Financier: French almond cakes

Financier, these almond mini cakes are made with brown butter, making them extra flavorful and special. They are slightly chewy and nutty from the almonds, perfectly sweet, and the shaved crunchy almonds on top add more texture you don’t want to skip on.

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What is a financier?

Financier is a small French cake usually made in rectangular or round-shaped molds. They are usually made with brown butter, almond flour or ground almonds, powdered sugar, and egg whites as the main ingredients. They have a nutty, sweet flavor with a dense, slightly chewy, and buttery texture. You can find variations on this classic dessert, such as chocolate financiers, hazelnut financiers, or some with flavors like citrus, fruit, or coffee. They are pretty easy to make, and in less than an hour, you can indulge in these delicious little bites of happiness.

Recipe Ingredients

Almond flour: You can use store-bought almond flour or you can grind whole roasted or blanched almonds. The finer, the better.

Butter: The butter here is used to make browned butter. I don’t recommend substituting for other oils, as it will change the flavor.

Powdered sugar: If you don’t have powdered sugar, you can use granulated sugar instead, but change the amount to 2/3 cup.

Shaved almonds: They add crunch to the soft cake, and I recommend using them. If you don’t have any, you can use chopped almonds or skip them and add nothing on top.

Egg whites: They add lightness and bind the ingredients together.

How to make financier cakes?

Note! For exact measurements and detailed directions, see the recipe card below.

Step 1: Make the brown butter.

Step 2: Sieve the dry ingredients and slightly whisk the egg whites.

Step 3: Fold the egg whites into the dry ingredients.

Step 4: Add the vanilla and browned butter and mix until smooth.

Step 5: Grease the muffin pan with butter and fill each cavity with the batter.

Step 6: Sprinkle shaved almonds on top if using any and bake until the edges are golden brown.

Additions and substitutions

There are many variations of financier. Here are some other options you might be interested in: Chocolate flavor or dipped in chocolate, filled with berries, pistachio with raspberries, coffee, matcha, citrus, and many more. To make the financiers gluten-free, substitute the flour with gluten-free veriaty in a 1:1 ratio.

You can substitute powdered sugar with granulated sugar. If you would like to try brown sugar, it will add more moisture and change the flavor, making them a bit more caramelly. Substituting the almond flour with hazelnut flour, for example, is also an option. It will change the flavor, but it will still be delicious.

Storage and reheating

Keep the finansier cakers at room temperature for a day or two, or cover them for a longer period of time. They freeze well for up to 2-3 months, well rapped in a plastic bag or sealed container. Defrost the financier at room temperature, or you can place them in the oven for a few minutes at 300F (150C) or until warm.

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