You know that little pastry that makes you feel instantly chic and a little Parisian? This is it.
Financiers are delicate, buttery French almond cakes with a crisp, golden exterior and an irresistibly moist, nutty crumb. They’re bite-sized perfection — elegant yet unfussy — and come together in one bowl with just a whisk. Perfect for brunch platters, fancy tea parties, wedding showers… or, let’s be real, sneaking a few while they’re still warm.
And once you’ve mastered the classic almond version, you can riff on the recipe to create showstopping flavors like pistachio, raspberry, chocolate, and even matcha. Because why stop at one when you can bake them all?
If you love petite French treats, don’t miss my Classic Vanilla Macarons or Mini Lemon Cream Tartlets!
✅ Quick Tip:
- ✔️ Don’t skip browning the butter — that nutty, caramelized flavor is what makes financiers unforgettable.
📋 Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (60 g) almond flour
- 1/2 cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick, 113 g) unsalted butter
- 4 large egg whites, room temperature
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
🧁 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep pans & oven: Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a mini muffin tin or financier molds well.
2️⃣ Brown the butter: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Continue cooking, swirling occasionally, until it turns golden brown & smells nutty. Remove from heat & cool slightly.
3️⃣ Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and salt.
4️⃣ Whip egg whites: In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until foamy (but not stiff).
5️⃣ Combine batter: Stir egg whites & vanilla into dry ingredients, then slowly whisk in the browned butter until smooth. Batter will be pourable.
6️⃣ Bake: Fill molds 3/4 full and bake 12–15 minutes, until golden and edges are crisp. Cool in pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
🌸 Serving Tips
- Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.
- Stack on a tiered stand with edible flowers for parties.
- Wrap in clear bags with ribbon for charming gifts.
🌈 Creative Variations
✨ Pistachio Financiers: Swap 1/4 of almond flour with finely ground pistachios & top each cake with a whole pistachio before baking.
✨ Raspberry Financiers: Press a fresh raspberry into the center of each batter-filled mold before baking.
✨ Chocolate Financiers: Whisk 2 tbsp cocoa powder into dry ingredients & sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.
✨ Matcha Financiers: Add 1 tsp matcha powder to the dry ingredients for a gorgeous green hue & subtle tea flavor.
✨ Orange Blossom Financiers: Add 1/2 tsp orange blossom water to the batter & top with candied orange peel.
😅 Troubleshooting
- Greasy? Check your butter temperature — let it cool slightly before adding.
- Dense? Don’t overmix once you add butter.
- Sticking? Make sure molds are properly greased.
🧊 Storage Info
- Keep in an airtight container at room temp for 2–3 days.
- Freeze baked financiers up to 1 month; thaw at room temp.
- Refresh in a 300°F oven for 3–4 minutes before serving.
Financiers
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup 60 g almond flour
- 1/2 cup 60 g all-purpose flour
- 1 cup 120 g powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup 1 stick, 113 g unsalted butter
- 4 large egg whites room temperature
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1️⃣ Prep pans & oven: Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a mini muffin tin or financier molds well.
- 2️⃣ Brown the butter: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Continue cooking, swirling occasionally, until it turns golden brown & smells nutty. Remove from heat & cool slightly.
- 3️⃣ Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and salt.
- 4️⃣ Whip egg whites: In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until foamy (but not stiff).
- 5️⃣ Combine batter: Stir egg whites & vanilla into dry ingredients, then slowly whisk in the browned butter until smooth. Batter will be pourable.
- 6️⃣ Bake: Fill molds 3/4 full and bake 12–15 minutes, until golden and edges are crisp. Cool in pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
Notes
- Financiers are best served the day they’re baked but stay lovely for 2–3 days.
- No almond flour? Blend blanched almonds into a fine meal.
💌 Let me know if you make them — tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can admire your beautiful variations!
