Lemon Madeleines

Jun 26, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Vanilla: Paste Medium

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

Tender lemon madeleines with a bright citrus flavor, enriched with lemon juice and zest, and elevated with vanilla bean paste for a fragrant, buttery bite.

Prep 30 min

Cook 12 min

Cooling 35 min

Total 1 hr 17 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 tsp (1.0 g)pinch of fine sea salt
3.0 large (150.0 g)eggs
⅔ cup (135.0 g)granulated sugar
1 ½ tsp (7.5 ml)vanilla bean paste
8.0 tbsp (113.0 g)unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 ½ tbsp (9.0 g)fresh lemon zest (from about 1 large lemon)
1.0 tbsp (15.0 ml)fresh lemon juice

Make it at home

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Instructions

Grease a madeleine pan lightly with butter and dust with flour, then tap out any excess. Chill the pan in the refrigerator while preparing the batter.
In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed with an electric mixer until thick, pale, and ribbon-like, about 4 to 6 minutes. This foamed egg batter contributes to the tender crumb.
Gently fold in the vanilla bean paste, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice until evenly distributed.
Sift the flour mixture over the egg mixture in two additions, folding gently with a spatula after each addition to maintain aeration.
Drizzle the melted and cooled butter slowly along the side of the bowl and fold gently to combine without deflating the batter.
Cover the batter with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill. This rest improves texture and helps develop the characteristic hump during baking.
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Remove the pan from the refrigerator. Fill each mold about three-quarters full with the batter.
Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, until the edges are golden and the signature hump has formed. A toothpick inserted should come out clean.
Immediately remove the madeleines from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Let the madeleines rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to develop before serving.

Tips

For a more pronounced lemon flavor, toast the lemon zest gently in a dry pan before adding it to the batter.
Vanilla bean paste offers a more intense vanilla aroma than extract and pairs beautifully with lemon.
Chilling the batter is crucial for developing madeleine’s signature hump and delicate crumb.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make lemon madeleines?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 12 minutes of cooking, plus 35 minutes to chill and rest. The recipe makes 20 madeleines.

How should I store lemon madeleines?

Store madeleines in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a warm oven to refresh the texture.

Can I make lemon madeleines ahead?

Prepare and chill the batter up to 1 day ahead; bake immediately before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1.5 tsp vanilla bean paste (7.5 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.

Tender lemon madeleines with a bright citrus flavor, enriched with lemon juice and zest, and elevated with vanilla bean paste for a fragrant, buttery bite.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 20 servings this recipe makes.

101 Calories / serving

5.4g Fat

11.7g Carbs

1.6g Protein

7.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (20 servings): ~2020 cal · 108g fat · 234g carbs · 32g protein · 140g sugar

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

Per serving · 101 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 19 min·1.1 mi·~2200 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 14 min·0.7 mi·~1400 steps
Moderate cycling 10 min·2.0 mi
Swimming laps 14 min
Jogging 10 min·0.8 mi·~1600 steps
Stair climbing 9 min·~800 steps
Dancing 16 min
Bodyweight circuit training 10 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 23 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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