Every year around this time, my mind invariably fills with thoughts of France. In my former life as a cruise director, Tony and I spent several spring seasons sailing around the western coast of ...

After spending a good amount of time in France and developing a love for French pastry, I decided that it was time to learn how to make a classic madeleine cookie recipe. These mini butter cakes are a ...

There are a few classics a serious baker must absolutely master. For the serious Francophile baker — or the baker with a literary interest — the list of classics most certainly includes a madeleine.

Madeleines are the type of treat that keeps everyone on their toes. Are they technically cookies or tiny cakes? Perhaps a little bit of both. One thing is certain, they are spongy, they are buttery, ...

Note from the baker: "It's a very simple French cookie," Megan VanStone says. "I think the hardest thing about it is getting your oven temperature right so you can get the classic dome on the back of ...