Madeleines are a classic French dessert perfect for making any day feel a little more special. And the chocolate-covered madeleines tower I’m sharing today takes this sweet treat to another level. Featuring chocolate chip madeleines with a light chocolate coating, this eye-catching dish is the ultimate Valentine’s Day – or Galentine’s Day – dessert.

The French love a good dessert tower. Croquembouche, for example, is a traditional French Christmas dessert that features a cone-shaped tower of cream puffs.

Consider this madeleine cake tower the Valentine’s Day version! Chocolate-dipped madeleines are made in two different colors and attached to a styrofoam cone for a dessert that looks like you bought it from a fancy bakery.

Get all the details and step-by-step instructions below to make this in your own kitchen.

What Are Madeleines?

Madeleines are classic French pastries that live somewhere between a cookie and a cake. Their batter is similar to sponge cake but richer, thanks to plenty of butter, which gives them a tender crumb. When baked, they develop lightly crisp edges like a cookie while staying soft and moist on the inside like a cake.

Traditionally baked in shell-shaped molds, madeleines are often eaten by hand, usually with coffee or tea. In France, they’re a popular treat during goûter (afternoon snack time) and may be enjoyed plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or lightly glazed.

How to Make a Chocolate-Covered Madeleines Tower 

Madeleines are incredibly versatile, and with just a few extra steps, they can easily be elevated to create an unforgettable Valentine’s Day dessert.

The first step, of course, is making the madeleines themselves. For this, you’ll need a few simple ingredients. I decided to use chocolate chip madeleines, but you can make your tower with your favorite variety.

Chocolate Chip Madeleine Ingredients

One of the best things about making madeleines at home is just how simple the ingredients list is. You probably have most of the items in your kitchen already! 

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• Unsalted butter
• Eggs
• Granulated sugar
• Whole milk 
• Vanilla extract (I like to make my own with this recipe!) 
• All-purpose flour (check out my French vs American flour guide if you’re an expat baking in France)
• Baking powder
• Mini chocolate chips
• White chocolate
• Raspberry chocolate or pink chocolate wafers (I love using Valrhona Raspberry Chocolate for this recipe because the pink color is more natural and the flavor is perfect for Valentine’s Day)

Step-By-Step Madeleine Tower Guide

To make a gorgeous Valentine’s Day madeleine tower, you’ll need just a few extra items beyond the ingredients listed above. I recommend:

• Silicone madeleine molds: You can use a metal madeleine pan for this recipe, but it will be harder to remove them after they’ve been dipped in chocolate unless the chocolate has been tempered. A silicone mold is much easier to work with.
• Styrofoam cone: I got one from Amazon that was 27cm tall (about 10.5 inches) and about 12cm (about 4.5 inches) at the base. You can also find these at your local craft store and or specialty baking store. I covered the Styrofoam mold with wrapping paper so that when the madeleines were removed, it still looked cute underneath.
• Toothpicks: Just about any toothpick will do – just make sure they’re fairly sturdy!

Here’s how to make these at home:

Step One: Start by melting the butter, then set it aside to cool slightly. You want it warm and fluid, but not piping hot. This helps it blend smoothly into the batter later without scrambling the eggs.

Step Two: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together until well combined and slightly lighter in color. Add the milk and vanilla, whisking again until everything is smooth and cohesive.

Step Three: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two additions, whisking gently after each one just until incorporated. This helps keep the batter light and prevents overmixing.

Step Four: Pour in the melted butter in two additions, whisking until the batter is silky and smooth. At this point, fold in the mini chocolate chips, making sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Step Five: You can bake the madeleines right away, but if you have the time, this batter really benefits from a rest. Cover the surface of the batter with plastic wrap (press it directly onto the surface to prevent drying) and refrigerate for several hours or, even better, overnight. This resting time helps develop flavor and helps create that classic madeleine texture.

Step Six: When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 400°F / 200°C and fill your silicone madeleine molds about ¾ of the way full, either by spooning or piping the batter directly into the center of each shell.

Step Seven: Bake the madeleines for 6 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F / 175°C and continue baking for another 6-8 minutes. If you’re using a non-convection oven, they may need an extra 2-3 minutes. If you’re using metal pans, reduce both baking temperatures by about 15°F / 10°C. The madeleines are done when they’re nicely golden and spring back lightly when touched.

Step Eight: Unmold the madeleines as soon as they come out of the oven, by flipping the mold/pan onto a clean kitchen towel and tapping gently if needed. Let them cool completely before moving on to the next step.

Step Nine: Once cooled, clean and dry the madeleine molds. Spoon about one tablespoon of melted chocolate into each cavity, then gently press a madeleine on top so the chocolate adheres to the flat side. If you’re using two different kinds of chocolate, make sure to alternate so you get an even number of both. Refrigerate until the chocolate is completely set, then carefully peel the madeleines out of the molds. 

This is where using silicone molds becomes important – it makes this last recipe step so much easier. If you’re using a metal madeleine pan, you’ll have to temper the chocolate. Otherwise, there’s no guarantee the chocolate will release from the pan, even when chilled.

Step Ten: To assemble the madeleine tower, use toothpicks to attach the madeleines to a Styrofoam cone, starting from the bottom and working your way up. Finish by topping the cone with a bow or a few extra madeleines for a festive touch.

Can You Make a Chocolate-Covered Madeleines Tower In Advance?

Madeleines are best enjoyed fresh, but parts of this tower can absolutely be made ahead with a little planning. You can (and should, if time allows) make the batter a day before you plan to bake and serve these. This will result in the best flavor and texture.

Plain madeleines can also be baked 1–2 days before you want to serve them and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. 

For best results, I recommend waiting to add the chocolate coating until the day you plan to serve and also waiting to assemble the tower. You can fully assemble it a few hours ahead and keep it in a cool, dry place. Avoid refrigeration once assembled, since condensation can affect both the chocolate and the texture of the madeleines.

Make Your Own Valentine’s Day Madeleines at Home

If you make this adorable dessert, make sure to tag me in your photos! Find me on Instagram and TikTok.