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Most of us love desserts, and having a sweet tooth is pretty much universal. The sugar in desserts causes the brain to release endorphins such as serotonin, and these hormones are responsible for making you feel happy.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth and would like to indulge it when you travel, Paris is definitely a destination to consider. France is renowned for its cakes, chocolates and pastries, and Paris is one of the best places to sample them.
If you’re planning a trip to Paris, you need to be aware of France’s visa policy for foreign visitors. You should click here to know more about Paris Visa.
Here’s a quick guide to some of the best Paris desserts and sweets you can surrender yourself to in this fabulous city.
Mousse au Chocolat
This French delicacy is made by blending melted chocolate with egg yolks and whipped stiff egg whites before refrigerating. The result is a rich and dark but airy mousse. You’re also likely to come across decadent sugar, butter or whipped cream versions.
Opera Cake
This recipe was invented in 1955 by Cyriaque Gavillon of Paris patisserie Dalloyau. The legendary Opera cake is flat-topped, and the Paris opera house Palais Garnier inspires its rectangular shape. It’s made with layers of Joconde almond sponge cake, soaked in coffee syrup and interspersed with chocolate ganache and coffee buttercream, then topped with a glossy dark chocolate glaze.
Paris-Brest
This classic French pastry is one for praline lovers. It’s an almond-studded ring, split in half horizontally and liberally filled with praline crème mousseline. It was created by patissier Louis Durand in celebration of the Paris-Brest bicycle race, which is why it is shaped like a cycle wheel.
Tarte Tatin
Tarte Tatin is one of the most iconic French desserts, and for good reason. It’s made with juicy apples doused in sweet caramel and draped with a buttery crust. The tart is baked upside down, so the glossy caramelised fruit takes centre stage.
Macarons
This pastel-pretty meringue-based confection is made with icing sugar, granulated sugar, food colouring, egg whites and almonds. This dessert was introduced to France during the Renaissance, when these dainty circular delights were served in Paris. They are stuck together with ganache or buttercream. Some of the best flavours to sample are rose, salted caramel, vanilla, raspberry, coffee, pistachio and lemon.
Clafoutis
Clafoutis is a baked French dessert which hails from the Limousin region. There are numerous variations, including cherries, prunes, pears, cranberries, blackberries and plums. The fruit is arranged in a dish and covered with a thin, flan-like batter. One baked it is dusted with icing sugar and served with cream.
Crème Brulee
Crème Brulee is a creamy, pudding-like custard topped with a thin and brittle crust of caramelised sugar which cracks when you tap it with your spoon. It can be served cold, warm or at room temperature. The custard is made with eggs, vanilla, sugar and cream. As well as the traditional flavour, you can find modern interpretations involving espresso, raspberry and lavender.
Kouign-Amann
Kouign-Amann, in simple words, means ‘butter cake’. It’s a flaky pastry with layers of dough, butter and sugar. All these ingredients are slow-baked until the cake is crisp and caramelised on the outside. The buttery sugar mixture creates pockets of sweetness in the moist centre of the pastry.
Baba au Rhum
Baba au Rhum is a yeast cake which is soaked in rum syrup and topped with whipped cream. The cake is moist, but not soggy. You’ll find it served in individual portions, often topped with candied fruit, vanilla Chantilly cream and rum-soaked currants.
Profiteroles
Profiteroles are made from piped choux pastry, and baked until they are fluffy and tall. They are usually filled with whipped cream or creme patissiere and drizzled with chocolate ganache. This dessert can be enjoyed warm or cold.
Crepes
Last but not least, we have one of the most well-known and loved French confections. Crepes are thin pancakes made from a batter of eggs, flour, butter and milk. They can be filled with a variety of sweet or savoury mixtures, and you’ll find them being sold on many street corners in Paris – which makes them a perfect accompaniment to all that Parisian sight-seeing!
Have you tried any of these iconic Paris desserts?
Catherine
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