Pumpkin Spice Madeleines

Embrace the flavors of fall with these pumpkin spice madeleines! These classic French treats have a fun seasonal twist that will delight your taste buds. One bite of these clam-shaped cakes will warm your insides and get you ready for the cold weather coming your way.

Fall is just around the corner, and I feel that now is the perfect time to deliver this recipe to you. Its not fall until everything is pumpkin spice flavored, and I welcome the season with open arms. I simply couldn’t resist my pumpkin spice cravings and developed these breathtaking pumpkin spice madeleines for you.

These madeleines are filled with warm autumnal flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin. They are soft, light, and melt in your mouth delicious. Sorry not sorry for feeding anyone’s pumpkin spice addiction!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Unsalted butter: The butter in this recipe must be melted and gently cooled before being added to the batter. If you do not have unsalted butter, replace with salted butter and do not add the salt called for in the recipe.

All-purpose flour: The batter for this recipe is light and airy. It is extremely important that you measure out your flour correctly to ensure the proper consistency.

Baking powder: The small addition of baking powder will help give these madeleines their signature hump.

Eggs: This recipe calls for 2 eggs. I find that cold eggs whisk up just as well as room temperature eggs.

Pumpkin spice: Pumpkin spice is a combination of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. If you do not have pumpkin spice on hand, replace with 1 tsp of cinnamon.

Pumpkin puree: For this recipe I used canned pumpkin puree. Any brand will do as long as it is 100% pure pumpkin puree.

Powdered sugar: Dusting a small amount of powdered sugar on these madeleines adds a tiny bit of sweetness and visual appeal that puts these little cakes over the edge. I highly recommend adding the optional powdered sugar.

What are Madeleines?

Madeleines are a small, clam-shaped cake that originated from France. These delicate cakes get their signature shape from a special madeleine pan. One of the defining factor that distinguishes madeleines from other cakes is their small hump that is formed during the baking process. These bite-sized desserts are light, airy and best when served warm. They are most commonly flavored with lemon zest to give them a bright, citrusy flavor.

Where to Buy a Madeleine Pan?

Finding the right madeleine pan is essential to creating the cake’s signature look. Finding a madeleine pan in your average grocery store can be quite difficult, so I recommend going to a specialty craft store or buying one online.

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Madeleines?

Step 1: Melt the butter in a small bowl. Set aside to cool slightly.

Step 2: In a separate bowl combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, pumpkin spice and salt.

Step 3: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk the eggs until frothy. Gradually add in the sugar and beat on high until mixture is thick, pale, and forms ribbons when the mixer attachment is lifted. This takes anywhere from 8-10 minutes.

Step 4: Remove the mixing bowl from the stand mixer and carefully fold in the dry ingredients until just combined.

Step 5: Mix in the melted butter, pumpkin puree and vanilla extract. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 min.

Step 6: While batter is chilling, prepare madeleine pan with butter and flour and preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 7: Remove batter from fridge and scoop 1 heaping tablespoon of batter into each madeleine mold.

Step 8: Bake for 8-10 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden brown and a small hump should be present in the center of the madeleines.

Step 9: Remove madeleines from mold and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Eat right away.

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @the.little.baker.who.could on Instagram.

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