Chocolate Madeleines and the Christmas Wish List

At our house we ALWAYS have afternoon tea. During the week it's usually just a cup of tea and a biscuit or a little bit of cake...but it's still tea and in the afternoon.  This means we need a regular and varied supply of tea cakes.  We enjoyed the  vanilla Bun Tin Madeleines so much I thought I'd try to make some chocolate Madeleines. 



I seem to be in Madeleine making mode right now.  I think it's because I am trying to justify purchasing a proper Madeleine tin.  If I had any self discipline, I'd put a Madeleine tin on my Christmas Wish List and hope I'd get one as a gift.  Is it too early to begin a Christmas Wish List?  



Madeleine purists are probably tearing out their hair right now.  Proper Madeleines are shell shaped and NOT chocolate.  Making tiny fairy cakes may be a step too far but I couldn't resist these very pretty blue paper cases. If you disregard those facts, this is a very traditional recipe:

Grease and flour a 12 hole bun tin, or place a pretty paper fairy cake case in each hole.  (If you have a Madeleine tin, you lucky baker, prepare it for the batter)  Preheat the oven to 190C/350F.


Ingredients:

2 eggs - room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
125 grams icing sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
plain flour*l
125 grams butter - melted and cooled 

*Place 2 Tablespoons of cocoa onto the kitchen scales then add plain flour until you have 100 grams of cocoa and flour combined.  Sift the cocoa, flour and baking powder together and set aside for later.

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and vanilla with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes.  Gradually beat in the icing sugar.  Beat for 5 -7 minutes more, until the mixture is thick and very smooth. 

Add the sifted dry ingredients a little at a time, gently folding to combine. Then fold in the melted butter.   



Spoon the batter into the prepared tin, bake for 10 - 12 minutes.  These are tiny cakes so watch them very closely so they do not over bake.  Let them cool in the tin for a few minutes before removing them from the tin to cool completely on a wire rack.  Decorate the little cakes anyway you like - with a dusting of icing sugar, a fondant butterfly or a drizzle of melted chocolate and serve with your favourite cup of tea.  These are a great treat to enjoy while you begin writing you Christmas Wish List.  

*Please note: My Christmas Wish Lists include gifts I wish to give other people.  It's like making a list for grocery shopping only better!


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