Wondering what the best French desserts are? There are so many great options! From caneles, to eclairs, macarons, and more! Here are 35+ of the BEST French dessert recipes to try!
French desserts have a long and rich history, dating back to the Middle Ages. Some of the earliest were simple dishes like fruits and nuts, which were often served with honey.
As time went on, French desserts became more elaborate, with the use of sugar, butter, and eggs. Today, they’re known for their delicious flavor, beautiful presentation, and intricate craftsmanship.
Below are some classic French dessert recipes that you may or may not have tried.
They’re all decadent, delicious, and loved worldwide!
The BEST French Desserts to Try!
It's not the canele recipe that makes great caneles; it's the process! With the right equipment and this tried-and-true technique, you'll make perfect French caneles with crisp, caramelized shells and luscious custardy centers.
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This is the BEST Classic Creme Brulee recipe out there. Plus, you can make it up to four days ahead of time for easy entertaining!
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This rustic Apple Galette can be assembled in just 10-minutes using a store-bought refrigerated pie crust. It's a delicious & easy dessert recipe!
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Coffee Mousse is a decadent, airy dessert flavored with coffee & cocoa. Made with whipped cream & ricotta cheese to make it creamy without gelatin.
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Creme Brulee with Cardamom Roasted Blackberries is a delicious dessert recipe. Classic creme brulee is topped with a sauce made from roasted blackberries, vanilla bean & cardamom.
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A comprehensive macaron recipe complete with lots of tips, step by step photos and a video tutorial for perfectly full french macarons!
Get the RECIPE from Sweet & Savory
Homemade éclairs – easier than you think! Light as air choux pastry filled with cream and topped with a shiny chocolate glaze.
Get the RECIPE from Recipe Tin Eats
Made with just six simple ingredients, this homemade cream puff recipe looks impressive but is easy to make!
Get the RECIPE from Live Well Bake Often
Pâte à choux is the dough used for profiteroles. It’s rich but made light with hollow cavities, which are filled with anything from lobster to ice cream.
Get the RECIPE from ZoëBakes
Molten Chocolate Fondant (French Lava Cake). Absolutely decadent with warm rich runny center and so chic. For chocolate lovers who want to eat like the French.
Get the RECIPE from My Parisian Kitchen
I am amazed by how easy this cherry clafoutis is, how reassuring and comfortable it is to eat it warm with a spoon directly from the ramekin.
Get the RECIPE from Juls Kitchen
Simple yet exquisite, Raspberry Financiers are lovely little French almond cakes with crispy exteriors and insides as soft as a pillow. Quick, easy to make.
Get the RECIPE from Foodtasia
A religieuse pastry is composed of two choux buns filled with pastry cream, topped with chocolate ganache and decorated with cream.
Get the RECIPE from Wheel of Baking
Learn how to make fluffy, yet rich chocolate soufflé using this in-depth tutorial written for beginners. Recipe video included.
Get the RECIPE from Sally’s Baking Addiction
A classic french spice bread, this pain d’epices is made with the traditional rye flour and a warming blend of ground spices sweetened with honey.
Get the RECIPE from Wandercooks
Make irresistible French Pain au Chocolat, also known as Chocolate Croissants, from scratch!
Get the RECIPE from Aline Made
These melt-in-your-mouth Sablé Breton Cookies (French Salted Butter Cookies), are super easy to prepare with 5 ingredients only!
Get the RECIPE from A Baking Journey
French Beignets. Learn how to make these popular pastries at home!
Get the RECIPE from Recipes for Holidays
This delicious mille feuille, has three layers of light as air puff pastry filled with creamy vanilla pastry cream and topped with chocolate and vanilla icing.
Get the RECIPE from Preppy Kitchen
A classic French lemon curd tart, is made with a shortbread crust base, a tangy lemon curd filling, and topped with Swiss meringue. This recipe is creamy, easy, and quick to make.
Get the RECIPE from Cook with Belula
A classic French dessert made lighter and brighter with berries. This beautiful Raspberry Paris Brest is perfect for the end of your holiday meals.
Get the RECIPE from Zoe Bakes
When it comes to Spring – specifically strawberry season – it doesn’t get any more traditional than a Strawberry Charlotte Cake, in France.
Get the RECIPE from Pardon Your French
Nutella crepes with berries are sweet and indulgent. These French pancakes are an easy to make blender recipe.
Get the RECIPE from Ahead of Thyme
French Silk Pie features an Oreo crust, rich and creamy chocolate filling, topped with fresh whipped cream & chocolate shavings! No raw eggs.
Get the RECIPE from Handle the Heat
Madeleine cookies: A delicate French pastry that’s part cookie, part cake, and so buttery-delicious! Perfect with tea, coffee, or cocoa.
Get the RECIPE from Baking a Moment
Flan Pâtissier, or Parisian Flan, is a French baked pastry and is considered by manby to be the BEST custard tart in the world!
Get the RECIPE from Recipe Tin Eats
A recipe for the creamy French dessert, Coeur a la Creme. Tastes like a lightened up version of cheesecake, paired with delicious blackberry sauce!
Get the RECIPE from Mon Petit Four
Chouquettes are little choux pastry bites, piped into rounds and finished with pearl sugar before being baked to golden perfection.
Get the RECIPE from Cloudy Kitchen
This Classic Croquembouche – Cream Puff Tower is a masterpiece of a French pastry!
Get the RECIPE from Noshing with the Nolands
Classic French apple cake boasts a creamy, custard-like base with a cake-like top layer. This easy cake is packed with apple flavor and impressive enough for company.
Get the RECIPE from Brown Eyed Baker
Use this perfect French meringue recipe to create crisp-on-the-outside, chewy-in-the-middle mini pavlovas and meringue cookies.
Get the RECIPE from Style Sweet
These French chocolate truffles have a rich, creamy texture and dark chocolate filling. A dusting of cocoa powder gives them a classic look.
Get the RECIPE from Savor the Best
This is a French fruit tart recipe with step-by-step instructions and photos. Learn how to make this awesome French dessert.
Get the RECIPE from Confessions of a Baking Queen
How to Make Ahead and Store
Many of these recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead.
More National Dessert Recipes to Try
Did you Make Any of These Classic Recipes?
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35+ Traditional French Desserts
Here are 35+ of the BEST French desserts to try! Check out these easy recipes for caneles, eclairs, macarons & more… Try this Classic Creme Brulee!
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Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/3 cup sugar
- Pinch kosher salt
- 1/2 vanilla bean
- 6 large egg yolks
For Topping
- 6 teaspoons demerara sugar (coarse sugar, or white sugar)
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees.
- Combine 1 cup cream, sugar, and salt in medium saucepan; with paring knife, scrape seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean (halved lengthwise) into pan, submerge pod in cream, and bring mixture to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure that sugar dissolves. Take pan off heat and let steep 15 minutes to infuse flavors.
- Meanwhile, place a white kitchen towel in bottom of large baking dish or roasting pan and arrange four 4- to 5-ounce ramekins on towel.
- Bring kettle or large saucepan of water to boil over high heat.
- After cream has steeped, stir in remaining 1 cup cream to cool down mixture. Whisk yolks in large bowl until broken up and combined. Whisk about 1/2 cup cream mixture into yolks until loosened and combined; repeat with another 1/2 cup cream. Add remaining cream and whisk until evenly colored and thoroughly combined.
- Strain through fine-mesh strainer into 2-quart measuring cup or pitcher (or clean medium bowl); discard solids in strainer. Pour or ladle mixture into ramekins, dividing it evenly among them.
- Carefully place baking dish with ramekins on oven rack; pour boiling water into dish, taking care not to splash water into ramekins, until water reaches two-thirds height of ramekins. Bake until centers of custards are just barely set, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Transfer ramekins to wire rack; cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Set ramekins on rimmed baking sheet, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours or up to 4 days.
- Uncover ramekins; if condensation has collected on custards, place paper towel on surface to soak up moisture. Sprinkle each with about 1 teaspoon sugar; tilt and tap ramekin for even coverage. Ignite torch and caramelize sugar.
Notes
If you don’t have a blowtorch, you can also caramelize the tops using your oven broiler. Move the top rack in your oven up as high as it will go. Place the ramekins in the oven on the top rack, and turn on the broiler. Broil for 5 to 10 minutes, rotating them frequently so that the sugar melts evenly. Take them out when the sugar has browned.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
Equipment
Baking Sheet
Ramekins
Torch
Nutrition
Calories: 563kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Cholesterol: 455mg | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 118mg | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 2140IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 112mg | Iron: 0.7mg
