Description
Peach Financiers are elegant and delicate French almond cakes featuring a rich browned butter base and topped with tender, sweet pieces of peach. These mini cakes offer a perfect balance of nutty flavor and fruity freshness, making them an ideal sophisticated treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Financiers
- 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
- â…› teaspoon salt
For the Topping
- 12 small pieces of peeled peach
Instructions
- Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Generously grease a 12-cup mini-muffin tin with butter. Sprinkle a pinch of flour into each cup and gently shake the pan to coat the bottoms evenly. This prevents sticking and helps create a slight crust.
- Bake Browned Butter: Melt the 3 ounces of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. The butter will foam initially; keep the pan moving constantly to avoid burning. Continue cooking until the butter turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma, approximately 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Mix Egg Whites and Sugar: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites and white sugar vigorously for 2-3 minutes until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes thick and foamy, creating a light texture for the financiers.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Flavoring: Fold in the almond meal, all-purpose flour, vanilla extract, and salt. Whisk gently to incorporate the ingredients evenly without deflating the egg whites.
- Incorporate Browned Butter: Slowly whisk in the browned butter until fully combined, ensuring a smooth batter with rich almond and butter flavor.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them nearly to the top. Tap the pan lightly on the counter to release any trapped air bubbles for an even texture.
- Initial Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake the financiers for 5 minutes to begin setting the cakes.
- Add Peach Topping: Remove the pan from the oven carefully. Place one small peeled piece of peach on top of each financier, gently pressing it into the batter.
- Finish Baking: Return the pan to the oven and continue baking for an additional 10 to 12 minutes, or until the financiers are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Remove: Allow the financiers to cool for at least 10 minutes in the pan before carefully removing them. This resting time ensures they firm up for easy handling and perfect texture.
Notes
- You can substitute almond meal with finely ground almonds if almond meal is unavailable.
- Use fresh, ripe peaches for the best flavor; canned peaches may alter the texture of the topping.
- Make sure to brown the butter carefully to avoid burning; it should be golden and nutty.
- These financiers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
