Delawareans who are fans of a previously discontinued Trader Joe’s French dessert are in luck.
The California-based grocery chain is selling its take on cannelés, a traditional French pastry that dates back to at least the 18th century, for $5.49 per box, according to its website. Each package includes four desserts.
The pastries are made for the chain by a bakery in the San Francisco Bay Area, which uses silicone molds instead of the traditional copper ones.
“This modern method is more efficient and cost-effective, yet yields the same delicious result as the French method: elegant, striated cylinders that are chewy and caramelized on the outside while remaining soft and custardy inside,” according to a Trader Joe’s press release.
What is canelé?
Canelé, a small baked custard pastry with a fluted shape, was originally called cannelé Bordelaise, according to the Institute of Culinary Education. There’s evidence of the pastry existing as early as the 15th century. It likely comes from the convents around the winemaking regions in Bordeaux in Southern France, about 362 miles from Paris.
According to the institute, the pastries are made of the following ingredients: egg yolks, flour, butter, salt and milk. The ingredients are then mixed and left overnight. The pastries are temperamental, time-consuming, complicated and require skill to bake, the institute added.
While the pastry typically has a slight rum taste, the Trader Joe’s version has a vanilla flavor. The Trader Joe’s Cannelés are kept in the frozen food section and are to be baked straight out of the packaging and ready in less than 15 minutes, according to the company’s website.
How long are Trader Joe’s cannelés available?
Trader Joe’s is bringing back cannelés for a limited time
The desserts are available through May. The company did not directly answer questions about why the dessert was discontinued or why it’s only being brought back for a limited time.
In an emailed statement to USA TODAY, Trader Joe’s said, “Our buyers travel the world searching for products we think are exceptional and will find a following among our customers. Sometimes that’s a re-invention of something we’ve offered in the past.”
The frozen desserts are not widely available across stores, but the company said it plans to have them back in stock nationwide in a couple of weeks.
Where are Trader Joe’s stores located in Delaware?
There are 2 Trader Joe’s locations in Delaware, according to the company’s website.
2500 Fashion Center Blvd., Christiana
5605 Concord Pike, Brandywine Hundred
To find your nearest location go to the Trader Joe’s store locator in its website.
Contributing: USA Today Network
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Trader Joe’s adds back cannelés, favorite French dessert
Dining and Cooking