Sweet Bread: The Gingerbread Financier from Fonte Coffee, Seattle
Sunday, November 22, 2009 
I want to tell you about the Gingerbread Financier from Fonte Coffee in downtown Seattle, but first, let's get a few things out of the way.
First, what is a financier? It's a French term which as two meanings. The first is--as you might expect--a term for someone who works in finance. The second definition is far sweeter, and I like what Joy of Baking has to say about it:
Financiers are Frenchtea cakes (pronounced fee-nahng-syehr), also known as Friands (meaning "dainty" or "tasty"). They are made from a sponge-like batter of brown butter (beurre noisette), egg whites, flour, toasted ground almonds, and powdered sugar. Financiers are similar to Madeleines in that they both use a sponge-like mixture that is baked in special molds. When baked Financiers are soft and springy with a slightly domed top and a lovely golden brown crust.
The adorable versions at Fonte Wine and Coffee Bar look like mini loaf cakes or quick breads, and have a crumb which is slightly more delicate than a cookie but not quite a cake. And at the downtown location, where they not only have great coffee (and, I hear, a great happy hour) but also make all of their sweets in-house, they have a sweet seasonal variation: the Gingerbread Financier. They burst with a rich, buttery flavor, blossoming into a spicy, aromatic taste, and finish with yet more lingering butteriness.
Though these treats may not be available every day, there's bound to be something equally delicious: on recent visits, some specials included chocolate bread pudding, bacon brownies, and some tres jolie-looking cookies.
1321 1st Ave, Ste A30, Seattle, WA; (206) 777-6193; online at fontecoffee.com.
Reader Comments (6)
Mmmmmmm!
S.W.A.K.
Ooooo looks fabulous!! I made some sour cherry financiers over the summer, they were yummy!
Wow! That looks over-the-top delish! And thanks for teaching me something new.
Love, Rae
Delicious! This is now on my To Do list for tomorrow. Thanks!
Mmmmmm! I've been looking for another Thanksgiving dessert to have other than pumpkin pie and I think this fits the bill perfectly. Thanks for sharing!!
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