Cakes, Madeleines & Financiers

  • French Salted Butter Cookies (Sablé Breton)

    by Audrey

    If there’s one type of cookie that defined my childhood in Brittany, it’s the Sablé Breton! These traditional French salted butter cookies are crispy, buttery, and perfectly balanced with a hint of salt. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, this easy recipe will transport you straight to a Brittany kitchen.

  • French Corn Pumpkin “Pie”

    by Audrey

    You might think of pumpkin pie as a 100% American dessert – but the French have their own version of it too! It comes in the form of a crust-less pie, made from a mix of pumpkin puree and corn flour, and is usually flavored with vanilla and rum.

  • Poached Pear Vanilla Yogurt Cake

    by Audrey

    A “Gâteau au Yaourt” (Yogurt Cake) is a simple French classic and is very often the first cake that kids learn to bake (I remember being taught to make a yogurt cake in our classroom when I was 6 or 7, using the yogurt pot as the measuring tool). It’s quick and easy, as you only need 1 bowl and 10 minutes of prep time. It’s moist, fluffy, and endlessly adaptable. It makes for a great recipe to have in your baking repertoire, that can be adjusted to any season or …

  • Skillet Caramelized Apple Cake from Brittany

    by Audrey

    Apple season holds a very special place in the hearts of the Brittany and Normandy people. At this time of year, both regions boast orchards of blooming apple trees of all varieties and hence nurture an extensive repertoire of apple recipes – be it sweet or savory. Countless apples pies, chicken and pork roasts with stewed apples, apple cider in Brittany, Calvados in Normandy… apples are the Queen of the local gastronomy year-round. And frankly, as a Brittany native, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of cooking and baking …

  • Balsamic Poached Peaches and Olive Oil Cake

    by Audrey

    This post is sponsored by Oliv. All text and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands who help make Pardon your French possible. Summer desserts often call for simplicity, don’t you think? A simple cake, fresh seasonal fruits bursting with natural flavours, and maybe, one more component to add some originality. Well, today’s dessert is simply one of them – featuring juicy peaches, the simplest olive oil cake, and the use of fig-infused balsamic vinegar to create some magic. That’s all you’ll need to build this lush …

  • Mardi’s Raspberry Financiers

    by Audrey

    Financiers are one of my favourite French bakery treats. They’re nutty, buttery, dainty, delicious, and come in so many various shapes and flavours (which gives you a good excuse for testing every new one that comes your way). Speaking of which, I am excited to be sharing with you today, Mardi Michel’s recipe for raspberry financiers, from her debut cookbook In the French Kitchen with Kids: Easy, Everyday Dishes for the Whole Family to Make and Enjoy. And I am telling you right now, these are some of the best …

  • Apricot Almond Olive Oil Cake (Dairy-Free)

    by Audrey

    Even as a butter devotee, I’ll admit olive oil is an essential in your baking pantry – because olive oil simply makes outstandingly good cakes. It lends a rich moisture to the crumb (that develops further with time) and a distinct herbaceous aroma, only true to olive oil. Olive oil cakes are deeply anchored in Mediterranean baking traditions, and France is no exception. I actually remember one of the first cakes I ever made on my own as a child, being a simple olive oil cake with orange zest. It …

  • Cherry Bread Pudding from Brittany

    by Audrey

    Known in French as “Le Fouesnantais”, this Cherry Bread Pudding recipe originates from Fouesnant, a small town in Brittany where cherries are a big part of the local economy. Filled with clusters of cherries and topped with a fragrant cinnamon crumble, it is rich and satisfying with bursts of sweetness (and it makes great use of whichever leftover brioche, pain au lait or bread you might have on hand!)

  • Strawberry Charlotte Cake

    by Audrey

    When it comes to Spring – specifically strawberry season – it doesn’t get any more traditional than a Strawberry Charlotte Cake, in France. This dessert has a retro feel to it (and granted, it might not be the most modern dessert out there), but come Spring, it is always present in bakeries and cake shops throughout the country.   It is also a favourite amongst home bakers, because despite its fancy appearance, it is actually easy and quick to throw together (less than 30 minutes) and looks much more complicated …

  • Buttermilk Chocolate Fondant Cake

    by Audrey

    With Valentine’s Day coming up (actually, tomorrow), I am jumping on the occasion to share with you my new baking love – this Buttermilk Chocolate Fondant Cake! True to a Classic French Chocolate Fondant, this one is indulgent and intensely chocolatey. But the addition of tangy buttermilk cuts through the richness and makes it just a little bit more tender and moist. I have baked a lot of French Chocolate Fondant cakes in my life (some melty, some gooey, some firm), and this one has to be one of my …

Pardon your French

Let’s bring French flavors to your kitchen! I share uncomplicated and classic recipes, lesser-known regional dishes and a few modern takes. Making French cooking easy, approachable and cliché-free is my priority.