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James Martin’s cinnamon madeleines with spiced caramel sauce

Name: James Martin’s cinnamon madeleines with spiced caramel sauce
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: Makes about 36 madeleines
Cuisine: French recipes
Ingredients: For the madeleines; 225g unsalted butter, plus more for greasing; 250g caster sugar, plus about 75g to dust; 250g plain flour; 1 vanilla pod, split, seeds scraped; 2 tbsp clear honey; 3 medium free-range eggs, lightly beaten; ½ tsp ground cinnamon; For the sauce; 100g caster sugar; 350ml double cream; 1 star anise; ½ cinnamon stick; 25g unsalted butter; You’ll also need; 12 hole madeleine tins (3 ideally; but one’s fine – you can bake in batches; see know-how)

By: James Martin

Published: 1 Apr 15
Updated: 12 Mar 25

James Martin’s cinnamon madeleines with spiced caramel sauce

Find out how to make madeleines with James Martin’s classic French recipe. These are as light-as-a-feather, and served with a spiced caramel sauce (or, he says you could try a chocolate sauce if you prefer).

They work wonderfully as a dinner party dessert.

Easy
February 2015

Test kitchen approved

Makes about 36 madeleines
Hands-on time 35 min, oven time 10-15 min

They work wonderfully as a dinner party dessert.

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 180kcals
Fat: 11.6g (7.2g saturated)
Protein: 1.5g
Carbohydrates: 17.7g (12.7g sugars)
Fibre: 0.3g
Salt: trace

Per madeleine

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Ingredients

For the madeleines

225g unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
250g caster sugar, plus about 75g to dust
250g plain flour
1 vanilla pod, split, seeds scraped
2 tbsp clear honey
3 medium free-range eggs, lightly beaten
½ tsp ground cinnamon

For the sauce

100g caster sugar
350ml double cream
1 star anise
½ cinnamon stick
25g unsalted butter

You’ll also need

12 hole madeleine tins (3 ideally; but one’s fine – you can bake in batches; see know-how)

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Method

For the madeleines, heat the oven to 160°C/fan140°C/gas 3 and butter the madeleine tin(s).
Gently heat the 225g butter in a saucepan until just melted. Mix the 250g sugar and flour in a bowl, then add the vanilla seeds (reserve the pod), honey and eggs. Whisk in the melted butter until you have a nice smooth batter. Spoon into the tins, only half-filling each indent. Bake for 12-15 minutes for larger madeleines, or 8-10 minutes for smaller, depending on your tin.
While the madeleines are still warm, put the sugar for dusting in a broad, shallow dish with the ground cinnamon. Roll the warm madeleines in the sugar to coat.

For the sauce, put the sugar into a pan and heat until a light golden brown. Don’t stir the pan, but swirl it occasionally. Pour in half the cream and bring to the boil, stirring well.
Add the star anise, cinnamon, reserved vanilla pod and butter, then pour in the remaining cream and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened and smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into a serving bowl or small jug. Serve the madeleines with the sauce.

Recipe from February 2015 Issue

Nutrition

Per madeleine

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 180kcals
Fat: 11.6g (7.2g saturated)
Protein: 1.5g
Carbohydrates: 17.7g (12.7g sugars)
Fibre: 0.3g
Salt: trace

delicious. tips

Don’t overfill the madeleine tins in step 2 or they’ll come out shapeless.
The batter can be made, covered and stored in the fridge for up to one day ahead of cooking. The madeleines can be kept in an airtight container for up to 2 days but are best on the day they’re made.
James Martin says: “Madeleines, a classic from France, require the correct moulds. Mine are old tins I ended up buying on an auction site, but you can get new tins that work better. I’ve done a nice twist on a caramel sauce here, but they’re just as good with chocolate sauce.”