Chocolate Madeleines

Sep 28, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Vanilla: Extract Medium

Shell-shaped chocolate madeleines on a plate, showing their golden humps and ridged sides

Delicate, shell-shaped French sponge cakes enriched with cocoa and real vanilla, featuring a tender crumb and a subtle chocolate aroma.

Prep 20 min

Cook 12 min

Cooling 30 min

Total 1 hr 2 min

Yield 20 madeleines

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

madeleines

1.0 cup (120.0 g)all-purpose flour
1.0 tsp (5.0 g)baking powder
¼ tspfine sea salt
2.0 large (100.0 g)eggs
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
8.0 tbsp (113.0 g)unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2.0 tbsp (10.0 g)unsweetened cocoa powder

Make it at home

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter and flour a 12 or 20-cavity madeleine pan, tapping out the excess flour.
Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, and fine sea salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar with a whisk or mixer on high speed until pale, thick, and ribbon stage, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the vanilla extract.
Gently fold the sifted dry ingredients into the egg mixture with a spatula until just combined, being careful not to deflate the batter.
Slowly drizzle the melted, cooled butter over the batter, gently folding it in until incorporated and smooth.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the batter for 30 minutes to firm and develop flavor.
Spoon the chilled batter into the prepared madeleine pan, filling each mold about three-quarters full.
Bake on the middle rack for 10 to 12 minutes until the madeleines have puffed and their edges are firm but the centers remain tender. They should spring back lightly when touched and a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Remove the pan from the oven and immediately unmold the madeleines onto a wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining batter if needed.
Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Tips

Be careful not to overmix when folding in the flour and melted butter to maintain a light sponge texture.
Use a high-quality pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste to enhance the chocolate’s richness.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make chocolate madeleines?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 12 minutes of cooking, plus 30 minutes to chill. The recipe makes 18–20 madeleines.

How should I store chocolate madeleines?

Store cooled madeleines in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Reheat briefly in a warm oven to refresh their texture.

Can I make chocolate madeleines ahead?

The batter can be prepared and chilled up to 12 hours in advance for convenience.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Delicate, shell-shaped French sponge cakes enriched with cocoa and real vanilla, featuring a tender crumb and a subtle chocolate aroma.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 20 servings this recipe makes.

91 Calories / serving

5.2g Fat

9.9g Carbs

1.4g Protein

5.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (20 servings): ~1820 cal · 104g fat · 198g carbs · 28g protein · 102g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 91 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 17 min·1.0 mi·~2000 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 12 min·0.6 mi·~1200 steps
Moderate cycling 9 min·1.8 mi
Swimming laps 13 min
Jogging 9 min·0.8 mi·~1450 steps
Stair climbing 8 min·~700 steps
Dancing 15 min
Bodyweight circuit training 9 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 21 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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