Description
Peach Financiers are elegant French almond cakes that are moist, buttery, and delicately flavored with browned butter and almond meal. These mini cakes are topped with fresh peeled peach pieces, adding a subtle fruity sweetness and beautiful presentation. Perfect for a refined dessert or tea-time treat, these financiers come together quickly with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
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
- â…› teaspoon salt
Topping
- 12 small pieces of peeled peach
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Generously butter a 12-cup mini-muffin tin and sprinkle a pinch of flour into each cup, then shake to evenly coat the bottoms to prevent sticking.
- Bake Brown Butter: Melt the unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Continuously swirl the pan to avoid burning. Cook the butter until it foams and turns a nutty golden brown color, about 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 until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes thick and foamy, which should take 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Flavor: Gently mix in the almond meal, all-purpose flour, vanilla extract, and salt into the egg white mixture until combined. Then whisk in the browned butter until the batter is smooth and homogeneous.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Spoon the batter into each mini-muffin cup, filling almost to the top. Tap the pan gently on the counter to release any trapped air bubbles for even baking.
- Initial Bake: Bake the financiers for 5 minutes at 400°F. Then remove the pan from the oven to add the peach topping.
- Add Peach and Continue Baking: Place one small peeled piece of peach on top of each financier. Return the pan to the oven and continue baking for an additional 10 to 12 minutes until the cakes are golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the financiers to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before carefully removing them. This resting period helps them set for easy removal and serving.
Notes
- Use fresh, ripe peaches for the best flavor and texture. If peaches are not in season, canned peaches can be used but drain them well.
- Browned butter adds a deep, nutty flavor that is characteristic of classic financiers, do not skip this step.
- Ensure the egg whites are only whisked until foamy and sugar is dissolved to maintain a light texture.
- The financiers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days but are best enjoyed fresh.
- To make the baking process easier, prepare all ingredients beforehand and have the peaches peeled and cut in advance.
