French financiers: The gluten-free delight with a golden twist
French financiers are delightful treats made from a batter comprising egg whites and browned butter. They bear a resemblance in taste to fluffier macarons. Allegedly, their peculiar name is linked to French bankers, as they were traditionally baked in an oblong shape to resemble gold bars.
The secret of financiers lies in the browned butter, which imparts a rich, caramel-like flavour and keeps them moist on the inside for a long time. These cakes can be made without a gram of wheat flour, making them suitable for those on a gluten-free diet. The following recipe includes around 125 grams of flour, but you can substitute it with coconut flour, which pairs perfectly with ground almonds.
How to make almond flour?
You can easily grind almonds into flour using a blender with sharp blades. Before doing this, however, it’s essential to prepare them correctly. Almonds covered with a thin brown skin should be placed into boiling water for just 1 minute. Then, pour cold water over them and peel off the skins; after blanching, this should be a straightforward task.
Before putting the almonds in the blender, dry them thoroughly — if you don’t, you may end up with a paste instead of flour. When grinding, use the pulse mode to ensure they’re finely ground. To achieve a uniform and fine flour, additionally pass it through a sieve. It’s not advisable to make it in advance as it tastes best when fresh. Coconut flakes can be ground into flour using the same method.
The simplest financier recipe
In Paris, financiers are often enhanced with fruit additions, such as cherries, strawberries, or raspberry mousse. To create such versions, simply press a chosen addition—a single fruit or a teaspoon of mousse—into the batter before baking.
Ingredients:
- 100 grams of butter,
- 6 egg whites,
- 200 grams of powdered sugar,
- a pinch of salt,
- 225 grams of ground almonds,
- 125 grams of all-purpose flour or coconut flour,
- optional: fruits or fruit mousse, almond flakes, or coconut flakes for decoration.
Directions:
- Transfer the butter to a saucepan and heat until it browns, taking care not to burn it. Once it develops a nutty aroma, set it aside to cool.
- In a clean, dry bowl, beat the egg whites with the sugar until stiff peaks form, and add a pinch of salt.
- Gently mix the meringue with the ground almonds and the all-purpose flour (or coconut flour) using a whisk. Finally, combine with the cooled butter.
- Grease muffin or cupcake moulds with butter. Fill them with the financier batter, and optionally add a chosen fruit or fruit mousse. If desired, sprinkle with coconut flakes or almond flakes.
- Place the financiers in an oven preheated to 180°C and bake for 25 minutes.
