Canelles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of French pastry that is small, fluted, and caramelized at the edges while soft and custardy inside
2. Referring to a baked delicacy shaped like a mini mold with ridged sides and a rich flavor profile
3. A confection that is typically prepared from a batter containing milk, eggs, and sugar, resulting in a distinctive texture and taste

Etymology: Canelés are small fluted French pastries from Bordeaux, baked in tall copper moulds until dark and caramelised outside and custardy within. The word is the plural of "canelé", a term tied to the fluted, grooved shape of the moulds and cakes, and it comes from Old French "canelé", meaning "fluted" or "grooved", which derives from "canel", a channel or groove. The pastry's own history is considerably older than its name suggests. Its origin is usually traced to the Bordeaux region, where it was made by convents and households, and the moulds' ridged shape is the reason for the name. Whether the recipe's details date back as far as some popular accounts claim is uncertain, so the safest statement is simply that the name describes the pattern the mould leaves behind.