Indulge in the sweetness of French patisserie with this mouthwatering collection of 27 easy-to-make desserts! Contrary to popular belief, French desserts aren’t as complicated as they seem, and we’re here to prove it. Our list is designed to showcase the simplicity and elegance of classic French recipes, from delicate crepes drizzled with honey to creamy blackberry puffs that will leave you wanting more.
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just looking for a new sweet treat to try, this epic compilation has something for everyone. So, put on your baking gloves and get ready to whip up a storm!
Modern Day Charlotte Russe
This exquisite French-inspired dessert is the epitome of elegance, particularly when adorned with a delicate silk ribbon reminiscent of patisserie windows. A tender ladyfinger cookie encases a rich Bavarian cream and candied fruit filling, perfectly set in a springform pan. Once the components are securely in place, the top is embellished with additional fresh fruit, typically strawberries or raspberries, and finished with a charming bow to keep everything neatly tied. The crowning glory?
This delightful treat requires no baking at all, allowing you to indulge in a Parisian-inspired getaway without ever heating up your oven.
Chai Spice Meringue Cookies
French baking is renowned for its intricate use of meringues, which are essentially whipped and sweetened egg whites. One of the most popular applications of this technique is in the creation of crunchy meringue cookies that are piped into small dollops before being left to dry. The result is a delightfully airy and crisp treat that lends itself perfectly to experimentation with international flavors.
By combining these classic French sweets with warm, aromatic spices such as those used in chai, you can create a truly indulgent and melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Sous Vide Cinnamon Mocha Pots De Crème
The term ‘pots de creme’ translates to ‘pot of cream,’ which is fitting given the decadent egg custard’s chilled presentation in ramekins. This classic dessert has evolved into crème brûlée for many, but its simplicity allows it to shine even more when served chilled.
A creative twist on the traditional recipe replaces vanilla with a bold cinnamon-spiced chocolate and espresso combination, potentially helping coffee lovers break their morning iced coffee habit if topped with a dollop of whipped cream.
Homemade Chouquettes
If you’re a fan of cream puffs but don’t feel like putting in the effort to create a filling, fear not! Chouquettes are essentially choux dough pastries that can be enjoyed as is, just like a pot de creme. But why stop there? You can also take it up a notch by skipping the whipped filling and instead topping them with pearl sugar and finishing them off with a rich sugar glaze.
The end result is a sweet treat that’s just as delicious in its unadulterated state, yet still offers plenty of opportunities for creative customization.
Dacquoise With Mascarpone Whipped Cream
While dacquoise may be a tongue-twister to pronounce, its presentation is truly show-stopping, making it an impressive centerpiece for any gathering. Essentially, this layered cake can be thought of as a supersized, shareable macaron with a few key differences. Unlike traditional French desserts like macarons, dacquoise relies on a small amount of all-purpose flour to provide the necessary structure to stack its crispy meringue layers.
As you cut into the cake, mascarpone cream and plump berries work together to balance out the texture, making each slice a delightful surprise.
Blackberry Cream Puffs
Indulge in the classic delight of cream puffs, now elevated by the refreshing twist of citrus and blackberry in the filling. This sweet treat’s coating is a masterclass in balance, with rich dark chocolate providing just the right counterpoint to the tartness, allowing you to savor every bite without feeling overwhelmed.
Coconut Cherry Petits Gâteaux
In the world of French patisserie, seasonal fruits take center stage. The anticipation builds during la saison de cerises, also known as cherry season, when the sweet and tart flavors of late summer’s harvest come together in perfect harmony. Small cakes, or petits gateaux, are the ideal vessels for showcasing this delightful combination.
Ranging from intricate masterpieces to humble simplicity, these treats can be tailored to suit any baker’s style – a quality that is particularly evident in the unique fusion of coconut, cherry, and pumpkin seeds.
Vanilla Canale
Vanilla Canale, another renowned French custard, boasts a distinctive exterior with a crunchy, caramelized crust and an airy, closely-textured interior. This delightful dessert’s unique characteristics are further enhanced by its traditional manufacturing process, which involves baking individual fluted molds coated in beeswax to achieve a radiant, glossy finish.
Mousse Au Chocolat
While it’s understandable that mousse au chocolat might get mistaken for pot de creme, this French dessert deserves its own spotlight. The rich, creamy treat is a crowd-pleaser, and for good reason. To make it, simply combine bittersweet chocolate with eggs, then refrigerate until the mixture sets. For an added touch of indulgence, sprinkle shaved chocolate on top to take things to a new level of decadence.
Cherry Clafoutis
Cherry clafoutis presents a delightful contrast of textures and flavors. The crispy, puffed pastry crust gives way to a rich, creamy egg custard, which is then infused with the natural sweetness and tartness of a generous helping of cherries. This classic French dessert is surprisingly easy to prepare, making it a perfect choice for those looking to indulge in a sweet treat without too much fuss.
Creme Patissiere
Mastering crème patisserie is crucial for anyone seeking to excel in French pastry recipes. As the foundation for numerous after-dinner treats, it’s an essential skill for home chefs looking to take their baking hobby to the next level. With this fundamental technique under their belt, they can confidently experiment with various desserts and fillings.
Moreover, by incorporating whipped cream into the mix, one can create airy diplomat cream – a versatile topping that adds lightness to even the most indulgent treats.
Cranberry White Chocolate Creme Brulee
The allure of creme brulee lies not just in its rich, velvety texture, but also in the satisfying crunch that comes from shattering the caramelized sugar crust with a spoon’s gentle tap. This particular variation takes the classic formula to new heights by substituting creamy vanilla custard for a sweet and indulgent white chocolate pudding. To add an extra layer of depth, tart cranberries are incorporated into the mix, providing a delightful contrast to the richness of the dessert.
Napoléon Mille-Feuille Cream Pastry
The iconic Mille-Feuille pastry, literally meaning ‘a million leaves’, is characterized by its striking visual appeal when cut open. This aesthetic stems from the intricate process of creating the layers. To begin with, puff pastry is quadrupled folded, resulting in an accumulation of buttery goodness. The baked layers are then stacked and sandwiched between rich creme patisserie, finished off with a delicate dusting of powdered sugar.
With its masterfully balanced sweetness, Mille-Feuille is an ideal treat for any occasion that calls for visual flair or a sophisticated indulgence on the weekend.
French Opera Cake
French Opera Cakes are renowned for their sleek, layered appearance, but they truly shine when smothered in a delicate layer of rich, velvety chocolate glaze. Unlike Napoleon Mille-Feuille, French Opera Cake’s foundation is built upon a moist joconde sponge, carefully soaked in the deep, bold flavors of coffee. This cake is elevated further by the addition of decadent chocolate ganache and a velvety coffee buttercream, double-stacked for an added touch of drama.
To complete this masterpiece, a traditional finishing touch involves draping it with a chocolate shard emblazoned with the word ‘Opera’, serving as the crowning glory.
Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Palmiers
Palmiers, often mistaken as cookies, possess an undeniable charm that transcends their categorization. Their adorable mustache-like appearance only adds to their allure. Despite their whimsical nature, palmiers are surprisingly accessible French desserts for newcomers, particularly when working with frozen puff pastry. The process is straightforward: simply sprinkle cinnamon sugar, roll out the dough, cut into desired shapes, and bake until golden brown.
Lemon Sugar Crepes With Whipped Cream Cheese
The indulgent combination of lemon, honey, and cream cheese is a match made in heaven! This delectable recipe harmonizes rich whipped cream cheese with delicate pancakes infused with the sweet and tangy essence of homemade lemon sugar. Ditch the maple syrup and elevate your breakfast or dessert game by drizzling it with a touch of honey, perfect for a leisurely garden party brunch where every bite is a main event.
French Chocolate Madeleines
Apple Tarte Tatin
The iconic Tarte Tatin, an upside-down masterpiece that combines sweet and sophisticated flavors. It begins with a layer of caramelized fruit, cooked to perfection in butter and sugar, which is then topped with a thick shortbread crust designed to soak up every last juicy drop. This classic dessert, typically made with apples, can be easily adapted to feature any variety of fruit or vegetable as the star of the show.
To take it to the next level, serve with a rich and creamy Baileys Apple Pie sauce, infused with the deep flavors of butter and just a hint of indulgence.
Classic French Macaron With Vanilla Buttercream FIlling
If Oreo sandwich cookies had a sophisticated European relative, it would be the macaron. This delicate meringue-based treat is renowned for its French heritage and exquisite taste. Macarons are typically made with almond flour, but their versatility allows them to be paired with an array of fillings, including buttercream, curds, jams, and ganaches. The art of preparing these cookies has such a precise technique that the way they’re stirred is even given its own special name – Macaronage.
Praline Creme Paris-Brest
Imagine indulging in a delicate donut-shaped pastry from Paris-Brest, filled with an airy and soft hazelnut mousseline cream. Unlike traditional crème patisserie, this velvety cream boasts a unique texture due to the addition of whipped butter after initial setting. This allows it to hold its shape remarkably well when cut, making it perfect for showcasing in larger French desserts or simply savoring on its own – no need to wait for the choux pastry to finish baking.
Chestnut Mont Blanc
Imagine a majestic mountain range comprising layers of buttery tart crust, airy whipped cream, and a velvety chestnut puree, stacked to perfection like a delicate trifle. The crowning glory is the Mont Blanc’s signature combination of warm, rich, and subtly sweet chestnuts atop a bed of creamy white chocolate custard.
Pistachio Religieuse
French religieuse sweets have captured hearts with their stacked choux pastry and rich chocolate creme patisserie fillings. But, as is often the case, innovation has taken hold, and today’s bakers are not afraid to experiment. The classic treats have given way to an array of sweet surprises, including fillings made from creamy pistachio, fruity jams, and tangy curds. One such variation features a nutty pistachio cream inside, topped with crunchy chopped nuts on the outside.
This delightful twist is elevated by a drizzle of white chocolate glaze, providing a sweet and indulgent treat that’s hard to resist.
Classic Buche De Noel
While the Buche de Noel may resemble a log at first glance, its sweet and tender crumb is a far cry from the dense fir wood of a Christmas tree. In fact, this charming autumnal dessert recipe comes surprisingly close to capturing the festive spirit of the season. The butter cake’s moistness is perfectly balanced by a rich vanilla bean whipped frosting filling, while the addition of whipped chocolate ganache and delicate meringue mushroom decorations adds an extra layer of whimsy and wonder.
As you trim the Buche de Noel with decorative Christmas details, the experience is almost as joyful as sinking your teeth into one of these delightful treats on a cold winter’s night.
Quatre Quarts Glazed Lemon Cake
The quatre quarts cake bears a striking resemblance to its American pound cake counterpart, sharing a similar classic loaf shape and sweet, drizzly glaze. However, rather than adhering to the traditional one-pound-per-ingredient ratio of a classic pound cake, the quatre quarts approach involves combining four fundamental components in roughly equal proportions: rich butter, granulated sugar, eggs, and flour.
Fiadone Corsican Cheesecake
In Corsica, France, traditional desserts often defy expectations by incorporating unexpected ingredients like goat cheese and ricotta. This unconventional approach yields surprisingly delightful results. Unlike the dense, cookie-based cheesecakes commonly found elsewhere, Corsican-style dessert cakes are light, fluffy, and firm enough to stand alone. Baked with a hint of lemon, these unique treats are sure to tantalize taste buds.
Chocolate Soufflé With Creme Anglaise
While souffles are infamous for their capricious nature, the secret to a successful French custard lies in the mastery of two crucial elements: perfectly whipped egg whites and an accurately calibrated oven. With these factors in check, even if your initial attempts at baking this rich cocoa-infused delight result in a less-than-stellar outcome, a drizzle of indulgent crème Anglaise can salvage any imperfections.
Apple And Hazelnut Vacherin
While some may initially confuse vacherin with dacquoise due to their shared meringue base, these French desserts actually have distinct differences. One notable difference is the type of flour used – cornflour and hazelnuts are staples in vacherin, whereas AP flour and almonds are typically found in dacquoise.
The addition of apples, spices, and sultanas to vacherin takes it to a new level, making it an ideal dessert option for autumnal celebrations such as harvest festivals or Thanksgiving gatherings.
The bottom line
Mastering French desserts is not reserved for those with a culinary degree from Parisian institutions. The foundation of many classic French desserts lies in basic recipes such as choux dough, crème patisserie, egg custard, meringue, and puff pastry, which can be used to create countless variations. By grasping just a few fundamental techniques, you’ll become the life of the party and receive an open invitation to every dinner gathering – as long as you’re willing to bring dessert.
The key is embracing the simplicity and versatility of French patisserie.