For travelers with a sweet tooth, you will find temptation on every street corner. A trip to Paris would not be complete without a trip to the pastry shops to sample some delicious treats. With so many tasty treats to eat in Paris, where will you begin?
Paris is a sugar lover’s dream; the only problem you’ll have when it comes to delectable French desserts is choosing one. And if you have to eat more than one a day to get through them? Well, c’est la vie! To help you navigate that yummy last course, we’ve broken down the top 10 must-try desserts for your visit to France.
Best Treats to Eat While Visiting Paris
1. Tartes Aux Fruits
The tartes aux fruits are prepared with fresh fruit inside a buttery pastry. The fruit sits atop a heavenly Chantilly cream. You can enjoy these tartes in both miniature and pie sizes.
2. Éclair
The éclair is a popular dessert in Paris. The long French choux pastry can be filled with a rich custard or pastry cream and topped with a sweet fondant. By definition, the term éclair means lightning in French. Go figure!
3. The Paris Brest
This pastry was created to celebrate the Paris to Brest bicycle ride in 1891. Naturally, it’s circular and contains praline flavored crème and choux pastry.
4. Macaron
Macarons are undeniably delectable. There are so many flavors to choose from. The base ingredients include meringue and almonds. Be sure not to confuse it with coconut macaroons, in which the English added the -oon to the word in the 16th century.
5. Tarte Au Citron
She was donning a pastry crust and delicious lemon filling. Tarte Au Citron, also known as the lemon tart, is very popular. The filling, however, is not made with fruit. The cream contains lemon juice, lemon zest, and of course, eggs and sugar.
6. The Mille-Feuille
Another name for the mille-feuille is Napoleon. This fluffy treat comes in a vanilla or custard slice and consists of several layers of puff pastry. Between the puff pastry lies an additional two layers of pastry crème.
7. Tarte Tatin
Named after the hotel that serves the dessert (Hotel Tatin), the tarte Tatin is a unique upside-down pastry. Its ingredients include caramelized fruit prepared with sugar and butter. It pairs famously with a bit of tart crème Fraiche.
8. Choux à la Crème
These cream puffs are created using puff pastry as well. They swell while cooking and are hollow. The oozing center can be either whipped cream or custard. You can add various toppings to this pastry, from ice cream to fruit and even spun caramel. Interestingly, once you add chocolate as your topping, it becomes a profiterole.
9. Croissant
This buttery, flaky wonder is a signature French pastry. There are many ways to top it: fruit, chocolate, fondant, or a compote. You will not be disappointed.
10. The Petits Four
Translated, petit four means small oven and are also known as mignardises. The fours are little bite-sized pastries that can also be savory. The sweet option includes a sugary glaze atop a crispy biscuit. These pastries are perfect for tea parties.
Are you interested in trying some of these delicious treats in Paris? We’re ready to help you plan your trip!