7 French sweets you should try at least once in your life and their most classic recipes
Cheeses, sauces, stews, bread… France has earned its culinary reputation in many ways, but if there’s one field where it truly shines, it’s pastry. And it’s not just about the butter (but that helps though). It’s about an obsession with texture: what melts, what shatters, what wobbles, what stretches. The best part? Many of its most iconic desserts aren’t reserved for fancy pâtisserie windows, you can absolutely recreate them at home with a solid recipe.
If you’re craving a real treat (the kind that starts with “I’ll just have a tiny slice” and ends very differently) here’s a lineup of seven essential French desserts. Classic, beloved, and effortlessly elegant, they have a way of turning any simple dinner into a special occasion. And because theory without practice isn’t much fun, you’ll have a recipe link for each one so you can roll up your sleeves whenever the craving hits.
Éclairs
The éclairs are those elongated pastries that you see in French bakeries and you think: "this has to be delicious". And it is. The base is a light dough that is filled with cream (vanilla, chocolate, coffee...) and topped with a shiny icing. The best thing is that, although they look like haute patisserie, they can also be made at home with very good results. Besides, they are perfect to serve as a snack or to look great on a dessert table.
Eclairs , the PetitChef team's favourite French pastries . Coffee, chocolate, hazelnut flavoured , but we admit that the ones we like best are filled with pistachio cream and fresh raspberries : a delicious recipe that no one will be able to...
Macarons
Small, colorful, and known for their delicacy: macarons are a contemporary icon of French pastry making. Two almond meringue shells enclosing a creamy filling, usually ganache or buttercream, they combine sweetness with elegance. They come in a thousand flavors (pistachio, raspberry, chocolate, lemon...) and, when they are well made, they are addictive. They don't need to be "window dressing" to enjoy them: the important thing is the contrast between the outside and the tender inside.
What if we made our coffee or tea break a little more elegant with homemade chocolate macarons? These delicate French treats may be a bit of a challenge, but the reward is absolutely worth it. With their smooth shells and rich chocolate flavor, they’re...
Paris-Brest
If you like desserts with cream, the Paris-Brest is your place. It is crown-shaped and prepared with a light dough similar to profiteroles, but what makes it memorable is the filling: usually a hazelnut-flavored praline cream that makes it deeply sweet. It is one of those desserts that you enter with a smile and leave with another. And although it sounds sophisticated, in reality it is a guaranteed triumph for celebrations: beautiful, hearty and with a "today is a party" flavor.
This recipe has been created in 1910 by Louis Durand, as a tribute to the famous Tour de France, from Paris to Brest. Have you noticed how this dessert is shaped as a bicycle wheel ? ; )
Mille-feuille
The millefeuille is a classic that never fails: layers of puff pastry with cream in between and that "this is going to fall apart and it's going to be worth it" look. Because yes: eating a good millefeuille has a bit of controlled chaos. In France it's usually topped with icing and a very recognizable finish, but the idea is the same: well-made puff pastry + soft cream + contrasting textures. If you want a traditional pastry dessert, this is one to try at least once.
Vanilla mille-feuille, also known as the French Napoléon, is one of the most iconic desserts in classic pastry. With its delicate layers of crisp puff pastry, smooth vanilla cream, and its signature marbled icing, it’s both elegant and irresistible....
Madeleines
Madeleines are small, simple and dangerously easy to eat. Tender, buttery-scented sponge cakes, often with a hint of lemon or vanilla. They have that French shell shape and a texture that begs for coffee, tea or a quiet afternoon. They're the typical sweet that doesn't look like much... until you realize they've disappeared from the plate. Plus, they're perfect to have around the house because they hold up well and look effortlessly pretty.
Soft and slightly domed , madeleines melt our mouths at any time of day. These traditional French mini cakes , recognizable by their characteristic shell shape, are a real treat for the taste buds. An easy recipe that's sure to take you back to...
Crème brûlée
Few desserts have a moment as satisfying as this one: the spoon stroke that breaks through the sugar layer and opens the way to a soft, perfumed, almost silky cream. The crème brûlée is pure contrast: it crunches on top (seriously, the word does make sense here) and underneath it is a caress. Vanilla is the most classic version, but it admits winks: a touch of citrus, coffee, even some liqueur if you feel like it. Ideal for when you want an elegant dessert without getting into great complications.
Discover our finest crème brûlée recipe, the french star of desserts. A classic which will be enjoyed by all ! The caramel crunch married with the cream sweetness will be a blast of flavors.
Tarte Tatin
Tatin is the kind of tart that needs no introduction... but it earns it all the same. Apple, caramel and a base that, when turned upside down, remains on top as if it had always been like that. It is sweet, yes, but with that toasted touch of caramel that balances everything and makes it a dessert "for adults" (even if it is later devoured by children). It is served warm, often with cream or ice cream, and it has some domestic magic: it looks more complicated than it really is, and that always works in your favor.
Only 3 ingredients to bake this very simple world-famous recipe ! So what are you waiting for to become a real french Petit Chef ?
Looking forward to more
French pastries can be talked about at length. Because just when you think you've tried it all, another classic appears that brings you back to that French pleasure: that of a leisurely after-dinner meal. We have left out (for now) sweets that deserve a place on any list of "must-haves": a clafoutis still warm, Bordeaux canelés with their toasted crust and tender heart, the Saint-Honoré that turns any day into a celebration, the financiers ideal to accompany a coffee, the chocolate coulant that breaks and flows like a small show, or the crêpes -simple and perfect- when you just want something good, without complications.
Patricia González
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