Orange-Spice Madeleines

Ingredients

• 2 ounces almond paste cut into chunks
• 0.5 teaspoon double-acting baking powder 
• 6 tablespoons butter at room temperature
• 1 large eggs 
• 0.8 cup flour all-purpose
• 0.3 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 0.1 teaspoon ground cloves 
• 0.3 cup milk 
• 1 teaspoon orange peel grated
• 0.1 teaspoon salt 
• 0.5 cup sugar 
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• blender

Directions

1. In a large bowl, with your fingers or a pastry blender, rub or cut almond paste into sugar until well blended. With a mixer on medium speed, beat in butter until smooth. Beat in egg, orange peel, and vanilla, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Stir in milk.
2. In another bowl, mix flour with baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Stir into butter mixture until well blended. Spoon batter into buttered and floured 2-inch-long madeleine molds (fill each hollow about 3/4 full).
3. Bake in a 350 oven until tops of madeleines are lightly browned and spring back when gently pressed, 12 to 15 minutes. Invert the pan over a rack to release madeleines.
4. Serve warm, or cool completely and store airtight.