Canelé
Bordeaux fluted cakes - rum and vanilla custard cakes with a deeply caramelized, crisp crust and a tender, custardy interior. A signature sweet from the Bordeaux region.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 ml Whole milk
- 250 g Granulated sugar
- 100 g All-purpose flour
- 2 Egg yolks
- 1 Whole eggs
- 50 ml Dark rum
- 1 Vanilla bean
- 30 g Unsalted butter
- for molds Beeswax and unsalted butter
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Infuse the milk: In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, granulated sugar, and the unsalted butter. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds, and add both the seeds and the pod to the saucepan. Heat gently over medium-low heat until the butter is melted and the mixture is steaming but not boiling. Remove from heat, cover, and let it infuse for at least 10 minutes (or longer for a stronger vanilla flavor). Discard the vanilla pod.
⏱️ 10 minutes (plus infusion time) - 2
Prepare the batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, egg yolks, and the whole egg until smooth. Gradually whisk in the warm (not hot) infused milk mixture until fully combined and no lumps remain. Stir in the dark rum. The batter will be quite thin, similar to heavy cream.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 3
Rest and chill the batter: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the batter to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate the batter for at least 24 hours, and up to 48 hours. This resting period is crucial for developing the characteristic texture and flavor of canelés.
⏱️ 24-48 hours - 4
Prepare the molds: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F). If using copper canelé molds, melt the beeswax and butter mixture. Brush a generous layer inside each mold, ensuring complete coverage. If using non-stick molds, a light greasing with butter or cooking spray may suffice. Chill the prepared molds in the freezer for at least 15 minutes to set the coating.
⏱️ 15 minutes (plus chilling time) - 5
Bake the canelés: Remove the chilled molds from the freezer. Give the rested batter a gentle stir. Fill each mold about 2/3 to 3/4 full. Place the filled molds on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven at 220°C (425°F) for 15 minutes. Then, reduce the oven temperature to 180°C (350°F) and continue baking for another 50-60 minutes, or until the canelés are a deep, rich mahogany brown on the outside and have risen significantly. The exact baking time will depend on your oven and molds.
⏱️ 1 hour 5 minutes - 1 hour 15 minutes - 6
Cool and serve: Carefully remove the canelés from the oven. Immediately unmold them onto a wire rack. They should release easily if the molds were properly coated. Let them cool completely on the wire rack. The exterior should be crisp and caramelized, while the interior remains soft and custardy. Serve at room temperature.
⏱️ 30 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Copper molds are highly recommended for achieving the best, most even caramelization and crisp crust.
- ✓The beeswax and butter coating is key to the canelé's signature dark, caramelized exterior. Ensure thorough coverage.
- ✓The long resting period for the batter is essential for the canelé's unique texture – a crisp, caramelized crust giving way to a tender, custardy, almost pudding-like interior.
- ✓Do not overfill the molds, as the canelés will puff up significantly during baking.
- ✓Baking temperature and time are critical. Watch closely to achieve the desired deep mahogany color without burning.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- For an orange-scented canelé, add the zest of one orange to the milk infusion and replace the rum with orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier) or omit.
- Create mini canelés by using smaller molds and adjusting the baking time accordingly (likely shorter).