Financiers are small French tea cakes made with browned butter, egg whites, and almond flour. The ingredients work together to create a unique texture that is crisp on the outside with a moist and tender interior. Traditionally, financiers are baked in a small rectangular mold—which makes them resemble gold bars—and are simply adorned with a few slivered almonds.
By Erin Jackson
September 10, 2024
The Financier box from The Cakery builds on the foundation of the classic French treat, elevating a simple, classic item to another level of deliciousness. Each box contains an alluring assortment of five financiers that hit all the right notes, with chocolate, fruity jams, nuts, tea, and coffee. The box I sampled contained the following flavors:
Chocolate Hazelnut: chocolate financier dipped in hazelnut rocher, with milk chocolate ganache, gianduja, and chocolate pearls.
Yuzu White Chocolate: Earl Grey financier with white chocolate and tart yuzu jam.
Caramel Pecan: pecan financier with house-made caramel and buttery pecan crumble.
Matcha: matcha financier with sweet and fluffy red bean ganache.
Chocolate Raspberry: chocolate financier with glossy raspberry preserves.
From the first bite, pastry chef EJ Kim’s attention to detail is evident. The cakes are perfectly baked, with a buttery crumb and tender texture. All of the finishing touches, from the placement of the crunchy chocolate pearls, to the enticing swirl of red bean ganache, demonstrates precision and care. These are cakes you’ll want to take time to savor, preferably with some soothing background music and a cup of hot tea.
Fans of Earl Grey tea will appreciate the yuzu white chocolate flavor, which has floral and citrus notes in the cake that are echoed and amplified by the bright and zesty yuzu jam on top. The snappy white chocolate balances the bitterness of the tea and adds an addictive textural element. EJ says this flavor is one of the bakery’s most popular items, and it’s easy to see why people keep coming back for more.
Both chocolate flavors were deeply satisfying, with accompaniments that felt just right for the cooler winter months. The standout was the caramel pecan flavor, with crunchy pecan crumble on top of a honey-kissed pecan financier. Looking back at past boxes, this flavor (or a variation of it with another nut) is a frequent star of The Cakery’s financier box.
The Cakery will open their a brick and mortar location next year with expanded hours of operation. Until then, you can order a financier box for pick up via the link on their Instagram page.