25 Must-Try French Dessert Recipes

Are you looking for easy yet amazing French dessert recipes? Not surprising! There’s something undeniably captivating about the artistry and indulgence that French pastry chefs infuse into their creations. French desserts are nothing short of a culinary masterpiece.

French desserts range from airy choux pastries like éclairs and profiteroles to custards like crème brûlée, rustic fruit tarts and clafoutis, and small butter cakes and cookies like madeleines and sablés. This collection gathers 28 of the best French dessert recipes from my favorite bakers, grouped by type, with a note on where each one comes from and what to know before you bake.

Whether you’re an aspiring baker or simply someone with a sweet tooth, get ready to uncover the secrets of French patisserie as we embark on a tantalizing adventure through the heart and soul of French culture and lifestyle, one irresistible dessert at a time.

This list has everything you’re looking for! From classic cakes and pastries to tarts, cookies, mousse, and more! You might especially like the crepe recipe and the eclairs. 

French Desserts at a Glance

Not sure where to start? This table sums up all of the desserts on this list, with one thing worth knowing about each.

Dessert	Type	Good to know
Fraisier Cake	Layered cake	Almond sponge or meringue, pastry cream and strawberries; made in strawberry season
Pistachio Dacquoise Cake	Layered cake	Almond and hazelnut meringue layers; named for the town of Dax
Profiteroles	Choux pastry	Filled with Grand Marnier custard and topped with chocolate
Crepes With Strawberries & Cream	Crêpe	Blended batter, whipped cream and fresh strawberries
Maple Pecan Eclairs	Choux pastry	A North American twist: pecan praline cream and maple glaze
Choux Au Craquelin Cream Puffs	Choux pastry	Crisp, cracked craquelin topping
Mille-Feuille	Puff pastry	Store-bought puff pastry works, or make rough puff; about 5 hours with chilling
Paris-Brest	Choux pastry	Praline cream in a wheel shape; about 1 hr 30 min
Chocolate Flan Tart	Tart	Baked chocolate custard; chill overnight, so make it ahead
Pear & Chocolate Pie	Tart	Dairy free coconut milk ganache
Poached Pears With Chocolate	Poached fruit	Poire Belle Hélène: chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream
Chocolate Mousse	Mousse	Short ingredient list; chill until set
French Chocolate Mousse Pie Brownies	Bars	Starts with boxed brownie mix; American “French silk” style
Easy Crème Brûlée	Custard	Baked in ramekins; caramelize the sugar before serving
Earl Grey Crème Brûlée	Custard	Tea steeped in milk; sugar torched over chilled custards
Lavender Crème Brûlée	Custard	Infused with lavender and lemon zest
Rustic French Apple Tart	Tart	Thin apple slices with brown sugar and cinnamon
Cherry Clafoutis	Baked custard	From the Limousin region; pourable batter
Strawberry Galette	Tart	Free-form, with an all-butter crust
French Pear Cake	Cake	Diced pears and crème fraîche
French Apple Tart	Tart	Vegan, with a frangipane filling and apricot-glazed apples
French Cherry Clafoutis Aux Cerises	Baked custard	Another take on cherry clafoutis, with a light flan-like batter
Tarte Tatin	Upside-down tart	About 1 hr 50 min including resting; serves 8
Sourdough Matcha Madeleines	Small cake	Uses sourdough discard; matcha with lime zest
Fool Proof Macarons	Cookie	Step-by-step tutorial with troubleshooting
Strawberry Madeleines	Small cake	Real strawberry puree for color and flavor
Red Velvet Madeleines	Small cake	Red velvet flavor with a white chocolate decoration
French Sable Cookies	Cookie	Chill the dough for an hour; about 1 hr 50 min total

French Pastries and Cakes: Ooh La La!

French pastries and cakes include choux pastry treats like profiteroles, éclairs, and Paris-Brest, layered cakes like fraisier and dacquoise, and the humble crêpe and flaky mille-feuille.

Fraisier Cake

The Fraisier Cake, a quintessentially French dessert, is an amazing example of strawberry fruit in a dessert! With its delicate texture, summery vibes, and abundant use of fresh strawberries, it never fails to amaze me! A fraisier is built from almond sponge or meringue, pastry cream, and fresh strawberries, and it is traditionally made in strawberry season. Pastry chef Gaston Lenôtre is credited with the modern version in 1966.

Pistachio Dacquoise Cake

Without a doubt, the Pistachio Dacquoise Cake is the most delicious thing I’ve ever had! I don’t make this claim lightly. It’s chewy and crispy, yet wonderfully smooth. Plus it is packed with the authentic taste of pistachios. If you’re a fan of pistachios, you simply must try this cake. A dacquoise is named after the town of Dax in southwestern France and is made of layers of almond and hazelnut meringue, usually filled with whipped cream or buttercream.

Profiteroles

Profiteroles, also used to make eclairs, are crafted from French choux pastry dough. They are incredibly simple to prepare. They can be packed with many different sweet or savory fillings! These are filled with sweet custard and topped with decadent chocolate. The custard is flavored with Grand Marnier. Not sure how profiteroles differ from éclairs and cream puffs? Check the FAQ at the bottom of this post.

Crepes With Strawberries & Cream

Crepes are a fantastic dessert because they’re effortless to whip up! This strawberry-and-cream recipe is easy. Just blend the batter, then fry them in a skillet. Then fill them with homemade whipped cream and fresh strawberries, yum! Want more? My French crêpe recipes roundup has my own base crêpe recipe, a guide to crêpes versus galettes, and 25 more crêpe ideas, sweet and savory.

And if you are in Paris, here’s where to find the best crêpes in town!

Maple Pecan Eclairs

Indulge in the ultimate tea-time treat with these delightful candied Maple Pecan Eclairs. These delicate pastries are filled with silky-smooth pecan pastry cream! Plus, they’re topped with a delectable maple glaze. Surprisingly easy to make, they are perfect for any occasion. This is a North American twist on the classic French éclair, which is the same choux pastry as profiteroles piped into a finger shape.

Choux Au Craquelin Cream Puffs

How lovely are these Choux Au Craquelin Cream Puffs (Crispy Cream Puffs)? As lovely as they look, they taste even better! With a crunchy Craquelin cookie topping, they make the most delicious dessert for parties and more. Craquelin is a thin butter-and-sugar dough that bakes onto the puffs, turning into a crisp, cracked crust.

Mille-Feuille

This is Mr. Misadventures favorite dessert! Mille-Feuille means “thousand leaves,” and this classic French pastry stacks crisp layers of puff pastry with cream. This recipe is a good place to start because you can use store-bought puff pastry instead of making rough puff, so you can skip the hardest part. Plan on about 5 hours including chilling.

Paris-Brest

Paris-Brest is a ring of choux pastry filled with praline cream. Pastry chef Louis Durand created it in 1910 to celebrate the Paris-Brest-Paris bicycle race, which is why it is shaped like a wheel. This recipe takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, so save it for a weekend.

Chocolate French Dessert Recipes

French chocolate desserts rely on rich dark chocolate in simple forms: custard tarts, mousse, ganache, and poached fruit with chocolate sauce.

Chocolate Flan Tart

The Chocolate Flan Tart is a wonderfully decadent French dessert recipe that’s creamy and smooth. It is a baked chocolate custard tart that is sure to be a hit! It’s very popular in Paris, France for good reason. The recipe chills the tart overnight before serving, which makes it a great make ahead dessert.

Pear & Chocolate Pie

If you’re looking for an easy-to-make French dessert recipe look no further. The Pear & Chocolate Pie pairs indulgent chocolate ganache with juicy pears on top of a pie crust. Serve this up for any occasion, and everyone will be impressed. The linked recipe calls it a French pear and chocolate tart, and its coconut-milk ganache is dairy-free.

Poached Pears With Chocolate

Poached Pears With Chocolate is a winning combination, so I’ve included this second idea. With homemade chocolate sauce, fresh pears, sweet white wine, and more what’s not to love? This is the classic poire Belle Hélène, served with dark chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate Mousse

This French chocolate mousse recipe is oh-so-simple to whip up any day of the week. All you need: 4 oz baking chocolate, 4 eggs (separated), 4 Tbsp butter, and ⅛ tsp cream of tartar! Chill it until set, and it is ready to serve, so it is handy for dinner parties.

French Chocolate Mousse Pie Brownies

How tasty does this French Chocolate Mousse Pie Brownie recipe look? It tastes even better, and it’s so simple to make! You won’t believe it’s made with a box brownie mix! This is an American “French silk” shortcut: a boxed brownie base, a chocolate mousse layer, and whipped topping, so think of it as a fun, French-inspired treat rather than a classic from a Paris pâtisserie.

Planning something romantic? See my guide to Frenchifying your Valentine’s Day, and if you are heading to Paris, my guide to the best chocolate tours in Paris.

Crème Brûlée Recipes

Crème brûlée is a baked vanilla custard topped with sugar that is caramelized into a crackly crust, and it takes beautifully to infusions like tea and lavender.

Easy Crème Brûlée

Crème Brûlée is a classic French dessert recipe that is always a crowd-pleaser! Made with a creamy vanilla custard topped with a thin layer of crackly, caramelized sugar. The custard bakes in ramekins, and the sugar is caramelized on top.

Earl Grey Crème Brûlée

This Earl Grey Crème Brûlée recipe is truly heavenly! If you like desserts that are silky smooth and creamy, but not too sweet, this is the treat for you. The best part is the perfect crunch on top. Steep the tea and vanilla bean in the milk first, then torch the sugar over the chilled custards.

Lavender Crème Brûlée

Crème Brûlée is such a beautiful, delicious French dessert recipe that I had to include a few versions on this list! Like this Lavender twist on the classic treat, with lavender-lemon-infused cream whisked into egg yolks and adorned with burnt sugar. Lavender is closely tied to Provence, so this flavor feels right at home in a French kitchen.

Make ahead tip: bake and chill the custards in advance, then add the sugar and caramelize it just before serving so the top stays crackly.

French Fruit Tarts, Cakes and Clafoutis

French fruit desserts are usually simple and seasonal: open tarts, clafoutis (fruit baked in a light custard batter), galettes and tender fruit cakes.

Rustic French Apple Tart

Want to make a classic French dessert recipe with simple pantry ingredients and delicious flavor? This Rustic French Apple Tart has scrumptious flavors like cinnamon, brown sugared apples, and a buttery tart crust. In French this is a tarte aux pommes, a shallow open-faced tart with thin apple slices over pastry.

Cherry Clafoutis

Looking for French cherry dessert recipes? This Cherry Clafoutis is a simple, traditional French treat that’s half cobbler and half custard. It’s also a scrumptious way to use fresh cherries this summer.
Clafoutis comes from the Limousin region and is traditionally made with unpitted cherries in a pourable, pancake-like batter. The same idea made with other fruit, like apples, pears or plums, is called a flaugnarde.

Strawberry Galette

A classic French dessert recipe featuring delicious strawberries wrapped in a flaky crust! The crust is super buttery and soft plus the filling is easy to make and packed with strawberry flavor. Here, “galette” means a rustic free-form tart with the edges folded over the fruit. In Brittany, galette also means a savory buckwheat crêpe, which I explain in my crêpes versus galettes guide.

French Pear Cake

Want a delicate yet decadent French dessert recipe featuring juicy chunks of pear? This French-style pear cake is a fantastic tender-crumb cake that will impress. The batter is made with crème fraîche and studded with diced pears.

French Apple Tart

Apples are perfect for French dessert recipes like this French Apple Tart! The simple pastry-hack crust is easy to make. Plus the vegan frangipane filling and apricot-glazed apples will delight you.

French Cherry Clafoutis Aux Cerises

Clafoutis Aux Cerises is a delightful summer treat! This classic French custard-like dessert is full of flavor. The flavor combinations and textures are absolutely amazing.

Tarte Tatin

Tarte Tatin is a famous upside-down apple tart: apples are caramelized in butter and sugar, covered with pastry, baked, then flipped to serve. It is named for the Tatin sisters of the Hôtel Tatin in Lamotte-Beuvron, where they reportedly created it in the 1880s, though historians debate that story. This recipe takes about 1 hour 50 minutes, including resting time, and serves 8. I also love it as a holiday dessert, which is why it shows up in my guide to Frenchifying your Thanksgiving.

French Cookie Recipes: Macarons, Madeleines and Sablés

French cookies and small cakes include macarons (almond meringue sandwiches), madeleines (shell-shaped sponge cakes) and sablés (sandy butter cookies).

Sourdough Matcha Madeleines

French dessert recipes like Sourdough Matcha Madeleines will impress you! They are light, spongy, and perfect when served with coffee or tea. You will adore the mellow matcha green tea flavor heightened with a hint of lime zest! Madeleines are small shell-shaped sponge cakes from the Lorraine region, with a signature hump on the back, and Marcel Proust made them famous in In Search of Lost Time. This twist uses sourdough discard.

Fool Proof Macarons

Pastry chefs will say macarons are the hardest things to make. But this recipe makes it easy with a step-by-step tutorial and troubleshooting guide. This light, lovely French cookie is perfect for any occasion. Macarons are almond flour meringue cookies sandwiched around a filling. For more flavors and the full story, see my French macaron recipes roundup, and if you are headed to Paris, my guide to the best macarons in Paris.

Strawberry Madeleines

How lovely are these Strawberry Madeleines? If you think they look pretty, wait till you taste how yummy they are! With simple pantry staples like all-purpose flour, sugar, butter, baking powder, and eggs, they are easy to make. They get their pink color and flavor from real strawberry puree.

Red Velvet Madeleines

Delicate, light, and sweet these Red Velvet Madeleines are a must-make French dessert recipe! Red velvet and white chocolate combine for a pretty and heavenly cookie. They are easy to make too and take barely any time at all.

French Sable Cookies

This simple French Sable Cookie recipe is a classic buttery biscuit treat. Everyone will love them because they’re crisp, rich, buttery, and scrumptious! They’re so good that they may date back to the 1600s, and they are thought to have originated in Sablé-sur-Sarthe in Sarthe, France! Sablé means “sandy” in French, a nod to their crumbly texture. The linked recipe takes about 1 hour 50 minutes in total, including an hour of chilling the dough.

How the French Eat Dessert

The dessert you see in a pâtisserie window is not what most French families have on a weeknight. At home, dessert is often as simple as yogurt or a piece of fruit, and it comes after the cheese course, which is its own step in the meal. When there are guests, many French hosts buy something from a neighborhood pâtisserie instead of baking, so think of the recipes above as the fun, from-scratch version.

Some French desserts also belong to a particular time of year. Galette des rois, a puff pastry cake with a hidden fève (a small charm), is eaten around Epiphany in early January, which I cover in New Year’s traditions in France. La Chandeleur on February 2 is crêpe day, and you can read about it in my La Chandeleur guide. In Provence, the Christmas Eve supper ends with thirteen desserts, which I explain in Le Gros Souper. For more, see French holidays and celebrations.

Hosting a French dinner party? Start with my 25 fantastic French dinner recipes, then see how to entertain like the French and my French drinks and cocktails to finish the evening.

French Dessert FAQ

I hope your taste buds have been tickled and your culinary curiosity piqued. French culture and lifestyle have an undeniable influence on the world of sweets, and these recipes offer a glimpse into the artistry and passion that define the French patisserie tradition.

Whether you’re savoring a classic tarte tatin, indulging in a velvety crème brûlée, or mastering the intricate art of macarons, these desserts are more than confections; they are a window into a rich, diverse culture. So, as you create and savor these delectable treats, remember that each bite carries with it a slice of French joie de vivre, inviting you to slow down, savor the moment, and celebrate life’s sweetest pleasures.

Bon appétit!

Did you see any French dessert recipes you liked on this list? I want to try them all! Let me know in the comments which ones you liked best! If you are not sure where to start, begin with a clafoutis or chocolate mousse and work your way up to profiteroles and tarte Tatin.

Share this list with a friend who loves French sweets, and keep exploring with my French crêpe recipes and French macaron recipes.