We have officially hit summer and with the assortment of fruits and berries that are abundant at the markets, I have the perfect recipe for you. You may have never heard of a financier before but after reading this you may never stop making them!
A financier is a classic French almond cake. It is beloved for its contrasting texture, a slightly crisp, eggshell-like crust on the outside and a moist, tender, and nutty interior. The name translates to "financial" in French. The dessert's origins are credited to a 19th-century Parisian baker near the city's financial district. The cakes became highly popular among stockbrokers and bankers because their compact size and lack of crumbly crust allowed them to be eaten quickly without dirtying their suit pockets.
Traditionally, these treats are baked in a special rectangular mold to resemble little gold bars as an homage to how they got their name. Although I do love that shape, I bake mine in a mini muffin tin.
While the traditional financier is just almond flour and brown butter, modern bakers frequently add ingredients like fresh fruit or berries, chocolate, or even other nuts like pistachios. They are most commonly served as a delicate treat alongside afternoon tea or coffee but can also serve as an elegant dessert on their own.
We just finished up The Great Bake Walk in Lincoln Square this past weekend, and we passed out our Strawberry Financiers to guests throughout the afternoon. It made my day to hear how much everyone just loved these baked goods that I just had to share my recipe with you.
Strawberry Financier
Yield: 24 mini or 12 muffin tin size
Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 15 minutes-mini or 25 minutes-larger
1 stick butter, browned
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 egg whites
24 slices of strawberries
Turbinado sugar for sprinkling on top
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Brown butter in a sauce pan until deep brown in color. Set aside to cool.
3. Measure the almond flour, all-purpose flour, both sugars, and baking powder in a bowl and whisk together until combined.
4. Once cool, strain the brown butter into the flour mixture and whisk together.
5. In a separate bowl whip the egg whites until medium peaks are formed.
6. Fold the egg whites into the butter flour mixture until fully incorporated.
7. Use pan spray to thoroughly coat the muffin tin. Scoop the batter into the muffin tin, add a slice of strawberry to the center and sprinkle turbinado sugar all over the top.
8. Bake the financiers for 15 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
These will last in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week or in the refrigerator for two weeks. They can also be frozen and warmed in an air fryer for whenever the craving hits. This recipe can be made with any kind of nut flour for a change in flavor, and you can have fun with the toppings or mix ins to suit your preferences. In our Summer Supper Club class, we will show you how to make a plum almond cake that is similar to this recipe.
We offer many different baking classes at The Chopping Block, and we are really into utilizing the markets for seasonal produce. Check out our Farmers Market Tour and Cooking Class this Thursday, June 11 at 5:30pm or catch us at the Lincoln Square Farmers Market every other Thursday for other inspiring recipes to incorporate your market haul.
