Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Financiers: An Easy Fall Baking Delight

There’s a distinct crispness in the air that signals autumn has truly arrived, bringing with it a welcome shift from summer’s warmth. Waking up to a refreshing cool breeze is one of the season’s simple pleasures, a stark contrast to the days spent in short sleeves and sandals. Just yesterday, the need for a thick hoodie became undeniable, proving essential during my morning walk to work and later at the perpetually chilly berry aisle of Costco. This delightful change in weather naturally turns our thoughts to cozy comforts and, of course, delicious fall baking.

While the internet is often saturated with pumpkin spice and apple-centric desserts come fall, I’m taking a delightful detour to kick off the season’s sweet treats with something uniquely nutty: hazelnuts. My obsession with hazelnuts is well-documented—so much so that I’ve dedicated an entire guide to how to perfectly roast hazelnuts. This time, we’re channeling that nutty goodness into elegant French pastries: Chocolate Hazelnut Financiers. These aren’t just any financiers; they’re a celebration of rich, earthy hazelnut paired with deep, comforting chocolate, made even more exquisite with the magic of brown butter.

What Are Financiers? An Introduction to This Elegant French Pastry

For those unfamiliar, financiers are small French almond cakes, traditionally made with browned butter, almond flour, egg whites, and sugar. Their name, meaning “financier” or “banker,” is said to come from their rectangular shape, reminiscent of gold bars, or from being a popular snack among Parisian bankers dueating to their ease of eating without making a mess. What makes them truly special is their distinct texture: a slightly crisp, golden exterior that gives way to a wonderfully moist, soft, and often fudgy interior. They are a testament to the power of simple, high-quality ingredients elevated by a refined technique, making them an ideal canvas for introducing new flavor profiles.

Our chocolate hazelnut financiers take this classic concept and imbue it with a rustic, yet sophisticated, autumnal charm. The substitution of hazelnut flour for almond flour brings a deeper, more pronounced nutty flavor that harmonizes beautifully with cocoa. The rich browned butter, a signature element, adds an unparalleled depth of caramel-like notes, ensuring each bite is a luxurious experience. This recipe is designed to be incredibly quick and easy, making it the perfect treat to whip up any day of the week, satisfy an urgent chocolate craving, or smartly utilize those leftover egg whites from baking projects like light and airy cheesecake bars or chewy matcha Oreo blondies.

The Secret to Unforgettable Flavor: Browned Butter

Before diving into the mixing bowl, the first crucial step is to create browned butter, also known as beurre noisette. This simple technique transforms ordinary unsalted butter into a fragrant, nutty, golden elixir that is the soul of any good financier. To achieve this, gently heat the butter in a small saucepan over a low flame. As the butter melts, it will foam, and the milk solids will begin to separate and sink to the bottom. Keep a close eye on these solids. Swirl the pan occasionally to ensure even browning. The moment they turn a rich, golden-brown color and release a distinctive nutty aroma—like toasted hazelnuts—remove the pan from the heat immediately. It’s a fine line between perfectly browned and burnt, so vigilance is key. Once off the heat, transfer the browned butter to a separate bowl to cool slightly. Allowing it to cool is important, as adding hot butter to your batter could scramble the egg whites and affect the financier’s delicate texture. This step alone elevates the flavor profile of these financiers, infusing them with a complex, toasted caramel note that plain butter simply can’t achieve.

Assembling Your Financier Batter: A Blend of Simplicity and Flavor

While your browned butter cools, it’s time to prepare the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine the granulated sugar, hazelnut flour, cake flour, and cocoa powder. Hazelnut flour is paramount here, offering its unique, earthy sweetness and a delicate texture that differentiates these financiers. If hazelnut flour is hard to come by, blanched almond flour can be a suitable substitute, as seen in traditional financiers or our lemon blueberry financiers and matcha financiers. However, for that authentic chocolate hazelnut experience, make the effort to find hazelnut flour. Cake flour contributes to the financiers’ tender crumb, while cocoa powder provides a rich, chocolatey foundation that pairs exquisitely with the hazelnut.

Once the dry ingredients are thoroughly whisked together, add the liquid components: honey and egg whites. Honey not only adds a touch of sweetness but also contributes to the financiers’ moist texture and delicate flavor. The egg whites provide structure and lightness, and this recipe is truly a fantastic way to use up any surplus egg whites you might have from other baking endeavors. Whisk these wet ingredients into the dry mixture until just combined, ensuring there are no dry pockets of flour. Overmixing is the enemy of tender baked goods, so stop as soon as everything comes together.

Finally, the cooled browned butter is gently whisked into the batter. This is where all the magical flavors come together. The nutty, caramel notes of the brown butter fully integrate with the hazelnut and chocolate, creating a wonderfully cohesive and aromatic batter. Mix until the butter is fully incorporated, and the batter is smooth and glistening. The consistency should be pourable but still substantial enough to hold its shape in the muffin wells.

Baking to Perfection and Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor

With your oven preheated to 395°F (200°C) and a mini muffin pan generously buttered and ready, it’s time to bake! Divide the batter evenly among the 12 wells of your prepared pan. Filling each well about two-thirds full will ensure they rise beautifully without overflowing. Bake these delightful financiers for approximately 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The edges should be a lovely golden brown, and the centers should feel set.

Once baked, allow the financiers to cool in the pan for just a few minutes before gently popping them out onto a wire rack to cool completely. This brief cooling period in the pan helps them firm up slightly, making them easier to handle without breaking. While they are delightful at any temperature, these financiers are truly at their absolute peak within the first few hours after emerging from the oven. The edges are wonderfully crispy, offering a perfect textural contrast to the soft, moist, and utterly fudgy interior. The warmth enhances the rich aroma of chocolate and toasted hazelnut, making them irresistible.

Customizations and Serving Suggestions

While these chocolate hazelnut financiers are perfect as is, they also lend themselves beautifully to customization. If you’re looking to elevate the chocolate experience even further, consider folding in a handful of mini chocolate chips into the batter before baking. For an extra special touch, once the financiers have cooled, you could pipe a dollop of creamy Nutella into the center, creating a delightful surprise with every bite. The combination of chocolate, hazelnut, and the rich spread is simply divine. You could also drizzle them with a simple chocolate glaze or dust with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.

Financiers are incredibly versatile for serving. They make an excellent companion to your morning coffee or afternoon tea, a sophisticated addition to a dessert platter, or a simple, satisfying snack anytime you need a sweet pick-me-up. Their individual portion size makes them perfect for entertaining, ensuring each guest gets their own personal treat. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days, though their delicate texture is best enjoyed fresh. You can also freeze them for longer storage; simply thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy.

So, what delicious creations are gracing your oven this weekend? I highly recommend making these incredibly simple, yet exquisitely flavorful, chocolate hazelnut financiers. They embody the comforting spirit of fall with every bite and are guaranteed to become a new favorite in your baking repertoire. Happy baking!