1. Tarte Tatin
A delicious caramelized upside-down apple pie that never, ever, disappoints.
2. Clafoutis
This cake, with a flan-like texture, is usually made with cherries, but you can also switch them for rhubarb and pears.
Here is a recipe for the cherry version, and one with rhubarb.
3. Crêpes
Because a life without crêpes isn't a life worth living.
Find a recipe, here.
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4. Paris-Brest
5. Eclair au chocolat
A true classic that never lets you down. The real French chocolate éclairs have a chocolate cream filling, and not some kind of vanilla custard like many recipes in English would have you believe.
Here is a great recipe.
6. Kouign Amann
An amazing caramelized specialty from Brittany made with A LOT of butter, which is a prerequisite to achieve pastry heaven.
7. Crème brûlée
It's both delicious and comforting. You can also have fun piercing the crust with the back of a spoon before eating it, like Audrey Tautou does in Amélie.
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8. Far Breton
This prune cake is one of the most mouthwatering gifts Brittany has offered to the world.
Find the recipe, here.
9. Gâteau Basque
Another exquisite regional specialty, this time from the Basque Country.
10. Gâteau au yaourt
This yoghurt-based treat is probably the easiest cake recipe ever invented.
Find the recipe, here.
11. French Apple Pie
You think you know apple pies, but if you haven't tried a French apple pie you don't know shit.
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12. French lemon tart
Less tangy than the American lime pie, the French lemon tart is both sweet and refreshing.
13. Canelés
This Bordeaux specialty tastes like vanilla and rum — in other words, it tastes like heaven.
Find the recipe, here.
14. Bugnes Lyonnaises
An addictive crunchy, fried pastry that resembles beignets.
15. Chocolate Profiteroles
I don't know who first had the idea to pour hot chocolate sauce on a choux pastry filled with vanilla ice cream, but this person deserves a Nobel Prize.
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16. Tarte tropézienne
17. Macarons
Perhaps the trendiest and most famous French pastries right now.
If you can't make the trip to Pierre Hermé, find a recipe here.
18. Chocolate Religieuse
One of France's most popular pastries, the religieuse exists in many flavors but you can never go wrong with coffee and chocolate.
19. Fig tart
A delicious tart that celebrates one of the best fruits.
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20. Saint Honoré
Cream puffs + pastry cream + whipped cream = food orgasm guaranteed.
Find the recipe, here.
21. Ispahan
Pierre Hermé's famous cake associates the flavors of raspberries, roses, and lychees for a mind-blowing result.
22. Madeleines
These were Marcel Proust's favorites for a reason: They're always delightful.
Recipe here.
23. Baba au Rhum
It is soaked in rum. If that's not enough to convince you, I don't know what you need.
Find the recipe; here.
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24. Chocolate Mousse
You can never go wrong with chocolate mousse. NEVER.
25. Kouglof
The Alsatian bundt cake is the perfect Christmas treat.
Find a recipe, here.
26. Mont-Blanc
Made with chestnut cream and meringue, the Mont-Blanc cake is the best thing you could ever eat after a cold winter day.
27. Île flottante
This floating island is the kind of classic dessert French grandmas make for their grandchildren.
Find a recipe, here.
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28. Raspberry Charlotte
Both beautiful and delicious.
29. Meringues
Crunchy, sticky, and sweet, meringues are ridiculously good and addictive.
30. Chouquettes
They're fluffy, light as air, soft, sweet, and just so fucking delicious.
Find the recipe, here.
31. Mille-feuille
Puff pastry and custard united in a wonderful and exquisite dessert.
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32. Choux à la crème
Words cannot even begin to express how good choux à la crème are. You're just gonna have to go ahead and try them for yourself.
Find the recipe, here.
The Paris-Brest is filled with praline-flavored cream. An earlier version of this post misstated that it was filled with whipped cream.
