Brown Butter and Roasted Apple Madeleines

Ever since Aran at Cannelle et Vanille posted a recipe for Brown Butter and Roasted Apple Madeleines last month I have been obsessed with making them. It took me a few weeks to get all of my ducks in a row, but it was worth the wait. PapaBee and I decided earlier this year that since we couldn't have gluten in the house we would at least make an effort to keep food interesting, especially if it meant buying neat gadgets. So without further thought I went out and found a madeleine tray and started phoning around looking for gluten free hazelnut flour. The madeleine tray was easy to find at a kitchen specialty store; the hazelnut flour was a bigger challenge. Luckily I had been getting ready to place an order for NutsOnline (excellent source for good quality, gluten free nuts, dried fruit and other goodies) and noticed that they carried the hazelnut flour. Yipee! It only took a few days to receive the order and I was ready to start baking!

There are quite a few steps involved in making these delicious madeleines, including making your own roasted apple puree. (No, you cannot just use applesauce. Once you make it you will understand why.) After your puree is ready, butter browned, and ingredients all mixed up, the batter must be tightly covered and refrigerated for 2 hours before baking. So don't expect to be able to spend a couple of hours on these and produce the finished product. This is a labour of love. There is no rushing these nuggets of goodness along.

I love many things about Cannelle et Vanille's blog, but what really get me is the purity...Aran has managed to turn gluten free eating into pure gourmet. When you make one of her recipes the goal is not to get dinner on the table in 15 minutes, the goal is to slow down and enjoy the process. A lot of gourmet cooking (gluten free or not) is not very healthful. Cannelle et Vanille is the whole package - healthful, pure foods that taste incredible. What more could you ask for?

Go ahead and try these madeleines. They are so versatile, a delightful snack with tea, an easy breakfast on your way out the door, a bedtime snack...and perfect for little hands and mouths who are still learning eating skills.

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