Indulge in the elegance of French patisseries with these irresistible recipes. From the flaky, creamy layers of Mille Feuille to the rich, dense custard of Cherry Clafoutis, each dessert captures the essence of classic French baking.
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a beginner looking to impress, these recipes are broken down into easy-to-follow steps, ensuring you can confidently recreate these delectable treats.
Pain Suisse au Chocolat
Pain Suisse is a decadent French pastry made of buttery, golden brioche dough filled with vanilla pastry cream and studded with chocolate chips. Step-by-step photos will show you how to make this Parisian classic right in your own kitchen!
You need: 1 sheet puff pastry, 100 g dark chocolate, 150 ml custard, 1 egg, sugar.
- Spread custard on pastry and add chocolate.
- Roll and cut buns.
- Brush with egg, bake at 190°C for 22 min.
Tarte aux Fruits - French Fruit Tart
This is the ultimate French classic, with its crisp, buttery pastry shell filled with a rich and creamy crème pâtissière, topped with an array of vibrant, glossy fresh fruits.
You need: 1 pack shortcrust pastry, 250 ml custard, mixed fruit, 3 tbsp apricot jam.
- Blind-bake the pastry case at 180°C for 20 min.
- Fill with custard and fruit.
- Glaze with warm jam.
Mille Feuille
Mille Feuille is a classic French pastry defined by its alternating flaky pastry layers and smooth cream filling. This recipe makes the French treat easy to follow, breaking it down step by step so that you can recreate the beautiful bakery treat right in your own kitchen.
You need: 2 sheets puff pastry, 400 ml custard, 200 ml cream, icing sugar, 40 g chocolate.
- Bake pastry between trays at 200°C for 25 min.
- Fold cream into custard.
- Layer pastry and cream, ice the top.
French Apple Tart
French apple tart from Cook’s Illustrated, 2014, is a delicious tart with 5 pounds of apples! This show-stopper is perfect for a holiday dessert.
You need: 1 sheet puff pastry, 3 apples, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp apricot jam, 20 g butter.
- Slice apples thinly.
- Arrange on pastry with sugar and butter.
- Bake at 200°C for 30 min and glaze with jam.
Cherry Clafoutis
This classic cherry clafoutis is packed with morsels of sweet, juicy cherries baked in a delightfully dense custard. This French delicacy is a celebration of summer’s bounty, and it’s surprisingly easy to make.
You need: 400 g cherries, 100 g flour, 80 g sugar, 3 eggs, 300 ml milk, 1 tsp vanilla, butter.
- Whisk eggs, sugar, flour, milk and vanilla.
- Pour over cherries in a buttered dish.
- Bake at 180°C for 35 min.
French Yogurt Cake
This classic cherry clafoutis is packed with morsels of sweet, juicy cherries baked in a delightfully dense custard. This French delicacy celebrates summer’s bounty and is surprisingly easy to make.
You need: 125 g yoghurt, 250 g flour, 200 g sugar, 3 eggs, 120 ml oil, 2 tsp baking powder, lemon zest.
- Mix yoghurt, sugar, eggs and oil.
- Fold in flour, baking powder and zest.
- Bake at 175°C for 40 min.
Profiteroles
Profiteroles are made from classic French choux pastry dough and are super easy to make. Profiteroles can be filled and decorated in both sweet and savory ways. The pastry can also be used to make eclairs.
You need: 100 g butter, 150 g flour, 4 eggs, 250 ml water, 300 ml cream, 100 g chocolate.
- Make choux by boiling water and butter and stirring in flour, then eggs.
- Pipe and bake at 200°C for 25 min.
- Fill with cream and top with chocolate.
Vegan Cherry Clafoutis
This Vegan Cherry Clafoutis recipe is with you – it makes for a perfect summertime treat that is both delicious and gluten-free!
This classic French dessert requires minimal effort yet yields an impressive delight: a layer of cherries deliciously enveloped in a vegan custard-like batter.
You need: 400 g cherries, 100 g flour, 80 g sugar, 300 ml plant milk, 1 tbsp cornflour, 1 tsp vanilla.
- Whisk the batter.
- Pour over cherries in a dish.
- Bake at 180°C for 35 min.
Low FODMAP Financiers
These financiers are small, yet they pack a wallop of flavor and texture, rich with almond meal, sugar, and butter. They are moist, a little crumbly from the almonds and sweet but not too sweet. They are great plain, too, or embellished with a few almond slices.
You need: 100 g ground almonds, 100 g sugar, 4 egg whites, 100 g melted butter, 30 g rice flour.
- Mix all ingredients.
- Fill small moulds.
- Bake at 190°C for 15 min.
Lemon Meringue Tartlets
Lemon meringue tartlets are a quintessential Parisian pastry seen in so many patisseries! You can make them in your own kitchen with the addition of passion fruit with the help of Jill from Mad About Macarons!
You need: 6 tartlet cases, 200 g lemon curd, 3 egg whites, 150 g sugar.
- Fill cases with lemon curd.
- Whisk whites with sugar into meringue and pipe on top.
- Torch or bake at 200°C for 3 min.
French Classic Opera Cake
This scrumptious classic Opera Cake recipe is composed of 7 layers of cake, chocolate, and coffee flavored french buttercream
You need: 6 eggs, 150 g ground almonds, 150 g sugar, 100 g flour, coffee syrup, 200 g buttercream, 200 g ganache.
- Bake thin almond sponges.
- Soak with syrup and layer with buttercream and ganache.
- Chill and glaze with chocolate.
Blackberry Basil Galette
Flaky crust, creamy sweet cream layer, beautiful juicy berries, and topped off with a luscious lemon whipped cream. This Blackberry Basil Galette with Lemon Cream is the perfect ending for a date night, anniversary, or Valentine’s romantic meal.
You need: 1 sheet pastry, 300 g blackberries, 3 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp cornflour, basil, 1 egg.
- Toss berries with sugar, cornflour and basil.
- Pile on pastry, fold edges, brush with egg.
- Bake at 200°C for 30 min.
Chocolate Strawberry Tartlets
These Chocolate Strawberry Tartlets are easy to make and great for family gatherings, celebrations, or summer BBQ parties.
They are the perfect combination of a simple, sweet pastry filled with a rich chocolate ganache and juicy strawberries.
You need: 6 tartlet cases, 150 g dark chocolate, 100 ml cream, 150 g strawberries.
- Make ganache from hot cream and chocolate.
- Fill the cases.
- Top with sliced strawberries.
Pots De Crème
Pots de crème is a rich dark chocolate custard that’s quick, easy to make, and impressive to serve for any occasion. This recipe has a deep chocolatey flavor enhanced with espresso powder and a drop of Kahlua. Make these chocolate pots de creme for a chocolate dessert that’s a step above.
You need: 400 ml cream, 150 g dark chocolate, 4 egg yolks, 40 g sugar.
- Heat cream, pour over chocolate.
- Whisk in yolks and sugar.
- Bake in ramekins in a water bath at 150°C for 30 min and chill.
Chocolate Madeleines
Chocolate madeleines are packed full of flavor and texture. The Chocolate Madeleines with a chocolate shell and their signature hump for perfect French treats. An easy and tasty recipe that’s sure to please chocolate lovers.
You need: 100 g flour, 80 g sugar, 2 eggs, 80 g butter, 20 g cocoa, 1 tsp baking powder.
- Whisk eggs and sugar, fold in dry ingredients and butter.
- Chill batter 1 hour.
- Bake in madeleine tin at 190°C for 10 min.
Rhubarb Tart
Rhubarb tart with or without meringue is a classic dessert that is popular in France and Germany. Once you taste it, you’ll wonder why it hasn’t become popular all over the world!
You need: 1 pack shortcrust pastry, 500 g rhubarb, 100 g sugar, 2 tbsp cornflour, 100 ml cream.
- Bake pastry case blind.
- Cook rhubarb with sugar 5 min.
- Fill, bake at 180°C for 20 min.
French Silk Brownies
These wonderful chocolate French Silk Brownies are the ultimate dessert for chocolate lovers, with a fudgy brownie base topped with creamy, silky smooth chocolate pie mousse filling, whipped cream, and shaved chocolate! The perfect dessert for when you’re craving the best of both worlds — pie and fudgy brownies in one mouthful!
You need: 200 g dark chocolate, 150 g butter, 200 g sugar, 3 eggs, 80 g flour.
- Melt chocolate and butter.
- Whisk in sugar, eggs and flour.
- Bake at 175°C for 25 min.
Crepe Cake
This crepe cake is a stunning and delicious dessert! This impressive cake is made with multiple layers of thin crepes filled with whipped cream or pastry cream. It is a light and airy treat that is perfect for any occasion!
You need: 200 g flour, 4 eggs, 500 ml milk, 40 g melted butter, 500 ml whipped cream.
- Make thin crepes.
- Layer with cream.
- Chill 2 hours and slice.
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