Brown Butter Hazelnut Financiers with Creamy Caramel

Brown Butter Hazelnut Financiers with Creamy Caramel ✨

These brown butter hazelnut financiers are everything you want in a French tea-time treat—nutty, moist, lightly crisp on the edges and hiding a silky vanilla caramel in the centre 😍. The combination of ground hazelnuts, warm beurre noisette, lemon confit and that glossy caramel makes each bite feel like a miniature pâtisserie dessert.

What Makes These Financiers Special 🍋🌰

Financiers are naturally rich and tender thanks to nut flour, but this version goes further by folding in fragrant lemon confit and the seeds of a whole vanilla bean. The lemon cuts through the richness and brightens the hazelnut flavour beautifully.

The base batter also uses chickpea flour, giving the cakes a delicate structure and making them gluten-free friendly while still keeping a classic financier texture—golden, slightly chewy and perfectly moist.

The Magic of Brown Butter (Beurre Noisette) 🧈

Brown butter is what gives these financiers their signature aroma—deeply nutty, toasty and almost caramel-like. When it’s poured in warm, it melts seamlessly into the batter, creating a luxurious flavour that pairs perfectly with hazelnuts.

If you’re new to beurre noisette, this recipe is the perfect gateway. The moment the butter turns golden and smells like roasted hazelnuts, you’ll understand why French pastry chefs use it everywhere!

The Creamy Caramel Filling 🍮

Instead of a runny caramel, this recipe uses a cream- and butter-enriched caramel cooked to just the right temperature for a smooth, pipeable texture. It stays soft even after cooling, making every bite lusciously gooey.

Infused with vanilla bean and finished with butter for shine and richness, this caramel is a dream. If it thickens as it cools, just warm it slightly and it becomes perfectly fluid again.

Texture + Flavour = Pure Elegance 💛

With a crunchy hazelnut topping, tender crumb and molten caramel inside, these financiers strike the ideal balance of:

• nutty richness
• citrus brightness
• buttery depth
• creamy sweetness

They’re the kind of pastry that feels bakery-worthy but is surprisingly achievable at home.

Perfect for Afternoon Tea or Make-Ahead Treats 🫖

These financiers bake in just 6 minutes, making them a fantastic small dessert when you want something refined without hours in the kitchen. They also store beautifully, and you can prepare the caramel a day early to make assembly even easier.

Whether you serve them warm so the centres melt, or at room temperature for a soft, fudgy filling, they’re guaranteed to impress.

Serving Ideas ☕️

• Serve warm with espresso for a mini French café moment
• Pair with vanilla ice cream for a plated dessert
• Gift them in small boxes lined with parchment—chic and delicious
• Add orange zest or swap hazelnuts for almonds for fun variations

Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️

• Naturally gluten-free friendly
• Filled with real vanilla caramel
• Made with authentic French techniques
• Perfect bite-size dessert
• Ultra-aromatic brown butter base
• Great for gifting, snacking or elevating your afternoon tea

FAQ ❓

Can I make these hazelnut financiers ahead of time?
Absolutely—bake the financiers and make the caramel the day before. Rewarm the caramel slightly before piping and fill the cakes a few hours before serving for the best texture.

Enjoy these elegant, deeply aromatic financiers—each little cake is a perfect balance of French finesse and comforting flavours ✨🇫🇷