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    19 French Desserts You Need In Your Life

    Because you should always eat dessert first.

    Marie Telling
    by Marie Telling

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Jenny Chang/BuzzFeed / Via saveur.com / saveur.com

    1. Macarons

    Naomi Robinson / Via bakersroyale.com

    What it is: Little almond-meringue cookies filled with flavored buttercream.

    Why it's awesome: You can get them in basically every flavor you want. And when they're done right, they're like little bites of heaven melting in your mouth. Recipe here.

    2. French Lemon Pie

    David Lebovitz / Via davidlebovitz.com

    What it is: A buttery crust filled with lemon curd.

    Why it's awesome: It's refreshing, sweet, and slightly less tangy than its American counterpart (but just as good). Recipe here.

    3. Crème Brûlée

    Robin Broadfoot / Via buzzfeed.com

    What it is: A custard topped with a crisp caramel layer.

    Why it's awesome: There are few things in life as satisfying as cracking the caramel layer of a crème brûlée with the back of your spoon. Recipe here.

    4. Crêpes

    Michelle Lopez / Via hummingbirdhigh.com

    What it is: Very thin pancakes filled with just about anything you can think of.

    Why it's awesome: They're super fun to eat, and you can accommodate everybody's tastes with all the different fillings — like Nutella, strawberries and cream, or maple syrup. Recipe here.

    5. Chocolate Soufflé

    Helen Rosner / Via saveur.com

    What it is: An ~ethereal~ chocolate cake with a crispy crust and a soft middle.

    Why it's awesome: It manages to be both light and rich. (And chocolate is involved, which is always a good thing.) Recipe here.

    6. Madeleines

    Naomi Robinson / Via bakersroyale.com

    What it is: Fluffy and delightful little buttery cakes.

    Why it's awesome: They’re simple yet addictive, and you can stray from the traditional recipe to create different flavors. Here's a recipe for some lime and hibiscus madeleines.

    7. Chocolate Meringue

    Linda Lomelino / Via call-me-cupcake.blogspot.se

    What it is: A crunchy meringue with chocolate swirls and a slightly chewy inside.

    Why it's awesome: Meringue is already pretty amazing on its own, but add some chocolate to the equation and it's even better. Recipe here.

    8. Clafoutis

    David Lebovitz / Via davidlebovitz.com

    What is it: A flan-like cake usually filled with cherries.

    Why it's awesome: Soft texture + tart cherries = a truly perfect summer bake. Recipe here.

    9. Tarte Tatin

    Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott / Via bonappetit.com

    What it is: An upside-down caramelized apple pie, basically.

    Why it's awesome: Caramelized apples and a crispy crust. What more do you need? Recipe here.

    10. Chocolate Mousse

    Joy Wilson / Via joythebaker.com

    What it is: I mean, it's a chocolate mousse.

    Why it's awesome: It's light, rich, fluffy, and chocolatey. (In other words, it's pretty much perfect.) Recipe here.

    11. Dacquoise

    Sarah Kieffer / Via thevanillabeanblog.com

    What it is: A pastry made of layers of whipped cream and hazelnut meringue.

    Why it's awesome: The contrast between the crunch of the meringue and the softness of the cream? It's next level. Recipe here.

    12. Nougat

    Molly Yeh / Via mynameisyeh.com

    What it is: A candy from Southern France made with honey, egg whites, and nuts.

    Why it's awesome: Variations of this specialty exist all around the Mediterranean Sea. The French version is soft and sweet — and might use pistachios, almonds, or hazelnuts. Recipe here.

    13. Éclairs

    Kristin Rosenau / Via pastryaffair.com

    What it is: A pastry made with pâte à choux (or light dough), filled with flavored custard and topped with glossy icing.

    Why it's awesome: There's something for everyone: Along with traditional chocolate and coffee éclairs, you can now often find many flavors — like raspberry and pistachios — in French bakeries. Recipe for a chocolate-coffee version here.

    14. French Chocolate Cake

    Deb Perelman / Via smittenkitchen.com

    What it is: Chocolate cake. Enough said.

    Why it's awesome: Every French household has their own take on this classic. Three signs of a good one? Delicious chocolate, soft cake, and a crispy crust. Recipe here.

    15. Crêpes Suzette

    Landon Nordeman / Via saveur.com

    What it is: Crêpes flambé in a sauce that's made of butter, caramel, orange, and Grand Marnier.

    Why it's awesome: Because who doesn't love setting a dessert on ~fire~? Recipe here.

    16. Kouign-Amann

    Christopher Testani / Via bonappetit.com

    What it is: A cake from the Brittany region made of sugar-crusted layers of dough and butter.

    Why it's awesome: Butter. Lots of it. Recipe here.

    17. French Apple Pie

    18. Paris-Brest

    Lucy Parissi / Via supergoldenbakes.com

    What it is: A cream puff sandwich stuffed with praline-flavored cream.

    Why it's awesome: I repeat: it's a cream puff sandwich stuffed with praline-flavored cream. Recipe here.

    19. Chocolate Pots de Crème

    Michelle Norris / Via browneyedbaker.com

    What it is: Chocolate cream often served with some Chantilly.

    Why it's awesome: It's creamy AND it's chocolatey — aka everything that's good in this world. Recipe here.