The 5 Best Madeleine Pans

What to Look for in a Madeleine Pan

Material

Every baker develops a personal preference for pan material. Some like the classic all-metal designs, others go with nonstick coatings, and many are fond of silicone bakeware. If you're not committed to one type, there are advantages to each.

Aluminum and steel pans conduct heat well and offer even baking results. Since madeleines are prone to sticking, many pans are coated with silicone or similar material as well. Nonstick coating can lower the pan's maximum temperature range, but madeleines are typically baked around 375 degrees, so this is generally not an issue. Darker surfaces may require a minute or two less in the oven.

Silicone pans are often dishwasher safe, won't stain or rust, and produce nice baked goods but needs to be set on a baking sheet. The main difference is that silicone is a poor heat conductor and won't brown the surface of your baked goods. With a delicate cookie like the madeleine, this is a good thing! The tradeoff are silicone can be easily damaged by sharp objects and can be quite expensive.

Capacity

The average madeleine pan has 12 mold cavities, and you can find pans that bake 16 or 20 cookies at once. You may not use all the molds in a high-capacity pan because most madeleine recipes are designed for multiples of a dozen cookies, so one or two 12-mold pans may be the best choice.

FAQs

What is a madeleine pan?

A madeleine pan is a one-piece baking pan with shell-shaped cavities to create the traditional look of this French cookie. Each mold is about 2 inches wide and 3 inches long; the cookies shrink slightly as they bake. The cookies are baked upside down, so one side (the bottom while in the pan) has ridges that resemble a seashell, while the top expands slightly to give the cookie its signature hump.

How do you remove madeleines from the pan?

Releasing baked goods from any molded pan can be tricky, and madeleines are notorious for sticking. When using metal pans, be sure to grease them thoroughly—butter is traditionally preferred—to coat all grooves evenly. Sprinkling flour on the butter helps as well. Silicone may not need greasing; check the manufacturer's recommendation.

Remove the madeleines as soon as they come out of the oven to prevent soggy cookies that might stick: Invert the pan over a wire rack, and they should slide out of an adequately greased pan. If the cookies need some help, use an offset spatula to pry them out. Avoid using metal utensils with nonstick and silicone pans.

What's the best way to clean a madeleine pan?

Handwashing is often recommended for madeleine pans. Silicone pans and some other materials are dishwasher safe, but even then, many manufacturers recommend handwashing to avoid scratching or damaging the surface. Avoid abrasives and metal tools, especially on nonstick coating. Use a soft dishcloth or sponge to get in all the crevices after letting the pan soak for a few minutes in warm soapy water. Be sure to let the pan dry completely—or dry it by hand, then let it finish air-drying to remove all traces of moisture—before putting it away for storage.

What can I use instead of a madeleine pan?

Since madeleine pans are a specialty kitchen tool, it's understandable that not everyone wants to add one to their kitchen. If you'd like to try these home-baked goodies without the commitment, pour the batter into a mini muffin, tart, scone, or popover pan. You can also set cupcake liners out on a baking sheet, add the batter, then gently fold the liner so the cookie bakes into a diamond shape. Of course, none of these alternatives will create the madeleine's charming shell shape, but they'll still taste great.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Karen Resta is a writer specializing in food culture and history, cooking, pastries, and restaurants. She's also a former pastry chef and has traveled to Budapest, Kyiv, and Paris during their Fashion Weeks as a photographer and writer, always finding the best authentic pastries along the way. She now spends a lot of her free time baking at home and recommends quality within your given budget. Having the right tools available and knowing how to use them well (it can take practice, like anything else) makes all the difference, and she curated this list with that in mind.