What Are The Most Famous French Desserts?

It’s no secret that French desserts are the most famous around the world. Because of this, when it comes to sweets and pâtisseries, the French are unbeatable because of the lightness and experience that their sweets provide.

With a centuries-old tradition in the art of confectionery, France is a world reference in the subject, and some recipes for French sweets are considered true cultural heritage of the country.

A macaron is a little piece of heaven that melts in your mouth.

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1. History
2. 12 Most Famous French Desserts

History

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The first real cookbook came out in 1651 when Le Cuisinier François was published by Pierre La Varenne, followed by Le Pâtissier François, which was likely one of the first books to separate cooking from pastry making. 

François Massialot followed suit in 1691 with his book Le Noouveau Cuisinier Royal et Bourgeois. In it, one finds the first recipe for crème brûleê. 

The first true compilation of French pâtisserie was by Pierre Lacan in his book Le Mêmorial Historique et Gêographique de la Pâtisserie in 1895, of which the first edition contained 1600 recipes for pastries, ice creams, and jams. 

The evolution of cooking and the taste of consumers have been naturally changing over the last centuries. Recipes and methods have been varying from country french to different ethnic cuisines impacting to the recipes of celebrity chefs. Events like international conflicts, travel experiences, technology, and mixing cultures have contributed to the outstanding food evolution.

However, french cooking remains solid to the classic techniques used in the traditional recipes of the master pâtisseriers of the past.

12 Most Famous French Desserts

Macarons

Macarons are small, round, sweet, light, crisp, soft, and filled with jam, cream, or ganache between two meringue-based cookies. Macaroons are the most popular type of pastry in Paris. 

Crème brûlée

Crème brûlée is the famous egg custard topped with a layer of torched sugar, prepared with beaten eggs, butter, sugar, and vanilla. What makes the Crème brûlée decadent? It is the two contrasting layers of luscious vanilla cream under crunchy caramelized sugar.

Mille-feuilles

Mille-feuilles is literally thousands of layered puff pastries filled with pastry cream. Traditionally, a mille-feuille is made up of three layers of puff pastry, alternating with two layers of pastry cream. The top pastry layer can be finished with whipped cream or dusted with icing sugar, cocoa, pastry crumbs, or sliced almonds. 

Tarte Aux Citron

Tarte Aux Citron is a crisp buttery crust with smooth tangy lemon custard. A classic French Lemon Tart does not traditionally feature a meringue top but You can find it topped with whipped cream or fruit, decorated with torched meringuée, or simply dusted with icing sugar.

Tarte aux Pommes

Tarte aux Pommes is the most classic pie in France and typically consists of a shortcrust pastry with slices of fresh apples and a little bit of sugarcane and vanilla on top. The apples are baked golden until almost melting like syrup. But the pie is turned upside down and served on a platter, preferably with a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

Petit Four

Petit Four is a small bite-sized served sweet or savory appetizer. The name is French, petit four meaning “small oven”. They usually served at weddings, social events, and formal parties.

Crème Caramel

Besides Crème Caramel has been claimed by the English and Spanish, there is no uncertainty as to where it really comes from. Anyway,  Crème caramel is today France’s most popular flan, consisting simply of a custard made with milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla,  and a topping of soft caramel. 

Mousse au chocolate

Mousse au chocolate is made with dark chocolate, eggs, butter, and sugar, resulting in a creamy dark, and light texture. 

Profiteroles

Profiteroles are choux pastry balls with a typically sweet and moist filling of whipped cream, custard, or ice cream. It can be decorated or left plain or topped with chocolate sauce, caramel, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Chocolate Éclair

Chocolate Éclair is also a choux pastry filled with cream and covered with a chocolate glaze. The pastry is usually shaped with a pastry bag and baked until it is crisp and hollow inside.

Paris-Brest

Paris-Brest is a classic high-end French dessert. Its name refers to a bicycle race that connected Paris with the city of Brest in Brittany in the early 20th century. Chef Louis Durand, who created the dessert, was inspired by the fact that the race used to go right past the door of his pastry shop.

Bûche de Noël

Bûche de Noël is certainly one of the most popular cakes in France; it is very seasonal and only eaten during the Christmas holidays.

There are so many other delicious desserts from France that are worth it to be tried. 

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