Home Recipes Cuisines European French
Jacqueline Weiss
Lisa KaminskiUpdated: Jan. 20, 2024
Feel like you're at a fancy patisserie with these darling French desserts. From eclairs to crepes to palmiers, we have the delicacies Francophiles are craving.
Chocolate-Glazed Raspberry Eclairs
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I first made choux pastry in high school for a French class assignment, and I was fascinated. Since then, chocolate-glazed raspberry eclairs have been my favorite pastry to make. I garnish each eclair either with a single fresh raspberry or with a sprinkling of crushed freeze-dried raspberries. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Looking for a fancy breakfast pastry? Learn how to make delicate, swirled French cruller doughnuts at home.
Palmiers
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Palmiers take just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
French Macarons
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Learning how to make macarons takes a bit of time, but these delicious cookies are worth it. —Josh Rink, Taste of Home Food Stylist
French Butter Cookies
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The Brittany region of France is known for its use of butter. These French butter cookies, also known as sable Breton, shine the spotlight on the famous ingredient. This recipe is mildly sweet, rich, crisp and has a hint of salt. You won’t be able to resist having a second—or third. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
French Hot Chocolate
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One of my fondest memories of Paris was sipping a cup of thick, dark hot chocolate at one of their patisseries. French hot chocolate is velvety smooth, rich, decadent and almost the consistency of a molten chocolate bar. It is meant to be sipped slowly and savored. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Very Blueberry Clafoutis
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This blueberry clafouti is somewhere between a fruit-filled pancake and a fruity egg custard. Wrong season for fresh berries? Use frozen berries thawed in a colander and discard the juice. —Ken Hulme, Venice, Florida
Meringue Snowballs In Custard
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My family has passed down this elegant dessert generation by generation. It started with my Russian great-grandmother, who traveled to America more than 100 years ago. I love continuing the tradition with her recipe. —Tonya Burkhard, Palm Coast, Florida
Decadent Chocolate Crepe Cake
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No other dessert has wowed family and friends the way this stunning crepe cake did the first time I made it. A showstopper in every sense of the word, it features layers of tender chocolate crepes and rich white chocolate buttercream frosting draped in a semisweet chocolate ganache. —Tina Sawchuk, Ardmore, Alberta
Rum Raisin Creme Brulee
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Inspired by a favorite ice cream flavor, I created this make-ahead recipe to free up some time in the kitchen. You can also serve this as a custard if you choose to not caramelize the top. —Eleanor Froehlich, Rochester, Michigan
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I've always loved beignets, but never thought I could make them myself. Turns out they're easy! Sometimes I'll even make a quick berry whipped cream and pipe it inside for a fun surprise. —Kathi Hemmer, Grand Junction, Colorado
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Our family adores lemon desserts. I often make this citrus tart for brunch. For extra special events, I bake it in my heart-shaped tart pan. —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota
Hazelnut Madeleine Cookies
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These soft, cakelike cookies have a delicate hazelnut flavor—perfect for making great memories! They’re baked in the distinctive shell-shaped madeleine pan, available in kitchen specialty stores. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Maple-Apple Clafoutis
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This fruit pudding could not be easier to make! A traditional comfort food in France, it is often made with cherries. I use apples and maple syrup to give it a real Midwestern flair. —Bridget Klusman, Otsego, Michigan
Strawberry Creme Crepes
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I always feel like a French chef when I serve these pretty crepes. Although they take a little time to prepare, they’re well worth the effort. My guests are always impressed. —Debra Latta, Port Matilda, Pennsylvania
Finger-Licking Good Mini Cream Puffs
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This recipe is quick and easy to whip up and the kids will love it! They are perfect to pack for a picnic or to have as a snack for family game night I guarantee you can’t eat just one…hey are so addicting & they’re perfect for satisfying any sweet tooth! —Jennifer Erwin, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Strawberry Tart
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This creamy strawberry tart boasts a crunchy chocolate layer tucked next to the crust. Try making individual tartlets instead of one big dessert. —Dawn Tringali, Hamilton Square, New Jersey
Lemony Walnut-Raisin Galette
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This flaky, buttery pastry dessert has a filling of fruit, walnuts, coconut and cinnamon. There's a lot to love! For even more appeal, dollop sweetened whipped cream on top of each serving. —Ellen Kozak, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hazelnut Macarons
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You don’t have to be an expert in French cooking to whip up these sandwich cookies. The crisp, chewy macarons require attention to detail, but they’re not hard to make—and they’re simply a delight, both for personal snacking and giving as gifts! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Blood Orange Caramel Tarte Tatin
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I never had blood oranges until I moved to California. The season is short, so I use them in everything while I can get them. That sweet orange flavor with some brown sugar is a perfect combination. Whenever I have something to go to, my friends demand that I bring this dessert. —Pamela Butkowski, Hermosa Beach, California. If you enjoyed this recipe, then you must try our favorite pear tarte tatin.
Cranberry Creme Brulee
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Dress up classic creme brulee with an easy-to-make cranberry sauce. The sweet-tart sauce compliments the rich, creamy custard. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Festive French Pancakes
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Not quite as thin as true crepes, these light-as-a-feather pancakes are topped with preserves and a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. They’re elegant, so easy to make and say “Joyeux Noel” with delicious French flair!
Meringue Kisses
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There's a nice chocolaty surprise inside these sweet kisses. They're my husband's top choice each Christmas.—Tami Henke, Lockport, Illinois
Semisweet Chocolate Mousse
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A friend shared this rich velvety chocolate mousse recipe with me. I love to cook and have tons of recipes, but this one is a favorite. Best of all, it’s easy to make. —Judy Spencer, San Diego, California
Chocolate Cherry Crepes
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One of the reasons that we love this impressive-looking recipe is that it’s easy to make. We prepare the crepes and filling in advance, and assemble them and add the topping just before serving. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
French Buttercream
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French buttercream has a custard-like texture and is great if you’re going to be piping shapes or decorations. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Almond Pear Tart
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I had never seen a "pie without a pan" until my daughter brought back this wonderful pear almond tart recipe from a Rotary Club exchange program in Belgium. It's still a family favorite after all these years. —Sherry LaMay, Capitan, New Mexico
Burgundy Pears
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These warm spiced pears elevate slow cooking to a new level of elegance, yet they're incredibly easy to make. Your friends won't believe this fancy-looking dessert came from a slow cooker. —Elizabeth Hanes, Peralta, New Mexico
Baba au Rhum Cakes
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Dry and candied fruit stud this baba au rhum. The rum is subtle, so it is suitable as a dessert or on a brunch buffet. —Diane Halferty, Tucson, Arizona
Hot Cocoa Souffle
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A friend invited me to go to a cooking demo at her church years ago, and one of the recipes prepared was this luscious souffle. It was so easy—and absolutely delicious. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Chocolate Pear Hazelnut Tart
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As a teenage foreign exchange student in the south of France, I was horribly homesick. Then my host family’s Grandmother Miette arrived and asked if I’d like to help her bake this nutty tart from scratch. It turned my trip around and inspired my lifelong passion for baking. Weighing ingredients, roasting nuts, kneading dough—the art of baking transcends language. —Lexi McKeown, Los Angeles, California
Chocolate Truffles
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You may be tempted to save these chocolate truffles for a special occasion since these smooth, creamy chocolates are divine. But with just a few ingredients, this truffle recipe is easy to make anytime. —Darlene Wiese-Appleby, Creston, Ohio
Strawberry Banana Crepes
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My family often has company over for breakfast or brunch, and these light fruit-topped crepes are our favorite. The sweet sensations are as fast to make as they are fabulous. You can cook the crepes the night before, refrigerate them with waxed paper in between, then fill and top them in the morning. —Shelly Soule Las Vegas, Nevada
French Christmas Cookies
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These moist treats will have everyone reaching for more. Folks tell me they enjoy these French Christmas cookies. In fact, the batches I make ahead for my family and store in the freezer until Christmas seem to mysteriously disappear each year—even though the chocolate topping I put on before serving hasn't been added yet! —Judy Wilder, Mankato, Minnesota
Chocolate Eclairs
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With creamy filling and fudgy frosting, this chocolate eclair recipe is extra special. —Jessica Campbell, Viola, Wisconsin
French Lemon-Apricot Tart
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If you like the tang of citrus, you’ll love this lemon tart. The apricot preserves on top add a nice bit of sweetness. —Peggy Lunde, Costa Mesa, California
Raspberry Mousse
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This raspberry mousse recipe guarantees a creamy, smooth finale to any summer meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Rustic Caramel Apple Tart
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Like an apple pie without the pan, this scrumptious tart has a crispy crust that cuts nicely and a yummy caramel topping. —Betty Fulks, Onia, Arkansas
Lemon Cream Puffs
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The fluffy filling for these light crisp shells has a delectable citrus flavor. —Doreen Martin, Kitimat, British Columbia
French Crescent Rolls
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Whenever we have rolls and coffee after church, these come along with me. Here on the high plains, we've been raising cattle, wheat and daughters for 30 years. Our two oldest are grown, and our youngest just began college. —Betty Ann Wolery, Joplin, Montana
Banana Cream Eclairs
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To surprise my banana-loving family, I made this dessert for a reunion, where it stood out among the usual fare. These special treats are something to look at and mouthwateringly delicious. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana
Elegant White Chocolate Mousse
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Simply elegant is a fitting description for this smooth treat. Whipped cream teams up with white chocolate to make this easy white chocolate mousse recipe extra special. —Laurinda Johnston, Belchertown, Massachusetts
French Noisette Cups
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The word “noisette” is French for hazelnut, and these delightful tassie-style treats have a yummy toasted nut flavor in a golden and delicious pastry. —Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, Michigan
Pistachio Palmiers
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My family loves palmiers from the bakery, so I created my own recipe. These have a Middle Eastern twist with the addition of rosewater, honey and a touch of cardamom. They are light and crisp—a special treat for the holidays. —Deborah Hinojosa, Saratoga, California
Originally Published: January 25, 2022
Jacqueline Weiss
Jacqueline is a blogger and writer, passionate about sharing the latest in helpful tips and trends in food and cooking. In her spare time, you’ll find her trying new restaurants and experimenting in the kitchen.
Lisa Kaminski
Lisa is a formerTaste of Home editor and passionate baker. During her tenure, she poured her love of all things sweet (and sometimes savory) into Bakeable, Taste of Home's baking club. Lisa also dedicated her career here to finding and testing the best ingredients, kitchen gear and home products for our Test Kitchen-Preferred program. At home, you'll find her working on embroidery and other crafts.