This Lemon Petits Fours recipe makes the sweetest little lemon cakes with a lemon sugar glaze. A perfect dessert to enjoy after a lovely Easter dinner, on Mother’s Day, or for showers or tea parties.
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It was meant to be.
During Easter, I saw the Nordic Ware Petits Fours, Baking Pan. It’s the same one they sell regularly, but this one had Easter labeling. The price was a bit over $20 and while I figured this cast aluminum baking pan was well worth the price, it was a bit more than I could spend at the time.
So, I waited.
I figured that if I could find it after Easter when it would be on clearance, then it was meant to be. As soon as prices went to 75% off I looked for it and was disappointed. It was nowhere to be found in the Easter clearance. As I headed to the registers with my other purchases and an idea struck me. I decided to duck down the kitchen cookware aisle to see if maybe, just maybe, one of the employees had returned the Nordic Ware Easter Petit Fours pan to the area with the other usual, non-seasonal Nordic Ware items. Sure enough, I found one. There is sat, looking at me and saying “come take me home”.
I gave it a quick scan on a price checker to make sure it was on clearance and sure enough, it was. Just over $6 and it was mine. I took it home and have been eager to use it ever since.
Ingredients Needed for Lemon Petits Fours:
- Butter (1/2 Cup)
- Sugar (1 Cup)
- Lemon Extract (1 Teaspoon + 1/2 Teaspoon)
- Flour (1 1/3 Cups)
- Baking Powder (2 Teaspoons)
- Salt (1/2 Teaspoon)
- Milk (2/3 Cup + 1/2 Cup)
- Egg Whites (3)
- Powdered Sugar (4 Cups)
- Yellow Food Coloring
Cooking Equipment Needed for Lemon Petits Fours:
- Mini Muffin Tin
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
- Tablespoon
- Cooling Rack
- Baking Sheet
- Wax Paper
- Mini Muffin Liners (Optional)
With spring comes lots of great occasions for making petit fours: Easter, Mother’s Day, baby showers, bridal showers, and tea parties. These little cakes with a sugar glaze are an elegant dessert after a lovely dinner with her family or served during a party.
I particularly like petits fours because of their size. Rather than indulging in a big piece of cake, I can have a couple of delicate petits fours and feel like I’m a getting just as much of a treat.
While I used the Nordic Ware Petits Fours Baking Pan, you can use a mini muffin tin, if you prefer. After the cakes are baked, you will add the sugar glaze. I do this by dipping the tops and sides directly into the glaze and then allowing the excess to drip off. If necessary, you can spoon a bit of extra glaze over the tops.
Check out our kid-friendly recipe for Easy Lemon Crinkle Cookies here!Â
How to make Lemon Petits Fours:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour Noric Ware Petits Fours pan or mini muffin tin.
2. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until well blended. Beat in extract. Beat in 1/2 of the flour and 1/2 of the milk. Repeat with remaining flour and milk, one at a time.
4. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry. Fold egg whites into the batter.
5. Spoon 1 tablespoon of batter into each petits fours cup or each mini muffin tin cup; set remaining batter aside. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle of one comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling racks that are set on a baking sheet or on top of wax paper to finish cooling. Repeat with remaining batter.
6. With petits fours still on cooling rack, apply the sugar glaze (see instructions below). This can be done by either spooning glaze over the tops of the petits fours or by dipping the tops and sides into the glaze, allowing excess to drip off.
PrintLemon Petits Fours Recipe
Description
This Lemon Petits Fours recipe makes the sweetest little lemon cakes with a lemon sugar glaze. A perfect dessert to enjoy after a lovely Easter dinner, on Mother’s Day, or for showers or tea parties.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1 1/3 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup milk
- 3 egg whites
Glaze
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- Yellow Food Coloring
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour Noric Ware Petits Fours pan or mini muffin tin.
- In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until well blended. Beat in extract. Beat in 1/2 of the flour and 1/2 of the milk. Repeat with remaining flour and milk, one at a time.
- In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry. Fold egg whites into batter.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of batter into each petits fours cup or each mini muffin tin cup; set remaining batter aside. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle of one comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling racks that are set on a baking sheet or on top of wax paper to finish cooling. Repeat with remaining batter.
- With petits fours still on cooling rack, apply the sugar glaze (see instructions below). This can be done by either spooning glaze over the tops of the petits fours or by dipping the tops and sides into the glaze, allowing excess to drip off.
For Glaze:
- In a large bowl, combine powdered sugar with milk until smooth. Mixture should be thick, but thin enough to pour. If too thin, add more sugar. If too thick, add more milk. Stir in extract and tint with food color.
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Recipe adapted from Nordic Ware packaging
My fellow #SundaySupper food bloggers are also contributing amazing recipes for that are perfect for Mother’s Day. You can get all the links before — be sure to check them out, they’d love to have you visit:
Mother’s Day Brunch
- Blueberry Coffee Cake from Peanut Butter and PeppersÂ
- Cornbread Pancakes with Blackberries from The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Crepes from Hezzi-D’s Books and CooksÂ
- Hot N Sweet Mango Chutney from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Lemon Raspberry Scones from My Baking Addiction
- Quiche Lorraine from Natasha’s Kitchen
- Seafood Quiche from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Strawberry Rhubarb Compote from Noshing with the Nolands
-  Sweet French Breakfast Crepes from Curious Cuisiniere
- Vidalia Onion Quiche from Comfy Cuisine
Mother’s Day Entrees
- Cod with Stewed Tomatoes from Cindy’s Recipes and WritingsÂ
- Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Herbed Goat Cheese Running in a Skirt
- Lemon Risotto from Healthy. Delicious.
- Lobster Ravioli with Shrimp Caper Sauce from Family Foodie
- Pork dumpling (Shumai) from The Urban Mrs.
Mother’s Day Sides
- Spaetzle from Magnolia Days
Mother’s Day Desserts and Drinks
- Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls from Gotta Get Baked
- Chocolate Kahlua Cream Pie from Ruffles & Truffles
- Espresso Brownies from What Smells So Good?
- Fresh Blackberry Elderflower Sorbet from Shockingly Delicious
- Fresh Fig and Walnut Pie from Vintage Kitchen
- Â Gluten Free Coconut Cake with Chocolate Ganache, Berries, and Fresh Whipped Cream fromNeighborfood
- Lavender Shortbread Cookies from girlichef
- Lemon Meringue Pie from Pies and Plots
- Lemon Petit Fours from Home Cooking Memories
- Lemon Sorbet in Prosecco from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Milky Way Brownies from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Mini Coconut Pies from La Cocina de Leslie
- Copycat McDonald’s Strawberry and Cream Mini Pies from The Cookie Rookie
- Mom’s Apple Crisp from Cravings of a LunaticÂ
- Mom’s Texas Sheetcake from Daily Dish Recipes
- Raspberry and Hazlenut Friands from Taste
- Semolina Balls (Suji Laddoo) from Soni’s Food
- Too-Good-to-Be-Lowfat Chocolate Eclair Icebox Dessert from The Weekend Gourmet
Samantha says
I never leave feedback, but I love this recipe, my kids and friends love them as well!
Lisa says
Your petit fours are so pretty. I am always looking for something different for Mother’s Day. My mom and mother-in-law are both in their 80’s and it’s impossible to buy them anything but edible gifts are always a hit. If I can find this pan, I will try these this year. Thanks so much.
Jeannee @ShepherdsandChardonnay says
Those are so pretty and Lemon anything rocks! Great job! Thanks for sharing on #HomeMattersParty
Jeannee
Miz Helen says
I love Petit Fours and your tins and recipe look great! Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Of Goats and Greens says
I really like those pans you were able to find! They certainly made the petit fours look both delicate and enticing. Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Fridays!
Marilyn Lesniak says
Thank you so much for linking at #overthemoon! I look forward to seeing what you share every week. Please come back for #WonderfulWednesday or #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Enjoy your week ahead.
Wendy says
I love everything about these little cakes; the size, the flavor, and how pretty they are! Nordic Ware pans are the BEST. Molded cakes come out so easily from their pans! I once had similar luck at Target with a snowflake shortbread pan that had made it’s way to the bakeware aisle instead of the Christmas clearance aisle! It helps to justify my growing Nordic Ware collection! 😉
Melissa says
Those are the cutest little cakes! And you lucked out on that pan. Don’t you just love it when you get such a great bargain?? Thanks for sharing at the Family Joy Blog Link Party this week!
Julie Christiansen says
Such pretty little cakes! (what a great cake pan!) I love anything lemon flavored, so this is definitely getting put on the menu, soon! Pinning!
PS I found you via the Motivate Me Monday link-up. I recently started a link-up of my own, I’d love it if you stopped by and shared with us there, too! http://www.mybusybeehives.com/2017/03/spring-at-bee-party-6.html
Sandra Garth says
Your patience paid off this is such a pretty pan. I would love to try your recipe, the petit fours look delicious. My family will probably try to stage an intervention if I buy another pan but if I see this one at a good price it is mine!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Sounds yummy – love that baking pan! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up~
Indah Nuria Savitri says
looks super yuuum and beautiful indeed..I have to buy one for me 🙂
Lara says
Oh my goodness those are the prettiest cakes I’ve ever seen! Since they are small I can have like 20 right? haha
Jennifer Dawn says
I think I’m going to have to buy one of those cake molds. These look amazing. I’m featuring them at this week’s link party. http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2016/03/15-sensational-desserts-and-little-bird.html
April R - Uncookie Cutter says
These are absolutely amazing looking! So pretty and they sound so yummy!! I’d love for you to stop by and link up at our new link party, where we actually make the features! You Link It, We Make It -http://bit.ly/222DyFC. Thanks so much for sharing, I LOVE lemon!
Frugal Hausfrau says
What a fun way to have acquired your pan! Being frugal and all, I admire that! 🙂 Best of all is all the lovely little designs! These look scrumptious!
Thanks for sharing this with us on Throwback Thursday! Hope to see you next week!
Mollie
Christine at Must Love Home says
The Lemon Petit Fours are just adorable! The yellow is perfect for the start of Spring and looks so fresh! What a great find on the pan..it always pays to look after the holiday or season to find great deals and your persistence paid off big time! I chose your awesome post to be featured this week on Wonderful Wednesday, so congratulations and great job! PS – I love your blog and just subscribed to the Newsletter! Have a wonderful week!! Hugs- Christine at Must Love Home.
Dina | Savvyinthekitchen says
These look absolutely gorgeous! So pretty and perfect for spring! I will be featuring these lovelies on Tasty Tuesday next week. Thank you for sharing:)
Alli @ Tornadough Alli says
Oh my yes!! Love these so stinking much!! I adore petits fours!! This pan is seriously adorable. Using a mini muffin tin is such an easier idea than layering and cutting. Thank you for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!
Karren Haller says
Oooooo these look so pretty, I would not have imagined they come out of a fancy pan, how fun. Thanks for sharing on the #OMHGWW this week!
Have a great week!
Kati says
I’m afraid I would have been happy spending the $20, but congrats on a great steal 🙂 I want to make petite fours and have a tea part of brunch now!
Carlee says
How cute are those?! Perfect for spring and I love how easy they would be to grab and go on my Easter Open House Buffet. Great idea!
Helen Fern says
These are beautiful! I need that pan! Would love it if you joined us at the “What’s for Dinner” link up!
Vicki @ Five Spot Green Living says
oh my these are adorable! When I was a kid I used to bake quite a bit and I always wanted to make petit fours. I never did do it, though.
Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Have a great week and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
Karly says
What a deal on that adorable pan! Love these petits fours and thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Trish @ Uncommon says
How beautiful are these and I can only imagine how delicious! Thanks for sharing them with us this at Monday Funday!
Take care,
Trish
brandie says
Thank you, Trish! And thank you for hosting a great link party!
Miz Helen says
Hi Brandie,
These are wonderful Lemon Petits Fours, I just must have one of those precious little pans. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a fabulous weekend.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Cathy says
I would love for you to share and link up at my TGIF Link Party. The party is open every Thursday night and closes Wednesday’s at midnight.
http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/
Have a wonderful week!
Hugs, Cathy
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
Awesome score on the cute pan!!! Those are the perfect bite size treat…I love the glaze!
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons says
These are so cute! Definitely worth the $6 you spent on the pan 🙂 Now I want one of those pans, too! haha.
Renee says
What pretty petit fours! Now you have me wanting that pan too (I do have a bit of a baking pan obsession/collection). I hope to get lucky like you and find it on sale or clearance.
Katie says
Ahhh – I am so jealous of that pan! I have been eyeing that one (and similar ones) for so long…I’ve seen them pop up a lot at HomeGoods for about $12 over the years…I really just need to buckle down and pick one up when I see one next!
Katy says
I love that tray! Your petits fours look adorable!
Nancy @ gottagetbaked says
Dang, that’s an amazing deal on the pan! Nordicware never goes on sale where I live. I either need to find it online or make a trip to the US. Your petit fours are absolutely beautiful, especially dripping with that yummy lemon glaze. Perfect for Mother’s Day!
Ruby @ The Ruby Red Apron says
Such a perfect springtime treat…love petits fours! That pan is super adorable!
Dorothy at ShockinglyDelicious says
Those look luscious! And what a find that pan is! Great recipe for #SundaySupper!
Family Foodie says
The Nordic Ware Easter Petit Fours pan is perfect for Mother’s Day! The Lemon Petit Fours look scrumptious. I would love to sit down with a cup of coffee and have one!
Theresa says
Oh my those look so yummy! I love the pan & how they look in the liners. 😉
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere says
What a cute pan! These are prefect bite-size desserts!
Liz says
What a deal! And your petit fours look beautiful with that lemon glaze. They’d disappear quickly around here. Happy Mother’s Day, Brandie!!!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says
I have a similar pan, that I bought at williams sonoma and brought in my suitcase. And I have yet to use it! How´s that for ridiculous? I have this vision that every tiny cake will stick due to those intricate patterns. Now I know what recipe to use Brandie!
Wendy (The Weekend Gourmet) says
These are so PRETTY…and I’m a sucker for anything lemon! I love it when I find cute pans like this. I waited until I had a 20% off coupon to buy my donut pan…and I just love it!
Sarah says
They’re adorable and perfect for spring!
Tara says
Great deal on getting the pan and they look so very gorgeous. Nicely done!!
Laura Dembowski says
Oooh, what pretty little cakes! They would be lovely at a garden party or wedding shower. So pretty! Love the drippy glaze too!
Cindys Recipes says
Perfect little cakes, Brandie!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Your petit fours look amazing! I love the flavors you used!!
Hezzi-D says
These are gorgeous! I’ve always loved petit fours-just the bite sized goodness has always been a draw for me. This pan is too cute though!