The Return to Glory of the Madeleine

Invented in 1755 by Madeleine Paulmier, immortalized by Proust in À la recherche du temps perdu, the madeleine, an icon of French culinary heritage, is back in the spotlight more successful than ever! This small travel cake is now a canvas for the best Parisian pastry chefs, who have elevated it with intoxicating flavors to make it one of the top treats of the moment. Our favorites can be found at these five tested and approved addresses!

The cultural reference: “And suddenly the memory came to me. This taste was that of the little piece of madeleine that, on Sunday mornings in Combray, when I would go to greet her in her room, my aunt Léonie would offer me after dipping it in her infusion of tea or linden,” Du Côté de chez Swann, Marcel Proust.

He is the Pope of the Madeleine! A memory of his childhood in his Lorraine village and family tradition, Gilles Marchal's successful madeleine recipe is “a matter of temperature during mixing and the quality of ingredients.” In his charming eponymous pastry shop nestled on Montmartre, his signature cake takes center stage and is available all year round in over 100 flavors!

Baked several times a day in his workshop, Gilles Marchal's madeleines come in all versions: plain, glazed, stuffed, and flambéed. Among our favorites are the marbled, almond/mirabelle plum, lemon/thyme, strawberry/basil, and chocolate/caramel tonka (from 1.90 to 2.80 €). For the winter season and Christmas, the chestnut madeleine with a hint of rum draws crowds (3 €). The ultimate chic: the madeleine with black truffle, absolutely stunning (6.50 €).

Pâtisserie Gilles Marchal, 9 rue Ravignan, Paris 18th. 01 85 34 73 30. Open Wednesday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 7 PM, Saturday from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM, and Sunday from 8:30 AM to 6 PM.

In this cute single-product shop located in the 9th arrondissement, the master of the house, Quentin Hua, makes top-tier madeleines daily. This passionate individual left finance to dedicate himself fully to his sweet obsession and studied the subject seriously by testing over 200 recipes before settling on the one that bears his signature. Its characteristics: a hint of almond and a dense texture that makes it irresistibly indulgent.

At Le Comptoir de Madeleine, the madeleine in its beautiful golden dress comes in four flavors: classic vanilla, slightly tangy lemon, cheeky Nocciolata filled with ultra-indulgent organic hazelnut spread, and salted caramel, intense and mischievous (2.10€ each, 10 € for a box of 5).

As a bonus, the Madeleine du Moment, with a December recipe that celebrates Christmas spices in an electrifying blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, ginger, and black pepper (2.10 €).

Le Comptoir de Madeleine, 17 rue Victor Massé, Paris 9th. 09 51 44 06 90. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 AM to 7 PM.

François Perret, named the best pastry chef in the world in 2019, working at the iconic Ritz palace on Place Vendôme, where Marcel Proust frequented, has brought the madeleine to the height of chic. With a recipe as precise as a surgeon’s hand and a process that includes "letting the dough rest overnight in the fridge,” his 100% handmade madeleines with a melting heart and topped with perfect sugar icing are simply irresistible.

Head to Le Comptoir du Ritz to grab these haute couture delights individually or in boxes. Choose from six flavors that will delight discerning palates: classic plain, caramel, lemon, raspberry, passion fruit, and, of course, chocolate (5 € each, boxes starting at 30 €). And for those with a big appetite, a giant plain madeleine to share… or not! (7 €).

The extra touch: for Christmas, the collection expands with two exclusive flavors, including a spiced madeleine with an orange marmalade heart covered in a half milk chocolate, half lemony egg-white glaze, and a white madeleine adorned with gold leaves, covered in white chocolate and capturing a vanilla heart (5 €).

Ritz Paris Le Comptoir, 38 rue Cambon, Paris 1st. 01 43 16 30 26. Open Monday to Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM.

The pastry chef of Printemps Haussmann, Bryan Esposito (formerly at Ladurée), has a clear passion for madeleines: “It’s the little treat from my childhood that evokes so many memories.” Offered individually or in a beautiful box, his soft madeleines, as fluffy as a cushion, have also earned a prime spot in his brand-new Tea Time menu.
On the menu, four delicate flavors including rose, vanilla, and lemon, and a star madeleine with violet that fully embraces nostalgia by paying homage to Jules Jaluzot, the founder of Printemps, who would gift his store’s customers a bouquet of this graceful purple flower when spring arrived. (3 € each, box of 5 madeleines at 22 €).

Printemps Haussmann, 64 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9th. Madeleines sold at the Bleu Coupole restaurant, Café Vert, and Bar Perché.

Christophe Louie never stops delighting us! Alongside his iconic panettone, custard delight, and apple turnover, he also makes little madeleine gems that, like the rest of his creations, deliver an obscene amount of pleasure.

With the precision and attention to detail he is known for, Christophe Louie has transformed this travel cake into a true pastry. Perfect in texture with crunchy edges and an ultra-soft center, his new pistachio madeleine, now available, will lift your spirits with its delicate vanilla glaze sprinkled with chopped pistachios and its plump belly generously filled with pistachio praline (4 €). And still, the classic madeleine that unveils subtle orange blossom notes with the first bite (3.50 €).

Christophe Louie Boutique, 12 rue Dupetit-Thouars, Paris 3rd. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM, Sunday from 10:30 AM to 4 PM.

Discover also the new buzzing bakeries and 5 new Tea Times to try in Paris.