Description
Peach Financiers are elegant French almond cakes that combine nutty browned butter and delicate almond meal batter, baked to golden perfection and topped with tender, juicy peach pieces. These bite-sized treats are perfect for afternoon tea or a sophisticated dessert.
Ingredients
Financier Batter
- 3 ounces unsalted butter, plus additional for greasing
- 3 egg whites
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup almond meal
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting pan
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Topping
- 12 small pieces of peeled peach
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Generously butter a 12-cup mini-muffin tin, then add a pinch of flour to each cup and shake to coat the bottoms, ensuring the cakes don’t stick.
- Brown the butter: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously to prevent burning. Continue cooking until the butter foams and then turns golden brown and aromatic, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat immediately.
- Whisk egg whites and sugar: In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites and sugar vigorously until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes thick and foamy, around 2 to 3 minutes.
- Combine dry ingredients and liquids: Add the almond meal, all-purpose flour, vanilla extract, and salt to the egg white mixture. Stir to incorporate. Then whisk in the browned butter until fully combined.
- Fill the muffin cups: Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each almost to the top. Tap the pan gently to remove any trapped air bubbles for an even texture.
- Initial bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.
- Add peaches: Carefully remove the pan from the oven. Place one small peeled peach piece on top of each financier and return the pan to the oven.
- Finish baking: Continue baking for an additional 10 to 12 minutes, or until the financiers are golden brown and set.
- Cool: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cakes to cool for at least 10 minutes before removing them from the tin to prevent breakage.
Notes
- Use peeled peaches to avoid any bitterness from the skin and ensure a smooth texture.
- Browned butter adds a rich, nutty flavor, so be careful not to overcook it.
- Almond meal can be substituted with finely ground blanched almonds for a similar texture.
- Ensure egg whites are whisked well to incorporate enough air for light, fluffy cakes.
- Financiers are best served slightly warm or at room temperature.
