8 Classic French Desserts To Try
French dessert recipes have earned a global reputation for being absolutely irresistible. That’s why chefs and bakers from all corners of the world flock to France to learn their amazing techniques!
But you don’t need to travel all the way to France to savour your favourite dessert. We’ve selected the absolute must-tries that have stood the test of time and continue to make taste buds dance with joy.
From the scrumptious Madeleines and saucy Crêpes Suzette to the iconic Eclairs, take a look at these classic French desserts and find the star of your next dinner party!
The Best French Desserts
Here’s our hand-picked collection of the most spectacular, classic French desserts that deserve your immediate attention:
1. Crème Brûlée
Crème Brûlée, meaning “burnt cream”, is a quintessentially French dessert that balances silky smooth custard with a crisp, caramelized top. Its history is somewhat disputed between the French, English, and Spanish, as similar custard desserts can be found in all three cuisines.
However, it’s firmly associated with France, not only because it’s widely enjoyed there, but because the first known recipe appears in “Le Cuisinier Royal et Bourgeois”, a 1961 recipe book written by Francois Massialot, a chef at the Palace of Versailles.
This straightforward dish takes time and patience (try not to curdle those egg yolks!). Perfect as a dinner party dessert, it’s usually served at room temperature, either on its own or with some fresh fruit or berries.
It’s made with four ingredients:
- Egg yolks
- Cream
- Sugar
- Vanilla
You know you’ve mastered this dessert when your spoon cracks through the perfectly caramelised topping, scooping up the most luxuriously smooth, rich, sweet custard filling that melts in your mouth, leaving hints of caramel flavours.
2. Eclairs
The classic combination of choux pastry, crème pâtissière, and chocolate icing make up the basics of the perfect éclair.
Choux pastry (a simple French pastry dough) dates back to the 1st century, first appearing as savoury treats in Roman cookbooks. Its evolution into a classic French recipe is linked to a famous 16th-century French-Italian wedding. Italian noblewoman Catherine de Medici introduced it to the French court after she married Henry II, King of France. Since then, the éclair has become a renowned classic French dessert.
The classic French éclair recipe consists of:
- Elongated choux pastry buns: Made with eggs, butter, flour, salt, sugar, milk, and water, the dough is piped into finger shapes and baked at a high temperature until puffed, golden, and hollow.
- Vanilla pastry cream filling: Cream, eggs, sugar, cornflour, and vanilla are mixed and cooked on the stove, and then piped into the cooled choux buns.
- Chocolate icing: Melted chocolate, butter, and icing sugar are mixed to achieve the perfect thick glaze to top off the filled choux buns.
You can also try out other flavours! Replace the vanilla crème pâtissière with a chocolate or raspberry-flavoured one. Keep it simple and fill the puffed èclair dough with whipped cream and fresh fruit, like berries. Sprinkle chopped roasted nuts or candied orange peel onto the glaze, then serve. The combinations are endless and ever so indulgent.
Check out our range of French confectionery for some dessert flavour and topping inspiration!
3. Macarons
These well-known French patisserie sandwich cookies were originally reserved as welcome gifts for royals visiting the Palace of Versailles. During the French Revolution, two surviving sisters made it their mission to make and sell these cookie sandwiches to commoners. And the rest is history!
Sold almost everywhere in Paris, classic macarons have a delicate almond-vanilla flavour. Modern pastry chefs and celebrity chefs like Pierre Hermè have created countless varieties, including lemon, raspberry, chocolate, and salted caramel.
So, what makes a classic macaron recipe?
- The shell: Macaron cookies are made by thoroughly whipping egg whites with sugar until light and stiff and folding in icing sugar and ground almonds. This mixture is piped into circles on baking trays and baked until set and glossy.
- The filling: Traditional fillings include chocolate ganache, crème pâtissière, vanilla buttercream, and raspberry or strawberry jam.
Serve these colourful, delicate cookies with coffee for dessert and make your guests feel like royalty!
4. Marrons Glacé
Marrons glacé, or candied chestnuts, are a popular French holiday staple that dates back to when Louis XIV was king of France. Unlike their simpler cousins, roasted chestnuts, marrons glacés are prized for their sweet, complex nutty flavour.
Marrons glacé can take up to three or four days to make:
- The fruit, or marron, is harvested from the sweet chestnut and boiled, then cooled in a simple sugar syrup.
- This boiling and cooling process is repeated over three to four days, or until the marrons have soaked up all the syrup.
- Finally, the marrons are roasted in a warm oven for about an hour, then cooled, and individually packaged.
Boiling the marrons in a sugar syrup helps create a smooth, slightly chewy texture. The marrons are roasted to create the glacé, which contributes to their sweet nutty flavour.
Check out our online shop and get your hands on some marrons glacé, the perfect treat for the holidays or as a precious gift!
5. Chocolate Covered Walnuts
We can thank the Romans for bringing the walnut to the French. Since the 10th century, the French Dordogne Valley has been the largest producer of walnuts. Cultivating this speciality has been integral to the country’s cultural and farming history.
Walnuts are difficult to resist when lightly roasted, dipped in rich dark chocolate, and finished with a light dusting of the finest cocoa! For the perfect end to a meal, enjoy them with a steaming cup of coffee. Or wrap up a box for the perfect gift for a loved one.
Order a box of chocolate-covered walnuts from our online shop and get your hands on these tasty treats today.
6. Madeleines
These soft, buttery shell-shaped cakes have captured hearts and taste buds worldwide—Madeleines are truly a must-try French classic!
Although their origin is mysterious, many believe they first appeared in the town of Commercy in northeastern France during the 18th century. They are named after Madeleine Paulmier, who baked and served them to the Duke of Lorraine.
Madeleines are made from six ingredients:
- Butter
- Flour
- Eggs
- Baking powder
- Caster sugar
- Lemon zest
The eggs and baking powder in this recipe are crucial for creating a light and fluffy batter that is poured and baked in specific shell-shaped moulds. These buttery cakes are served hot, straight from the oven, with a light dusting of powdered sugar (or with a sneaky dollop of whipped cream!).
7. Crêpes Suzette
We have young pastry chef Henri Carpentier to thank for accidentally creating one of France’s most dramatic desserts—Crêpes Suzette!
Carpentier was about to serve the rich, orange-flavoured pancake dessert to the future King Edward VII of England at an elegant Parisian restaurant when the saucepan caught on fire! He quickly saved it and proudly served it to the future King and his friends, who declared it “the most delicious melody of flavours I’ve ever tasted”!
This showstopper has been a crowd-pleaser since 1895, perfect to serve at any French dinner party.
Simply warm thin pancakes in a buttery-caramel orange sauce (beurre Suzette), add a generous splash of liqueur and brandy, and flambé carefully for the same magical flavour combination that delighted Henri and his royal guests all those years ago.
8. Lauden Chocolate Collection
Chocolate arrived in France in 1615 when Spanish Conquistadors brought it to celebrate the marriage of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. Later, it became a favourite luxury at the Palace of Versailles.
Today, the French have perfected chocolate in the form of elegant bonbons—decadent chocolate ganache filling infused with intense, exotic, and zesty flavours, dipped in more chocolate, and decorated with stunning artistic designs.
The Lauden Chocolate Collection is a must-try French artisan dessert and is available in our online shop!
Et voilà
With such a range of mouth-watering classic French desserts to choose from, it’s no wonder that so many travel to France just to taste them! But you can enjoy these delights just as easily in the comfort of your own home and share a taste of French cuisine with your friends and family at your next dinner party.
Head over to our online shop and explore our selection of ingredients and confectionery to recreate these magnificent French desserts in your kitchen.
Bon appétit!