Raspberry Financiers (6 Ingredients)

Quick Summary: Raspberry financiers are small, moist French almond cakes made with brown butter, almond flour, and egg whites, topped with fresh raspberries. The one-bowl batter bakes in a mini muffin pan or financier mold in about 20 minutes. This recipe uses just 6 ingredients and comes together in about 40 minutes from start to finish.

What are raspberry financiers?

A financier (pronounced "fee-nahn-see-AY") is a small French almond cake made with almond flour, egg whites, and brown butter, known for its moist crumb and lightly crisp edges. Raspberry financiers add fresh raspberries on top, so each bite balances the sweet, nutty cake with tart fruit.

The financier cakes were ironically named "delicacy" thanks to wealthy financiers who could afford to purchase them. They came in a unique rectangular shape, like gold bars.

The original version had just almonds, powdered sugar, flour, and egg whites whipped together. Nowadays, different versions of financiers, such as pistachio financiers and chocolate financiers, come with their own flavors.

Why you'll love this recipe

These raspberry financiers are quick to make and taste like a French bakery treat:

• Just 6 ingredients. You need almond flour, icing sugar, flour, butter, egg whites, and raspberries.
• One bowl, no mixer needed. The batter comes together by hand in minutes.
• Brown butter flavor. Nutty brown butter gives the cakes a rich, toasty taste.
• Uses up egg whites. A good way to use leftover whites from other recipes.
• Naturally gluten-free friendly. Swap the small amount of flour for a gluten-free blend, and they still work.
• Tart fresh raspberries. The fruit cuts the sweetness and keeps each cake moist.

Ingredients

For ingredients and detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below.

• Almond flour: Use almond flour, coarse almond meal, or ground almonds interchangeably. Grind whole almonds (with skin on or blanched almonds) in a food processor, but don't overbeat; otherwise, it will turn into almond butter.

• Icing sugar: Make it with a coffee grinder or use store-bought powdered sugar.

• Flour: Use all-purpose flour, the same as plain flour.

• Butter: The recipe calls for unsalted butter.

• Egg whites: Use large egg whites at room temperature. With an egg separator, separate egg whites from the yolks while the eggs are chilled.

• Raspberries are the stars of raspberry financiers. Use fresh or frozen raspberries interchangeably: no need to thaw frozen berries. Feel free to replace raspberries with halved blackberries, halved cherries, or blueberries.

Equipment

You need only a few basic tools to make these raspberry financiers:

• Mini muffin pan or financier mold
• Fine-mesh sieve
• Small saucepan
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk or electric mixer
• Rubber spatula
• Wire cooling rack

How to make raspberry financiers

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 395°F (200°C). Butter and flour the cavities of a nonstick mini muffin pan.

Step 2. To make the brown butter, melt and cook the butter in a small saucepan over low heat for 7 to 10 minutes.

It will start to foam, then turn golden brown, making brown milk solids. Let it cool to room temperature.

Pro tip: Consult the beurre noisette recipe (brown butter) for step-by-step photographed explanations, helpful tips, and tricks.

Step 3. To make the financier batter, mix almond flour, icing sugar, and all-purpose flour in a large bowl with a hand whisk.

Step 4. In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites with a hand mixer for 15-20 seconds until foamy.

Step 5. Add beaten egg whites to the flour mixture and mix with a hand whisk (photo 1).

Step 6. Pour the browned butter and mix with a rubber spatula or a whisk (photo 2).

Step 7. Pour batter into muffin cups almost to the top. Place a raspberry on top of each financier (photo 3).

Step 8. Bake for 20 minutes, until the edges are golden and the cakes are slightly puffed (photo 4). 

Step 9. Let the financiers rest in the pan for 3-5 minutes. Remove them from the mini muffin tin and let them cool on a cooling rack.

To serve, sprinkle cakes with confectioners' sugar. 

Expert tips

• Watch the brown butter closely. Cook until the milk solids turn golden and smell nutty, then remove from the heat right away so it doesn't burn.
• Keep the browned bits. Do not strain the brown butter; those toasted milk solids add most of the flavor.
• Do not overwhisk the egg whites. Beat them only until frothy, not stiff, so the financiers stay moist.
• Rest the batter. A short rest, or even overnight in the fridge, helps the cakes rise with a domed top.
• Fill the molds nearly full. Financiers do not rise much, so fill the cavities almost to the top.
• Place raspberries on top. Set the fruit on the batter rather than stirring it in, so it does not sink or make the crumb soggy.
• Do not overbake. Pull them when the edges are golden, and the centers are just set; overbaking dries them out.

Recipe variations

Once you know the base recipe, try these variations:

• Chocolate raspberry. Fold a spoonful of cocoa powder into the batter, or add a few chopped dark chocolate pieces for a chocolate raspberry version.
• Pistachio raspberry. Replace part of the almond flour with pistachio flour for a green, nutty twist.
• Other berries. Swap raspberries for blueberries, blackberries, or halved strawberries.
• Almond financiers. Leave off the fruit and add a few sliced almonds on top for the classic version.
• Citrus. Add lemon or orange zest to the batter for a fresh, bright note.
• Gluten-free. Replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend; the almond base keeps the texture moist.
• Mini financiers. Bake the batter in a mini muffin pan and reduce the baking time by a few minutes.

Storing & freezing

Raspberry financiers are best eaten when made, but you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple of days.

To freeze raspberry financiers, wrap them well and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use frozen raspberries?
Yes. Add frozen raspberries straight to the batter without thawing so they do not bleed too much color into the crumb.

Can you replace brown butter with melted butter?
You can, but the cakes lose some flavor. Brown butter also loses moisture and weighs about 75 to 80% of the solid butter you start with.

What is the difference between almond flour and almond meal?
It comes down to texture. Almond flour is finely ground from blanched almonds, while almond meal is coarser and made from raw almonds with the skins on. Almond flour gives the finest crumb.

Can you make financiers ahead of time?
Yes. Make the batter one day in advance, cover it with plastic wrap, refrigerate overnight, and bake the cakes the next day.

Are raspberry financiers gluten-free?
Not by default, but they are close. Replace the small amount of all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, and the almond base keeps them moist.

How many calories are in a raspberry financier?
Each financier has about 152 calories, though this varies with size and toppings.

Love raspberry desserts? Try these next!

• Raspberry Madeleines
• Raspberry Oreo Cheesecake
• Raspberry Loaf Cake
• Raspberry Friands
• Chocolate Raspberry Yule Log

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Recipe card

The nutritional information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator such as Verywellfit.com and is intended for informational purposes only. These figures should be used as a general guideline and not be construed as a guarantee.

The recipe was originally published on June 29, 2021. It has been revised to include improved content and photos.