This $2.99 Trader Joe’s Find Is Almost as Good as a Trip to France

My mom was a Francophile, as evidenced by my name, and instilled the same love of the culture in me. So even though I switched my minor from French to Spanish because my college had a study abroad program in Madrid (I really, really wanted to go), I remain a huge fan of French cuisine, especially pastries.

When I was living in Madrid, I spent a couple of weekends visiting my friend Allie, who was studying in Tours, France. There, I ate no shortage of pastries and one of my absolute favorites became the simple madeleine—a petite, scallop-shaped tea cake that’s deliciously buttery. 

Since I don’t often travel to France, I am now lucky enough to find these affordable luxuries in the cookie aisle of Trader Joe’s.

What’s So Great About Trader Joe’s Madeleines

First of all, Trader Joe’s doesn’t just sell one variety of madeleines, the store usually stocks three: regular madeleines, lemon zest madeleines, and gluten-free madeleines. They’re six to a package, and both the regular and lemon zest cost $2.99 while the gluten-free madeleines cost $3.49. 

No matter which you choose, these delightful little cakes are soft, sponge-like, and practically melt in your mouth, leaving a lingering taste of butter and vanilla.

My family’s favorite is the lemon zest variety, as we adore citrus and love the brightness it gives these cakes. The gluten-free ones are about twice the size as the regular varieties, and they taste quite similar to the gluten-full versions, though they’re a bit denser. Regardless of variety, they all pair perfectly with milk, coffee, or tea.

I typically enjoy just one, in the afternoon, if I’m struggling with a writing project, and I need a little something sweet to get me through it. My son likes tossing a couple into his lunch bag, and my husband enjoys fueling himself with them to get through lawn work.

Though they’re fantastic on their own, they also would be perfect in a trifle. The lemon zest madeleines would especially be nice layered with lemon curd and cream, with a touch of lemon zest on the top. I also think you could substitute the gluten-free madeleines for ladyfingers in a gluten-free tiramisu (gluten-free ladyfingers, while available, are often hard to find). 

For me, no matter how I enjoy them, they remind me of my weekends in France.