The most famous french desserts
Embark on a delectable journey through the world of French desserts, exploring the sweet creations of the country’s most famous chefs. Delight your senses with these exquisite treats, from the ethereal layers of the mille-feuille to the creamy Paris-Brest. It’s a mus to discover the best French desserts region by region during your stay and fill your child-self with lots of sweets.
1. L’éclair
Originally known as « pain à la duchesse, » French eclairs underwent a delicious transformation in the 19th century. Antonin Carême, a renowned pastry chef for French royalty, removed the almonds and filled the choux pastry with chocolate or coffee custard, covered in fondant sugar. The éclair, meaning « lightning » in French, has since become a popular dessert. Eclairs now feature trendy fillings like matcha tea or mocha cream, adorned with fresh fruit and fanciful glazes. Maison Azalée in Paris offers some of the best eclairs, allowing dessert lovers to customize their choices.
2. Le Paris-Brest
Invented in 1910 by pastry chef Louis Durand, the Paris-Brest pays homage to a bike race from Paris to Brest. Resembling a bike wheel, this dessert features a ring of praline mousseline-filled cream puff dough, creating a delightful contrast between crispy choux and silky filling. A favorite among French locals, the Paris-Brest is a must-try dessert. Experience the best at the Paris bakery Angelina.
3. Le mille-feuille
The mille-feuille, a French dessert made of puff pastry layered with pastry cream, showcases the culinary influence of Marie-Antoine Carême. Traditionally composed of three layers of puff pastry alternating with two layers of pastry cream, the mille-feuille offers a variety of finishes, from whipped cream to icing and sliced almonds. Widely regarded as one of the best French desserts, Carl Marletti’s pastry shop in Paris is a go-to destination for experiencing the perfect mille-feuille.
4. La crème brûlée
A classic with disputed origins, crème brûlée’s first printed recipe dates back to 1691. Despite claims from France, Spain, and England, the French cookbook « Le Cuisinier Royal et Bourgeois » by Francois Massialot features the earliest recipe. This dessert, known for its creamy texture and caramelized top, requires finesse to achieve the perfect balance. The best crème brûlée can be enjoyed at the pastry shop « La Fontaine de Mars » in Paris.
5. Le fraisier
Derived from the French word « fraise » meaning strawberry, fraisier is a cake that pays homage to this delightful fruit. Traditionally consisting of layers of genoise sponge, vanilla-flavored créme mousseline, marzipan, and fresh, sliced strawberries, fraisier was invented as a tribute to strawberries. It gained popularity in the 1930s with the availability of new strawberry varieties. A widely appreciated dessert, especially during birthdays, the best fraisier can be savored at KL pastry in Paris.
