Quick answer: You do not need a madeleine pan to make madeleines. A mini muffin pan is the closest substitute, but tartlet tins, cupcake liners, silicone molds, a shaped sheet of foil, or even a small cake pan all work. You keep the buttery flavor and soft crumb, you only lose the classic shell shape.
This post is a part of my Madeleine series in tribute to this iconic French pastry and all that it means, from its fascinating history, choosing the right pan, all the secrets of authentic madeleine hump, and storage suggestions, you name it!
Do you need a special pan to make madeleines?
You do not need a madeleine pan to make madeleines. The pan's only real job is to create the recognizable shell shape with a rounded hump on one side. The batter itself is a simple French sponge, so it bakes happily in any small mold that holds a spoonful or two.
That means you can reach for a mini muffin pan, tartlet tins, cupcake liners, a shaped piece of foil, or a silicone mold instead.
You will lose the ridged shell pattern, but you keep the buttery flavor, tender crumb, and even the hump, as long as you chill the batter first. The sections below walk through each substitute and how to use it.
Madeleine pan substitute options
If you don't own a madeleine pan, several everyday baking tools work just as well. Here are the best madeleine pan substitutes, along with how to use each one and what to expect from the results.
Muffin pan
One way to make madeleines more versatile, though not exactly like the original recipe, is to make madeleine muffins.
A muffin pan or cupcake mold is an excellent alternative when baking madeleines. You can bake your little cakes with cupcake liners: make your own or use store-bought ones.
If you don't want to bother making or buying them, bake madeleines without baking cups, but make sure to prepare your muffin pan.
To do so, use softened butter to brush into each well; then sprinkle liberally with flour until every cavity is covered. And don't forget to remove excess flour.
Then use a cookie scoop to spoon the batter into muffin cups, about 1 ½ to 2 medium cookie spoons. Pro tip: don't fill muffin cavities more than ¾ full.
Place the muffin mold filled with batter on the middle rack of the hot oven to bake. Use the baking time enclosed in the recipe for making madeleines without a mold.
You can also make your cakes in a mini muffin pan, but you will need to adjust the baking time and check for doneness several minutes early.
Mini tart pans or tartlet tins
Making bite-sized madeleines in mini tart molds is perfect for smaller gatherings and will give you the same flavorful madeleine experience.
To start the recipe, use a mini tart pan or fluted-edge tartlet tins; you will find them in metal with removable bottoms or silicone.
Follow all steps from the start until making the madeleine batter, as instructed, but don't forget to butter and flour your mini pans. Fill each pan to ¾ full.
Heat the oven and a baking sheet at the same time. Then place your pans filled with batter onto the hot baking sheet and bake. Baking time can vary, so test and adjust as needed.
Other specialty pans
Do you know that feeling when you find a mini scone pan or petite popover pan in your grandma's cupboard? You are lucky enough to experience madeleines like the real thing.
Whether wedge-shaped or cylinder-shaped, these little guys will still hold their shape while packing a punch of flavor.
Your madeleines will have a great sponge texture and rich flavor. So don't worry about them being so humble: they are called homemade DIY madeleines.
Aluminum foils
You can create different shapes and sizes of madeleines by changing up the shape of aluminum foil cups. The best thing about this alternative way to make your favorite cakes is that it requires only basic origami or crafting skills.
It is no surprise that the madeleine recipe and preparation steps are similar to mini tart pans. Since the aluminum foil is pretty thin, madeleine cakes are prone to burning, so you need to watch the baking time closely.
Cake pan
Madeleines are petite and sweet, but did you know that they can also be made into a cake? It is called cake Madeleine (gâteau Madeleine in French).
The best part is it doesn't need to be chilled before baking; pour it into the buttered round cake pan and bake. Let it cool for 15 minutes after baking, and enjoy that authentic flavor and taste you love so much.
Check out this simple cake pan converter if you even need to re-calculate your baking pan size.
Sheet pan
You might be wondering if you can use a sheet pan to make your Madeleine cake. It will work, but keep in mind that the baking time and doneness check should be adjusted accordingly.
After pouring your batter into a thin layer onto a buttered sheet pan, bake it until golden brown on top. When you are done baking, cut it into squares and enjoy this treat.
The authentic Madeleine cake has a different shape than what you will bake on the sheet pan, but who doesn't like trying new things? It will still taste great.
Cupcake liners
King Arthur Baking Company recommends using cupcake papers for baking madeleines. They suggest doubling up and opening the pleats on each side to create diamond-shaped cupcake liners.
Then you should place them on a baking sheet, grease each with cooking spray, and fill with batter. Cupcake papers are more likely to burn if you aren't careful with baking time.
Also, baking papers don't provide as much protection for your sweet treats, so those are one of the least recommended alternatives.
Baking tray
Another least recommended alternative to a madeleine pan is a baking tray. I don't even know if it's worth trying, because your final product will be so flat. You can try using one if you really want to.
Can you make madeleines in silicone molds?
Silicone madeleine molds are one of the easiest substitutes to work with. They are flexible, so the baked cakes pop out without sticking, and they go straight from the freezer to the oven to the dishwasher.
Because silicone doesn't brown food as well as metal, your madeleines may come out paler, with a softer edge.
For best results, place the silicone mold on a metal baking sheet for support and even heat, grease each cavity with a little melted butter, and chill the filled mold briefly before baking to help the hump form.
If a defined shell and crisp edge matter to you, a metal pan is still the better choice, but silicone is a reliable, low-cost option for everyday baking.
Madeleine recipes
Madeleine recipes are easy to follow and use four basic ingredients: eggs, sugar, butter, and flour. You can even make the batter one to two days in advance, so when you need it, it is ready to go.
You can also make and enjoy these buttery cakes without the extra cost of buying molds. Just use the baking pans or tools you have in your kitchen.
But the real secret of these delicate cookies is their flavor: they are filled with love. Now, follow these simple recipes or get inspired to create your own: no more excuses for not making treats at home without a fancy madeleine mold.
FAQ
Do you need a special pan to make madeleines?
No. While a madeleine pan gives the classic shell shape, you can bake the batter in a mini muffin pan, tartlet tins, cupcake liners, or even shaped foil. The flavor and soft, spongy texture stay the same; only the signature ridged shape changes.
What is the best pan for making madeleines?
A traditional metal madeleine pan gives the crispest edges and the most defined shell shape. Among substitutes, a mini muffin pan comes closest, since each cup holds about the right amount of batter for one madeleine.
Can you bake madeleines in silicone molds?
Yes. Silicone madeleine molds release the cakes easily and are simple to clean. Metal pans conduct heat better and give crisper edges and a more pronounced hump, so grease silicone molds well and expect slightly softer results.
Jan says
Those pan substitutions would be a lot more helpful if pictures accompanied them.
Irina says
Hello Jan, Thank you for your suggestion. I tried to include links to products. I will see how else I can improve the post.