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Hazelnut and Buckwheat Financiers With Figs

These financiers are moist and nutty from the addition of brown butter and hazelnuts; in this recipe, resting the dough amplifies all of those flavors.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 6 large or 12 small financiers

Ingredients

3/4 cup skin-on hazelnuts
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup buckwheat flour
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
4 large egg whites
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
3 fresh or dried figs, cut lengthwise into 6 wedges (optional)
Demerara or raw sugar (for sprinkling)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast hazelnuts on a large rimmed baking sheet until skins are slightly darkened and split, 12–15 minutes. Let cool, then bundle in a kitchen towel and rub vigorously to remove skins (there will definitely be some stubborn pieces that refuse to come off—do what you can). Transfer to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Whisk hazelnuts, powdered sugar, buckwheat flour, and salt in a medium bowl to combine.

    Step 2

    Cook butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until it foams, then browns (be careful not to let it burn), 5–7 minutes. Let cool slightly.

    Step 3

    Whisk egg whites in a medium bowl until foamy (you’re not trying to create volume; you just want to break them up), then whisk into dry ingredients. Whisk in brown butter. Cover and chill batter until firm, at least 2 hours.

    Step 4

    Reheat oven to 350°F. Generously coat six 4-oz. fluted financier molds or a standard 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray. Divide batter among molds (use about 1/3 cup batter per mold, or 2 mounded Tbsp. if using a muffin pan). Top with figs (if using) and sprinkle with demerara sugar. Bake until tops are browned and edges are firm, 20–25 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack and let financiers cool 10 minutes in pans before turning out onto racks. Let cool completely.

  2. Do Ahead

    Step 5

    Batter can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.

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