Ingredients

3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted, plus more for pans 

1 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted  (not self-rising) 

1/2 teaspoon baking powder 

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt 

3 large eggs 

2 large egg yolks 

3/4 cup granulated sugar 

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest 

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (2 to 3 lemons total) 

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting (optional) 

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter two madeleine pans; set aside. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl; set aside.

Put eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest and juice in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and thickened, about 5 minutes. Mix in butter. Using a spatula, fold flour mixture into egg mixture. Let rest 30 minutes.

Pour batter into buttered pans, filling the molds 3/4 full. Bake cookies, rotating pans halfway through, until edges are crisp and golden, 7 to 8 minutes. Let cookies cool slightly in pans on wire racks. Invert, and unmold. Dust with confectioners’ sugar, if desired.