The batter comes together quickly, and the cakes bake in just minutes - making them ideal for both special occasions, every teatime, or simply when you’re craving a French treat.
These mini teacakes are one of my favorite teatime and tea party desserts. With crisp edges and a buttery center, they're the kind of bake that turns an ordinary moment into something special, similar to the all-time teatime favorite, strawberry macarons!
Here’s why you will love them too:
- Light, buttery crumb with gently crisp edges
- Bright lemon flavor without being overpowering
- Elegant enough for entertaining, simple enough for everyday baking
- A classic French recipe that feels timeless
- Perfectly sized for afternoon tea or dessert
Jump to:
Why These Madeleines Are a Teatime Favorite
With their petite size and delicate crumb, madeleines have long been served alongside tea in France. They're lightly sweet rather than rich, meant to be enjoyed slowly - one or two at a time - with a warm cup of tea.
Their shell shape, soft interior, and gentle lemon aroma make them especially well-suited to afternoon tea tables, whether served on a three-tiered stand or tucked beside a teacup for a quiet moment at home.
Key Ingredients
Simple ingredients come together to create the delicate texture and flavor that make madeleines so special.
- Butter: Provides the signature rich flavor and tender crumb that defines classic madeleines.
- Eggs: Beaten with sugar to incorporate air, giving madeleines their light, cake-like texture.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the batter while helping the edges turn a light golden color.
- Brown Sugar: A small amount adds moisture and a subtle caramel note, giving the cakes a softer crumb and deeper flavor.
- Lemon Zest: Adds bright citrus aroma and flavor without overwhelming the buttery base.
- Flour: Creates a gentle structure for the teacakes.
- Vanilla: Balances the lemon with warmth and depth, much like in our lemon biscotti recipe.
How to Make This Madeleines Recipe
Prepare the madeleine pan by generously buttering and lightly flouring each mold.
- Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugars, vanilla, and salt until well combined.
- Step 2: Sift the flour into the wet ingredients, about ⅓ at a time, gently stirring or folding it into the egg mixture after each addition.
- Step 3: Drizzle the cooled, melted butter around the edge of the bowl along with the zest.
- Step 4: Using a spatula, gently fold the butter and zest into the batter until completely combined, but do be careful not to overmix. Then drop a heaping tablespoon of batter into the prepared pan.
Bake on the center rack of the oven until light and golden, about 9 minutes. The madeleines should spring back when lightly touched. Transfer to a cooling rack immediately. If using your pan to bake another batch, allow the pan to cool completely.
About Chilling the Batter
Traditionally, madeleine batter is chilled before baking. This temperature contrast - cold batter in a hot oven - can help encourage the classic rise in the center.
That said, in my own kitchen, I've found that this particular recipe produces beautifully plump, tender madeleines even without chilling the batter first.
If you have the time, chilling for 30-60 minutes is a helpful step and follows classical technique. But if you're baking on a whim or are short on time, you can bake the batter right away and still achieve lovely results.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overmixing the batter, resulting in a dense texture
- Overbaking, which dries them out quickly
- Insufficient pan preparation, causing sticking
Variations to Try
- Orange zest instead of lemon, similar to our Orange Scones
- Light vanilla glaze
- Half-dipped in melted chocolate
- Lavender-lemon for spring teatime menus, like our Lavender Earl Grey Teacakes or our Lemon Lavender Scones
Serving Suggestions
Serve lemon madeleines slightly warm with tea or coffee, alongside fresh berries, lemon curd, or a light dusting of powdered sugar.
They're especially lovely as part of an afternoon tea spread or a simple dessert tray.
Storage & Make-Ahead
Madeleines are best enjoyed the day they're baked, when the edges are lightly crisp and the centers tender. Store loosely covered at room temperature for up to 24 hours. They may be frozen, though the texture softens slightly after thawing.
Recipe FAQs
Madeleines are technically small sponge cakes, not cookies, despite their appearance.
Yes - the shell-shaped pan is essential for the classic shape and proper baking.
Yes. The batter can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking.
Yes, though they're best fresh. Freeze fully cooled madeleines in an airtight container and thaw at room temperature.
Delicate, buttery, and gently perfumed with lemon, these classic madeleines are one of those recipes that feel both nostalgic and timeless - a small cake meant to be savored slowly, preferably with tea.
More Teatime Desserts
If you’re looking for more afternoon tea treats, here are a few ideas to try as well:
- Simple Berry Trifle Recipe with Pound Cake and Chantilly Cream
- Greek Yogurt Lemon Muffins: Amazingly Delicious
- Lavender Tea Bread
- Homemade Clotted Cream (5 Minutes, 3 Ingredients)
Teatime Inspiration
For more teatime inspiration, explore our Afternoon Tea recipes, and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for weekly favorites and seasonal ideas, or follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, or Substack.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email, and we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get delicious new recipes from us every Friday!
Lemon Madeleines Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest (optional) or orange zest
Instructions
Preparing the Pan
- Preheat the oven to 375℉ (190 °C) and coat your madeleine pan with baking spray with flour, or whisk together 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 ½ teaspoons flour. With a pastry brush, lightly coat the pan, ensuring that crevices are coated.
Madeleines
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugars, vanilla extract, and salt until well combined.
- Sift the flour into the wet ingredients, about ⅓ at a time, gently stirring or folding it into the egg mixture after each addition.
- Drizzle the cooled, melted butter around the edge of the along with the zest. Using a spatula, gently fold the butter and zest into the batter until completely combined, but do be careful not to overmix
- Drop heaping tablespoon size batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake in the center rack of the oven until light and golden in color, about 9 minutes. The madeleines should spring back when lightly touched. Transfer to a cooling rack immediately. If using your pan to bake another batch, allow the pan to cool completely.
- Just before serving, dust with powdered sugar.
Notes
- Preparing the pan: Be sure to generously butter and flour the pan to prevent sticking.
- Chilling the batter: Chilling the batter is traditional and can help encourage the classic madeleine rise, but this recipe also bakes up beautifully without chilling if you'd like to keep things simple.
- Baking time: Madeleines bake quickly - remove them as soon as the edges turn golden.
- Storing: These are best enjoyed the day they're baked, when the edges are lightly crisp, but will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Serving: A light dusting of powdered sugar is optional but lovely for presentation.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
I love making these madeleines, especially for teatime, but also whenever I’m craving a light, simple treat with a cup of tea, or when I’m thinking of my favorite French patisserie.