These are my new alternative to a mince pie when someone calls in for a festive cuppa.
There are barely any ingredients in them, just 1 egg and a spoonful each of flour, butter and sugar, so they are brilliant to make when you think you have nothing in. Although you do need to have a madeleine tin. Sorry, but them’s the breaks.
I flavoured mine with clementines because I can’t resist the look of them with their bright green leaves. I also stumbled across some very good dark chocolate spiced with orange oil so I drizzled that on. It gives you the chocolate-orange vibe without having to tap-it-and-unwrap-it.
There has always been a Terry’s Chocolate Orange in with my Christmas presents as far back as I can remember. Usually stuffed down the toe end of the Christmas stocking making it all square and lumpy. We now do the same for George. I guess it harps back to the days when people just used to get a toy and an orange and some nuts in their stockings on Christmas morning.
Oh, if only that were the case now! We have 8 birthdays to remember in December as well as all the Christmas gifts so it’s not easy to be creative as I just run out of steam with ideas.
Today is my Mum’s birthday. She is 83 y’know! This morning I fed her breakfast and gave her a drink from a sippy cup. A role reversal of 40-ish years ago when she might have been doing the same for me. Then I filled her room with flowers, banners and sparkly Christmas lights. She might not thank me for that, but it amused me.
Over the years she has managed to hide some great presents from us until Christmas morning, but there were a few December evenings where me and my brother could be found by the kettle steaming open packages to find out what was in them. Why did we ever do that?
More recently Mum took to leaving our presents in plastic bags with a ribbon stuck on. I can’t blame her.
The last Christmas that Mum lived on her own I helped her buy her presents for everyone. I wrapped and labelled them and left them out on Christmas Eve…only to find out that on Christmas morning she had opened them all herself before the family got there!
Though she can’t speak now she is still able to convey how much she still likes anything sweet and cakey. She had a couple of these dainty madeleines to round off her birthday breakfast.
Happy Birthday Mum.
Keep enjoying the cakes.
Clementine & Chocolate Madeleines
To make 11-12 madeleines:
1 large egg
45g melted butter
55g plain flour
50g caster sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
zest and juice of a clementine
a 100g bar of orange oil flavoured dark chocolate
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
Wipe butter in each of the holes of the madeleine tin.
Whisk the egg and sugar together well until they become thick and creamy.
Sift the flour and baking powder 3 times, pour it onto the egg mix and fold in with a metal spoon.
Add the melted butter, clementine zest and 1 tblsp clementine juice and fold this in too.
Put one scant dessertspoonful of mix into each madeleine mould.
Bake at 180 for 10 minutes.
When they are golden remove them by dropping the tray on the worktop to loosen.
Then push the cakes out with your fingers and cool on a rack.
Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.
Drizzle over the sponges with a spoon, or using a piping bag.
Alternatively you can dip the madeleines in the chocolate.
A bit of background about my Mum.
I used a 12 hole pan but this ones has much deeper ridges for a nice madeleine shape: Silverwood 16 Shell Madeleine Pan
jaime @ sweet road
December 6, 2012
I love this combo of flavors, it adds a fresh citrus spin which is always a good thing!
thingswemake.co.uk
December 10, 2012
It does make for quite a Christmassy mix of flavours. I think they need the chocolate.
themotherinlawskitchen
December 6, 2012
These look so scrummy and the photography is utterly beautiful. Merry christmas and happy birthday to your mum! MILK x
thingswemake.co.uk
December 10, 2012
Thank you MILK!
thelittleloaf
December 6, 2012
We always used to get an orange at the bottom of our stockings. Actually who am I kidding? We still do! These look gorgeously Christmassy – I need to get myself a madeleine pan!
thingswemake.co.uk
December 10, 2012
Yes…a maddy pan is worth getting. The Silverwood ones have lovely deep ridges in.
Pascale
December 6, 2012
A beautiful post Claire, in every way. Very moving, and as always your photography is stunning. I have put a Madeleine pan on my Christmas wish list now! x
thingswemake.co.uk
December 10, 2012
Hi Pascale…I am sure you will make beautiful madeleines.
Ren Behan (@RenBehan)
December 7, 2012
Such a lovely post, Claire, I love all your installments. Happy Birthday to your mum, she has a wonderful daughter in you. I will definitely try these madeleines, I have a tin, as yet, unused – shocking!
thingswemake.co.uk
December 10, 2012
Thank you Ren. Get using that tin!
cayetana1710
December 7, 2012
The photos are excellent and you explain the recipe so good, I love your blog !!
thingswemake.co.uk
December 10, 2012
Thank you so much.
Sarah Maison Cupcake
December 7, 2012
These look gorgeous, love the pictures that make them look like flowers. I have been meaning to make madeleines again for ages and these are perfect for December! I didn’t know your mum lived with you now, I hope you have a lovely Christmas together x
thingswemake.co.uk
December 10, 2012
Hi Sarah, Mum is at a specialist home just up the road, I couldn’t cope with her here as she has to be hoisted etc. (plus I’d then go mad too!) so I just pop up and see here instead. Much nicer 🙂
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com
December 9, 2012
Orange madeleines are so pretty, especially with chocolate swirls!
thingswemake.co.uk
December 10, 2012
Can’t deny that I swirled some of the leftover chocolate straight into my mouth 🙂
mywaytocook
December 10, 2012
Very touching post. You are really lucky to have your mom around.
thingswemake.co.uk
December 10, 2012
Thank you.
lemonylovesbaking
December 10, 2012
What a lovely post and those are some great looking posh jaffa cakes. Just popping off to John Lewis to get a madeleine tin…..
thingswemake.co.uk
December 10, 2012
They really do taste of Jaffa Cakes. G did suggest I try and syringe orange jelly into the middle…but that’s just too complicated. Would love to see your madeleines if you make some.
thefolia
December 11, 2012
I have a madeleine tin (found it for $1 at a garage sale down the street from me). I better get busy with these!
Hot Pink Manolos
December 12, 2012
These look lovely. And your photography is stunning.
wendy@chezchloe
December 14, 2012
Life can really show it’s twisted side sometimes. This was a wonderful post. Best to you and your family this holiday. Tell me… do you hide your son’s gifts on the highest shelf till Christmas morning? 🙂
seventypesofbiscuits
December 14, 2012
Orange (well, clementine in this case) and chocolate is just one of those combinations that always work, isn’t it?
glutenfreemunchies
December 22, 2012
I love these. I made them gluten free and they worked a charm. I included them as part of a holiday food package and my friend adored them. Love your site, so funky and fresh.