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1. Madeleine shell-shaped cake
Of all the foods on this list, the madeleine is undoubtedly the most memorable. Small, shell-shaped, and beautifully light-colored when baked correctly, madeleines can be found piled high in the windows of pastry shops throughout the city. Madeleines are often eaten plain or with jam or shredded coconut. This pastry is often called the "muse of French afternoon tea," with each bite revealing the rich buttery aroma and the delicate sweetness of honey melting on the tongue.
2. Apple Tarte Tatin (Upside Down Apple Pie)
This alluringly sweet and fragrant apple tart is actually a famous "quick fix" by the Tatin sisters: they accidentally overcooked the apple and sugar filling in the pan, causing the edges to slightly char. Because they were short on time, they simply covered the charred filling with a layer of batter and baked it all. Thus, the upside-down apple tart was born, bearing their name – tarte tatin. With the rich buttery aroma permeating each fresh apple slice and the glossy golden-brown caramel coating the surface, this soft, glossy apple tart is perfect served with a scoop of cool, white vanilla ice cream.
3. Mille-feuille (thousand-leaf cake)
Mille-Feuille is one of the oldest traditional French pastries, featuring a buttery aroma from its spongy, multi-layered crust and a pastry cream filling made from carefully selected ingredients, sometimes replaced with whipping cream or jam. The topping is usually powdered sugar, cocoa, or almonds.
4. Crème brûlée (Burnt Ice Cream)
Crème brûlée is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a layer of hardened caramel. The French, the English, and the Catalans all claim to have invented the crème brûlée recipe, but only the French have placed it on menus throughout the country.
5. Macarons
The name "macaron" means "smooth dough ball," because the surface of the pastry is very smooth. The first macarons were made from almond flour, sugar, and egg whites, and were simply round like regular cookies. Later, macarons developed with two layers of pastry and a filling in between. The traditional filling of this lovely pastry is chocolate, a sweet flavor characteristic of France. However, today macarons come in many colors and with various fillings in flavors such as orange, lemon, mango, etc., making them very interesting.
6. Mendiant Candy
Mendiant is a famous type of chocolate from France known for its extremely careful and elaborate decoration. These small, round pieces of candy are often topped with a dried fig, an almond, a raisin, and a hazelnut; symbolizing the colors of the habits of four religious orders: the dried fig for the Franciscans, the almond for the Carmelites, the raisin for the Dominicans, and the hazelnut for the Augustinians.
Besides the ingredients mentioned above, mendiant candies are sometimes topped with pistachios, other dried fruits, and nuts. This type of candy is very popular and can be found in almost every confectionery shop in France.
7. Crème Caramel
With a custard base and a caramel topping, this dessert is similar to crème brûlée. However, the caramel in crème caramel is softer and not as crispy as that of crème brûlée.
8. Canelé Cake
A specialty of the Bordeaux region, canelé cake features a soft custard filling and a crispy caramel crust flavored with vanilla and rum. Despite its alcoholic undertones, canelé cake can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, paired with a cup of tea or a glass of wine.
9. Chocolate Mousse Cake
Chocolate mousse is one of the most popular desserts in France and is loved in many parts of the world. With its characteristic soft, fluffy texture and rich, delicious chocolate flavor, this cake is always appealing to chocolate lovers and is sure to be the perfect dessert for any meal.
10. Nougat Candy
Nougat is a type of candy made from sugar or honey, with added roasted nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts), beaten egg whites, and sometimes chopped candied fruit. Nougat has a chewy texture and is often added as an ingredient in many different types of candy and chocolate.
