Orange Madeleines

Sep 16, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Vanilla: Extract Medium

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

Light and tender orange madeleines filled with a delicate vanilla-orange custard, combining a foamed butter sponge shell with a rich citrus-vanilla center.

Prep 40 min

Cook 15 min

Cooling 40 min

Total 1 hr 35 min

Yield 18 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 (1.5 g)fine sea salt
3.0 large (150.0 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 (12.0 g)orange zest (from about 2 medium oranges)
⅓ cup (80.0 ml)heavy cream
¼ cup (60.0 ml)orange juice, fresh squeezed
2.0 tbsp (25.0 g)granulated sugar, for custard
1.0 large (17.0 g)egg yolk
½ tsp (2.5 ml)pure vanilla extract, for custard
1.0 tbsp (8.0 g)powdered sugar, for dusting

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and sea salt; set aside.
Prepare the orange-vanilla custard filling: In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream, orange juice, orange zest (reserve 1 tbsp zest for batter), and 2 tbsp sugar over medium heat until just simmering.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolk and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract.
Temper the egg yolk mixture by slowly whisking in about 1/4 cup of the warm cream mixture, then return all to the saucepan.
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon (about 170-175°F / 77-79°C). Remove from heat, strain into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap touching the surface, and chill until cold, about 30 minutes.
In a large bowl, beat the 3 eggs and 1/2 cup sugar with an electric mixer on high speed until pale, thick, and tripled in volume, about 5-6 minutes.
Gently fold in the 1 tsp vanilla extract and reserved 1 tbsp orange zest into the foamed eggs.
Sift the dry ingredients over the egg mixture and fold gently to combine without deflating.
Gradually fold the melted and cooled butter into batter, maintaining as much air as possible.
Cover batter and refrigerate at least 30 minutes to rest and firm up.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter and flour a madeleine pan thoroughly.
Fill molds halfway with the batter. Place about 1 tsp of the chilled orange custard filling into the center of each mold, then cover with a thin layer of batter to seal the filling.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges are golden and the classic hump is formed.
Remove madeleines from pan immediately, transfer to a wire rack, and let cool.
Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Tips

Whip eggs and sugar until very light for delicate texture and proper rise.
Make sure custard is fully chilled before filling to prevent batter from becoming too soft.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make orange madeleines?

Plan on 40 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 40 minutes to chill. The recipe makes 18 madeleines.

How should I store orange madeleines?

Store madeleines in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days. Reheat briefly in a low oven to refresh texture.

Can I make orange madeleines ahead?

Prepare the orange custard filling a day ahead and refrigerate; batter can be chilled overnight.

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.

Light and tender orange madeleines filled with a delicate vanilla-orange custard, combining a foamed butter sponge shell with a rich citrus-vanilla center.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 18 servings this recipe makes.

129 Calories / serving

7.8g Fat

12.7g Carbs

2.1g Protein

7.5g Sugar

Whole recipe (18 servings): ~2322 cal · 140g fat · 229g carbs · 38g protein · 135g sugar

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

Per serving · 129 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 24 min·1.4 mi·~2800 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 17 min·0.9 mi·~1700 steps
Moderate cycling 13 min·2.6 mi
Swimming laps 18 min
Jogging 13 min·1.1 mi·~2100 steps
Stair climbing 12 min·~1100 steps
Dancing 21 min
Bodyweight circuit training 13 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 30 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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