Type Cake | Place of origin France | |
Main ingredients Beurre noisette; almond flour or ground almonds Similar Madeleine, Canelé, Dacquoise, Sablé, King cake | ||
A financier ([fi.nɑ̃.sje]) (formerly known as a visitandine ([vi.zi.tɑ̃.din])) is a small French almond cake, flavoured with beurre noisette, usually baked in a small mold. Light and moist with a crisp, eggshell-like exterior, the traditional financier recipe also contains egg whites, flour, and powdered sugar. The molds are usually small rectangular loaves similar in size to petits fours.
Originally made by the Visitandine order of nuns in the middle ages, the financier was popularized in the 19th century. The name financier is said to derive from the traditional rectangular mold, which resembles a bar of gold. According to another tradition, the cake became popular in the financial district of Paris surrounding the Paris stock exchange, as the cake could easily be stored in the pocket for long periods without being damaged.
