Gluten-Free Madeleines Baked in a Shell Pan

Classic French madeleines baked in a shell pan: a lemon and vanilla sponge batter that rests in the fridge, then bakes in a hot oven so each little cake gets its signature hump. Best eaten the day they are baked.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 22 min Total: 110 min Serves: 24

At a glance: This medium desserts recipe yields 24 servings in about 1h 50m (20 min prep, 22 min cook). It uses 9 ingredients — including unsalted butter, eggs, granulated sugar — and walks through 7 steps. Updated October 24, 2026. Browse more desserts recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Shop links in the ingredient list are affiliate links and do not change the recipe.

Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Madeleines Baked in a Shell Pan: When preparing this desserts recipe, madeleine pans have deep ridges that hold old flour. Wash them well if they have been used for standard baking, and avoid baking sprays that contain flour. Flour dust travels. Bake this on a day the kitchen is not also handling flour that contains gluten, use clean bowls, beaters and baking sheets, and keep the gluten-free flour blend in its own sealed container.

Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Madeleines Baked in a Shell Pan: The light sponge batter uses a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend instead of flour that contains gluten, and the pans are dusted with the same blend. Use baking powder, vanilla, powdered sugar and a flour blend labeled gluten-free.

Scale Recipe:

servings

Ingredient amounts update automatically

Ingredients

Shop links on this page are for granulated sugar, pure vanilla extract, gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, plus more for the pans. Buy the package that says gluten-free. A shared production line is the usual risk with these pantry items. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Confirm the product is labeled gluten-free before you buy.

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for the pans
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar Shop
1 tsp pure vanilla extract Shop
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (about 105 g), plus more for the pans Shop
1/2 tsp gluten-free baking powder Shop
powdered sugar, for dusting Shop

Instructions

1 Beat the eggs and sugar on high for 5 minutes, until pale and thick. Beat in the vanilla, lemon zest and salt.
2 Sift the gluten-free flour blend and baking powder over the eggs and fold in gently. Fold in the melted butter until the batter is smooth and glossy.
3 Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 1 day.
4 Brush two 12-cup madeleine pans with softened butter, dust with gluten-free flour blend and tap out the excess. Chill the pans.
5 Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spoon a heaping tablespoon of cold batter into the center of each shell, filling it about three-quarters full. Do not spread it.
6 Bake for 9-11 minutes, until the edges are golden and the centers have puffed into a hump and spring back.
7 Tap the madeleines out of the pans right away onto a rack. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm or the same day.

Tips & Notes

Chill the madeleine batter for at least an hour. Cold, thick batter hitting a hot oven is what makes the classic hump.
Butter and flour the madeleine pan thoroughly, every ridge, then chill it. The shell pattern releases cleanly from a cold, well-coated pan.
Turn the madeleines out of the pan the moment they come out of the oven. Left in the hot pan, they keep baking and stick.

Common questions

What cross-contamination risk is specific to Gluten-Free Madeleines Baked in a Shell Pan?

Check unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for the pans, eggs, at room temperature, granulated sugar before they go into Gluten-Free Madeleines Baked in a Shell Pan. Madeleine pans have deep ridges that hold old flour. Wash them well if they have been used for standard baking, and avoid baking sprays that contain flour. Flour dust travels. Bake this on a day the kitchen is not also handling flour that contains gluten, use clean bowls, beaters and baking sheets, and keep the gluten-free flour blend in its own sealed container.

Which gluten-free swaps does Gluten-Free Madeleines Baked in a Shell Pan use?

Gluten-Free Madeleines Baked in a Shell Pan relies on 3/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Keep those gluten-free-labeled products in place of a gluten-containing flour or sauce.

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