Blackberry Financier Recipes

BLACKBERRY FINANCIER

Steps:

• In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. The butter will separate into melted golden fat and white, grainy milk solids. Cook until the milk solids turn golden brown and the mixture smells like toasted nuts, making "beurre noisette". Strain through a fine sieve to remove the milk solids.
• Sift the dry ingredients together and place in a mixer fitted with a whip attachment. Add the egg whites, applesauce and strained beurre noisette and mix. The batter can be made to this point up to 3 days in advance. Keep refrigerated. When ready to bake, butter tiny rectangular or round tart molds and cut the blackberries in half, top to bottom. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip and pipe into the prepared molds. Place 1/2 of a blackberry in the center of each mold, cut side down. Bake for 10 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool in the molds, then gently lift the cakes out. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

FINANCIERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almond flour evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and raise heat to 375 degrees. Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until browned, about 8 minutes. Immediately transfer to a bowl with browned bits. Let cool.
• Combine flours and sugar in the bowl of a mixer. Add whites, and beat on medium speed until combined and sugar is incorporated. With machine running, pour in browned butter (with brown bits) in a slow, steady stream. Continue to beat for 3 minutes. Batter can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
• Coat a cast-iron pan with oil or cooking spray, and fill halfway with batter. Bake until dark gold (time will vary depending on size of pan). Remove from oven, and immediately transfer financiers from pan to a wire rack. Let cool. Coat each with glaze if desired, or serve immediately.