France produces undeniably incredible sweets. From delicate macarons to buttery brioche, these treats stand alone in culinary excellence.
I possess a major sweet tooth, so I have tasted countless European desserts. Nothing compares to Paris. One bite explains the magic. Here are 23 delicious French recipes.
1. Brioche Bread
This bread offers a wonderfully tender crumb and a hint of sweetness. A golden crust hugs the airy, pillowy middle. Enriched dough gets its richness from plenty of butter.
You can easily bake this at home using a solid recipe. Many locals in France actually prefer this loaf over croissants.
2. Madeleines
Sweet, airy, and rich perfectly define these treats. The shell form makes this French cake an iconic dessert. Golden outsides and a dissolving texture satisfy every taste bud.
Enjoy them alongside hot tea or coffee. They also taste wonderful as a standalone snack.
3. Pain d’epices – French Spice Bread
Pain d’epices is a classic sweet loaf created with spices, flour, and honey. The crumb is notably dense with a savory-sweet profile resembling gingerbread.
Serve this bread alongside cheese boards. It also pairs beautifully with savory meals like roasted pork.
4. French Beignets
French beignets are circular rather than square like the American version. They remain incredibly soft and fluffy.
These distinct doughnuts taste amazing without heavy frostings or fillings. Simply dust them generously with powdered sugar.
5. Classic French Opera Cake
This elegant French treat features multiple distinct tiers. The almond sponge cake is the star, offering a soft chew and a coffee syrup soak.
You usually find three sponge sheets holding coffee buttercream fillings. Dark chocolate ganache and extra buttercream sit on top. A thin chocolate glaze coats the exterior for a shiny look.
6. Mini French Breakfast Puffs
Think of these puffs as a blend of churros, donuts, profiteroles, and muffins. The interior stays soft while the outside gets lightly crisp.
Rolling them in cinnamon sugar adds a warm, crunchy coating. Eat these tasty bites with creamy yogurt or hot coffee for a satisfying breakfast.
7. Classic French Rum Baba (Baba au Rhum)
This cylinder-shaped cake uses traditional brioche dough. Marinating the dough in spiced rum syrup overnight infuses incredible flavor.
Lemon or orange zest often boosts the syrup for a unique profile. One bite of this distinctive mix will delight your palate.
8. Classic French Palmiers
Palmiers are rich, sweet cookies requiring only three items. Grab cinnamon, sugar, and puff pastry to start. Combine the dry ingredients and roll them into the dough.
The result is a crispy exterior with an airy center. The heart shape is classic but optional. Pinwheels work just as well if you prefer.
9. Crêpe Cake
Skip standard crêpes and build an entire cake instead. Layers of whipped cream and sweet pancakes create a light, satisfying treat. Top everything with chocolate ganache to add a bitter richness.
France loves this dessert for obvious reasons. You can even dye the cream for a colorful effect. The rainbow result is worth the extra effort.
10. French Cruller Doughnuts
Crullers are fried dough rings covered in sugary glaze. The base is choux pastry, which is also used for chouquettes and cream puffs.
Piping the batter into strips and frying it creates a crisp shell and airy middle. Serve them with tea or coffee for a tasty snack or breakfast.
11. Bouchée à la Reine (Vol-au-Vent)
This savory meal features puff pastry stuffed with diced chicken and creamed mushrooms. A white sauce topping adds richness to the flaky, crunchy crust.
It has gained global popularity for its decadent filling. Serve this crowd favorite as a main dish or appetizer.
12. Homemade French Croissants
Preparing croissant dough manually takes days. You start by mixing yeast dough and letting it rest. Chill it overnight in the freezer or fridge. Roll it out the following day to fold in the butter.
This initial “turn” requires another chilling period. Complete two more folding turns to build layers. Chill overnight again before cutting and shaping.
Let them rise until doubled in size, then bake. The process is tough but rewarding.
13. Paris-Brest
This treat uses choux pastry just like crullers and eclairs. Expect an airy texture with slightly crisp edges. While eclairs hold a modest amount of cream, this dessert overflows with filling.
Hazelnut mousse and hazelnut praline paste are traditional choices. Flaked almond toppings are essential.
14. Crème Brûlée (French Vanilla Custard)
This fancy dessert is actually quite simple to prepare. It consists of thick custard or pastry cream beneath caramelized sugar. You need a torch to create the signature crack on top.
Serve it in ramekins to finish a special dinner. The recipe calls for basic items like milk, sugar, and egg yolks.
15. Homemade Chouquettes (French Pastry Sugar Puffs)
Chouquettes are delicate treats suitable for snacking or breakfast. Choux pastry forms the base of these puffs. A generous powdered sugar coating creates a salty-sweet, chewy finish.
They taste great plain. You can also dip them in warm melted chocolate.
16. Gougères (French Cheese Puffs)
These savory puffs feature choux dough mixed with cheese. Making the dough is actually very straightforward. Boil butter and water, then dump in the flour.
Mix with a wooden spoon and cool before adding eggs. Gruyère is the classic cheese addition for this version. Bake until they turn golden brown.
17. French Canelé (Cannelé de Bordeaux)
Originating in Bordeaux, these pastries bake in beeswax-lined molds. They emerge as perfect cylinders. The wax creates a caramelized crust around a soft, custard center.
The result is truly spectacular. Baking them requires patience, but practice makes perfect.
18. French Pain au Chocolat
This famous pastry ranks right behind the croissant in popularity. It uses the same butter-layered laminated dough. A small dark chocolate stick sits in the center.
Baking melts the chocolate into a gooey, rich filling. French bakeries sell these for snacks or breakfast.
19. Kouign-Amann
This laminated dough resembles the base used for croissants. The preparation is identical, so you can easily double the batch. Sugar is added during the final folding turn.
Rolling sugar into the dough creates a caramelized finish. The baked result is crispy, sweet, and incredibly rich.
20. Mille Feuille
Thin puff pastry layers sandwich a filling in this dessert. Vanilla or chocolate pastry cream is standard. Other options include whipped cream or diplomat cream.
A glaze of water and confectioners’ sugar tops the pastry. Though linked to France, its origins likely trace back to Renaissance Italy.
21. French Financiers
These small rectangular cakes rely on browned butter and nut flour. Common flavor varieties include pistachio, hazelnut, and almond.
Enjoy these teacakes in the morning with coffee. The delicious taste also carries symbolic weight in France. Their shape represents gold bars and prosperity.
22. French Macarons
Macarons are delicate cookies suitable for any event. They are colorful, light, and stand out in bakery displays. Ingredients include egg whites, sugar, and almond flour.
Fillings range from frostings to jams and pastes. They are tricky to master but worth the effort.
23. Classic French Chocolate Éclair
This choux pastry is a quintessential element of French dessert culture. It offers versatility similar to the macaron. Pastry cream fills the center while ganache covers the top.
This icon has evolved globally with colorful glazes. You will want to sample every variety available.
