Matcha Madeleine

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I love the aroma of freshly baked matcha madeleines, and how it fills my urban cottage home at this festive time of year. Baking with subtle matcha green tea and the hint of rich bittersweet flavour of matcha madeleines, is the baking I do for holiday season. It is just perfect. Here is my Matcha Madeleines recipe.

Freshly baked matcha madeleines cooling on a black round wire rack

Matcha Madeleines

Classic French Madeleines recipe with Japanese infusion

Madeleines are a classic French petite butter cake. They are typically baked in a shell shaped mould. This is my favourite western sweet. It is also very easy to make and almost foolproof. So how do I make it Japanese? By adding Matcha flavour!

The first 4 steps of making matcha madeleines recipe in 4 sphotos

Cookies or Butter cake?

Surprisingly (to me), because of it’s petite size, many people regard madeleines as cookies. It is however, a mini French butter cake and usually shell shaped.

The second 4 steps of making matcha madeleines recipe in 4 photos

Popular well known French confectionery in Japan

Madeleines and Baumkuchen (German Tree Cake) are probably the two most famous foreign sweets that Japanese people eat.  Madeleines are my all time favourite French sweets. When I was a child, madeleines were a very special treat to eat.

the third 4 steps of making matcha madeleines in 4 photos

My fond childhood memory of French Madeleines

I only ever got to eat madeleines, when my uncle and aunty came to visit us, and brought some home-baked madeleines. I was amazed by how delicious the little cakes were, and how they tasted like they were from a fancy french store, but were just made at home.

the fourth 4 steps of making madeleines in 4 photos

So I joined the Baking Club 

I was so inspired by my aunt’s delicious madeleines, that I really wanted to start baking so I joined the school baking club. I really wanted to learn how to make amazing western sweets that we don’t commonly eat in Japan. Usually we eat things like mochi or red bean based desserts, so madeleines were always so special for me. I searched for the best madeleines recipe.

the last 4 steps of making matcha madeleines recipe in 4 photos

Distinctive Shell shape

It is a pretty shell shape isn’t it? Almost too pretty to eat. I was lucky to find a photogenic old round shell shaped mould from a local antique shop. Also I bought another one online because this is the cake I often make. Don’t worry if you don’t have one, you can use any shaped mould. Japanese people often bake madeleines in shallow tart moulds.

three matcha madeleines served on a small round plate and one is bitten.

Foolproof Madeleines Recipe

This is a really easy recipe to do because you just add all the ingredients to a bowl, and stir together. It doesn’t require any special beating or other things. You can change the flavour by adding some cocoa powder to make a chocolate flavour or you can add Hojicha to make Hojicha flavoured madeleines.

Matcha Madeleines

The Proof of Success: Madeleines bump

Following this madeleines recipe, I always have the BUMP. Your success in baking Madeleines can be measured by the size of the bump! Chilled madeleines batter baked in a hot oven create that bump.

freshly baked matcha madeleine cooling on a black wire cooling rack

Here is my Matcha Madeleine recipe. And if you like it, please rate it and leave a comment or any questions below. Also don’t forget to check out my other Japanese infused western baking goodies such as Hojicha chiffon cake, Japanese souffle cheesecake and Baumkuchen 

Also, don’t forget to follow me on YoutubePinterestFacebook , Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest happenings on Chopstick Chronicles. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #ChopstickChronicles so I can see your wonderful creations!

freshly baked matcha madeleine cooling on a black wire cooling rack

Matcha Madeleine 抹茶マドレーヌ

4.67 from 12 votes
Japanese infused traditional Madeleine recipe with Matcha
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
resting time 2 hours
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 9

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs *1
  • 60 g sugar
  • 1 tbs honey *2
  • 90 g plain flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tbs Matcha powder
  • 2 tbs almond meal *3
  • 90 g melted butter
  • 1 tsp melted butter
  • 1 - 2 tbs plain flour
  • Confectioners sugar to serve

Instructions

  • Sift the plain flour, matcha powder, and baking powder, all together and add almond meal.
  • Mix the eggs, honey, and sugar all together without airinating the mixture in a separate bowl.
  • Add the sifted flour to the egg mixture and stir to combine.
  • Add 1/3 of melted butter at a time and mix all together.
  • Refrigerate the mixture for at least 2 hours.
  • Grease the madeleine tin with melted butter and then flour the tin.
  • Preheat the oven to 180 degree celsius and bake it for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from the tin and sift some confectioners sugar on top to serve.

Notes

*1  a large egg weighed about 50 g was used.
*2 equals about 20g
*3 equals about 10g
nutritional value is per one madeleine

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal · Carbohydrates: 10g · Protein: 2g · Fat: 6g · Saturated Fat: 3g · Cholesterol: 35mg · Sodium: 54mg · Potassium: 48mg · Sugar: 5g · Vitamin A: 240IU · Calcium: 21mg · Iron: 0.6mg
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Japanese
Did You Make This Recipe?I want to see it! Tag @chopstickchronicles on social media!
Shihoko Ura of Chopstick Chronicles
About The Author

Shihoko Ura

Shihoko Ura is a Japanese home cook and cookbook author with a passion for food and photography. She shares her authentic and beloved recipes with step-by-step guides and helpful tips so you too can make delicious Japanese food at home. Her recipes have featured in The Japan Times, Buzzfeed, and Country Living.

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4.67 from 12 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you Shihoko for sharing this exquisite matcha madeleines recipe.
    I’m familiar with making madeleines but your recipe was different in the primarily due to the almond meal content, and I really liked the texture. I double the recipe, accidentally started the oven a bit hotter and then reduced the temperature later, and they turned out slightly golden and crispy on the outside, soft and “moelleux” inside. A delight for our family and friends!

  2. Hi, this is one recipe I would definitely like to try out!
    Would it be possible to omit / substitute the almond meal though?

    1. Hi Kevin, if you omit or substitute, texture of your madeleines will be different from mine.

  3. Is really easy to make. This recipe use lesser butter compared to other recipe that I had before so is lighter and healthier. The amount of sugar is just nice. I used unsalted butter and added a pinch of salt. The temperature setting and baking time is perfect for this 9 holes sea shell mold. Thanks for the recipe. Thumbs up!

  4. 5 stars
    I’ve never had much success with madeleines before but these turned out so well – such a great recipe! Thank you for sharing 🙂

  5. Hi Shihoko
    Lovely madeleines . Thank you for sharing.
    Just want to clarify the almond meal used . is the 2 tbsp equals 10g or 1 tbsp equals 10g?

  6. 5 stars
    I have always love Madeleines and these are one of the most beautiful ones I’ve seen. Can’t wait to try these!

  7. 5 stars
    These are just beautiful!
    I love little french madeleines, they are so delicate and light.
    Never had them with matcha, but I am thinking it would be a great recipe to try for afternoon tea.

    1. Thank you so much for the comment and five star rating Claire 😀 This is always my go to afternoon tea.