I include the French name of this well-loved cookie, financier, because it is almost mythical among cake and cookie lovers. Named for its shape—the same as a gold brick—this little cake is traditionally made
with ground almonds. You’ll find this hazelnut version even more delicious than the original, and I based this recipe on one that I helped develop when Iwas working on the Food Lover’s Guide to Paris with
Patricia Wells.
Makes about twenty-one 1¾ × 3½-inch (4 × 9-cm) financiers
Ingredients:
12 tablespoons (1½ sticks/165 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 ½ cups (140 g) hazelnut flour or very nely ground hazelnuts
1 2/3 cups (225 g) confectioners’ sugar
½ cup (70 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
¾ cup egg whites (5 or 6 eggs)
Note: If you don’t have financier molds, which are rectangular and quite heavy, you may use madeleine molds or cupcake tins. Just be sure to butter them well and be careful about the baking time. The
yield, too, is likely to change.
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Using a pastry brush, thoroughly butter about twenty-one individual financier molds using some of the melted butter intended for the financiers. Arrange the molds side by side but not touching on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet with
the molds in the freezer so the butter solidifies and so the financiers unmold easily.
2. In a large bowl, combine the hazelnut flour, confectioners’ sugar, all-purpose flour, and salt. Mix to blend. Add the egg whites and mix until thoroughly blended. Add the remaining melted butter and mix until thoroughly blended. The mixture will be fairly thin.
3. Pour or spoon the batter into the molds, lying them almost to the rim. Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven. Bake until the financiers are pale gold and begin to firm up, about 7 minutes. Turn off
the oven and leave the financiers to sit in the warm oven for 7 minutes.
4. Remove the financiers from the oven and let them cool in the molds for 10 minutes, then unmold them onto a cooling rack to cool completely. These financiers are best the day they are made.
