A bit of Madeleines history
Madeleines have always been associated with the little French town of Commercy, in the region of Lorraine. In the 18th century the bakers of Commercy were said to have once, long ago, paid a "very large sum" for the recipe and sold the little cakes packed in oval boxes as a specialty in the area.
Nuns in 18th century France, frequently supported themselves and their schools by making and selling a particular sweet. Commercy once had a convent dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen. Historians think the nuns, probably when all the convents and monasteries of France were abolished during the French Revolution, sold their recipe to the bakers.
Made famous by Marcel Proust in his novel, 'Remembrance of Things Past' in which he wrote: "She sent out for one of those short, plump little cakes called 'petites madeleins,' which look as though they had been molded in the fluted scallop of a pilgrim's shell.
Madeleins are traditional French pastries made with eggs, butter, flour, and sugar. The are absolutely scrumptious with tea.
The recipe of Trois Crepes' Madeleine is in the pure French tradition using only natural ingredients, including orange zest and real butter.
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