France is one of the world leaders when it comes to culinary creations, more so with their pastries and desserts. Look through this list and pick one to bake yourself.
At least among Western cultures, France gets the crown when it comes to desserts. The country’s delectable variety of pastries and sweets, it's precision and varied techniques of baking, and its continuousexperimentation and innovation make it a leader when it comes to culinary heritage and culture. So maty of the world’s greatest and most challenging to make desserts have emerged from France, and it continues to be a great place for learning for young chefs and bakers. Here are some of the greatest desserts to come out of this gastronomically rich country.
With its crackling caramelized sugar crust and creamy custard underneath, the creme brulee is a delicate and precise dessert. It’s a particularly tricky dessert to make; the cream must be infused with just the right amount of vanilla, the eggs must be tempered perfectly and the dish must be baked in a water bath for long enough that it bakes, but not so long that it solidifies or burns. The drama comes with the sugar layer on top, which must be evenly spread and delicately torched, creating a golden film that’s satisfying to break into when eating. It’s a sophisticated dessert and one that's enjoyed by people all over the world.
Macarons are delicate and crisp almond meringue cookies, with a variety of flavorful options for fillings in between. The biscuits must be soft and airy, light and easy to eat, and the filling must be even and smooth. When bitten into, the macaron should come apart easily while still being crunchy, and also offer a variety of flavors. They’re also particularly photogenic desserts and can be customized to come in a variety of colors and flavors—from pistachio and chocolate to lavender and caramel. There are several new flavor combinations being conceptualized by experimental bakers, and the dessert is another French export that's become a global favorite.
The mousse au chocolat or chocolate mousse is a traditional French dessert, with a rich chocolate flavor and airy texture. Made by folding together chocolate, eggs and sugar, it's a challenge to get right since the chocolate must be correctly melted and the eggs carefully added one at a time. It's known for its creamy texture and the rich chocolate that coats the tongue. Modern bakers also infuse the chocolate with citrus, lavender or other complementary flavors.
Egg yolks, sugar and flavors like chocolate or vanilla are folded perfectly together and poured in a ramekin, set to bake. The main test of the dessert is whether or not it rises, and how well it rises if it does. The drama surrounding that rise makes it one of the most intimidating desserts to make, especially for less experienced bakers, and it's no small feat to get it right. It has an airy, light texture and comes in lovely ramekins, with the look being as impressive as the taste. The rise also starts to deflate pretty quickly, meaning it must be served immediately.
Madeleines are small, shell shaped sponge cakes. Often paired with tea or coffee, they are buttery and moist. Madeleines are known for their simplicity and the nostalgia they evoke. Marcel Proust's novel In Search of Lost Time has played a big part in associating the dessert with memories and older times. When serving, they are often dusted with powdered sugar or topped with a delicate glaze. Today, they come in flavors like chocolate, lemon and other varieties, as bakers take this humble dish and experiment with it. It’s more a dish baked at and enjoyed at home with loved ones than it is one that’s served in fancy, sophisticated restaurants, entangled deeply with memory and emotions.
The eclair is a thin, long pastry, with a creamy filling and a glazed topping. It’s as much a treat for the eyes as it is for the tongue. They are delicate and artistic pastries, with a crispy dessert that interacts with the cream and glaze to offer multiple textures in the mouth. They can be enjoyed just as well in a quaint Parisian cafe with coffee as they can at home around the television. Today, it's a popular dessert all over the world and comes in several flavors like chocolate, fresh fruits, citrus and more.